Soft Power Of different Nations

At present, India is one of the rising nations, attracting the world. It has been a successful democracy surrounded by a string of turbulent adjacent countries. India is now nuclear weapon state with an enormous military. Its GDP is increasing at more than 9%. The west refers India as a science superpower. Besides, India is targeting for the Moon with a moon mission planned in 2008. Besides, a rising list of successful entrepreneurs all over the world as a talented young workforce is marching towards a gleaming future. India is a great software power today. Besides, English language efficiency is a great beneficial to us.

Like everything else, India was gifted with a huge capital of soft power. Soft power, as opposed to hard military power, indicates a nation’s input to the field of art, literature, fashion, music, culture and so on. India, as in the past, is rich in soft power at present too. But as a result of inconsistent strategic culture and a complacent policy mechanism, India has failed to develop it in the fullest potential.

Mull over these specifics, which the Indians know and consider matters of past but are ignorant about their significance for the present and future. India is an ancient country with millennia-old cultural civilization. The Indians discovered the earth’s rotation around the sun, Ayurveda, zero, chess yoga, cosmopolitanism and so on. The direct disciple of Jesus Christ St. Thomas traveled to India. The country came under diverse European cultural currents at different times and assimilated the foreign elements with amazing tolerability. Alexander invaded India in 326 B.C. The Toda tribe inhabiting the Uti hills are said to be the descendents of the Greeks. Similarly, the Huns, the Mongols, Pathans, the French, the Dutch, the English came to India and left an indelible imprint on the cultural map of the country. The English gave birth to Anglo-Indian culture. Pondicherry bears a visible influence of the French culture. The demography too, indicates in the confirmatory. Goa testifies to the Portuguese settlement even now. The Persis driven out from Persia embraced India and worked for India’s development with a determined and artistic mind. The Indian Jews also worked for India’s progress. Besides, India provided shelter to millions of refugees coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. The five hundred years of Moghul rule, contributed to India’s demography and culture. The exiled Tibetan government found refuge in the hilly district of Himachal, Dharmashala. Even now, the conscription weary Israelis seek solace in the exotic ambience of Himachal. The consumerist westerns seek solace in the ghats of Varanasi, in the calm forests of Vrindavan and in the mysterious ISCON temples.

The space co-operation can be another important psychological tool. Every nation is fascinated about the space. So India must think how and when and whom to offer its help and influence its course.

There may be several other factors. They should be explored and utilised for the country’s advantage.

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