How Can India Expand Its Soft Power?
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Synopsis
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasizes the importance of expanding India's soft power, urging the nation to nurture its intellectual and cultural heritage. This call to action highlights the need for collaboration in academia and the creation of accessible repositories of classical texts to elevate India’s global standing.
Key Takeaways
- Soft power is a crucial asset for India’s global standing.
- Intellectual and cultural growth must accompany India’s rise.
- Collaboration among diverse academic fields is essential.
- Digitized repositories of classical texts are urgent priorities.
- Training programs for scholars should integrate modern methodologies.
New Delhi, July 10 (NationPress) Emphasizing the significance of enduring soft power as a vital asset in today’s global landscape, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar asserted on Thursday that India’s emergence as a powerful nation must coincide with an elevation of its intellectual and cultural stature.
Speaking at the opening of the Annual Conference on the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in New Delhi, he remarked, “The might of a nation resides in the uniqueness of its ideas, the timelessness of its principles, and the strength of its intellectual heritage.”
Reasserting India’s identity beyond the limitations of post-colonial frameworks, the Vice President noted, “India is not merely a political entity established in the mid-20th century. It represents a civilizational continuum—a flowing river of consciousness, inquiry, and knowledge that has persisted.”
He added, “India should not only adopt global narratives, believing them to be inherently valuable. We must also partake in their formation, which can only be achieved by fostering an ecosystem that appreciates and rigorously explores our own traditions.”
To achieve this, we need institutions like JNU to spearhead this initiative. You ought to serve as the platforms for this significant intellectual rejuvenation, he stated.
The Vice President emphasized, “You need to cultivate environments where historians collaborate with coders, Sanskrit scholars work alongside biologists, and ethicists join forces with engineers. This conference marks a pivotal step towards establishing that ecosystem.”
Let’s direct our focus towards actionable outcomes. The establishment of digitized repositories for classical Indian texts is an urgent necessity, encompassing languages such as Sanskrit, Tamil, Pali, and Prakrit, he asserted.
Dhankhar stated, “These repositories should be readily accessible, allowing scholars in India and researchers globally to engage significantly with these materials.”
He highlighted the importance of creating training programs aimed at equipping young scholars with solid methodological tools—integrating philology, computational analysis, ethnography, and comparative inquiry to enhance their engagement with Indian Knowledge Systems.
Addressing the historical neglect of indigenous wisdom, he remarked, “Indigenous knowledge was often dismissed as remnants of a primitive past, not due to misinterpretation.”
“It was a structure of erasure, destruction, and decimation. Even more regrettably, this selective amnesia persisted post-Independence. Western frameworks were presented as universal truths. To be more candid, falsehood was disguised as reality,” he stated.
Point of View
It is crucial that India recognizes and harnesses its soft power, not just as a tool for global influence but as a means to rejuvenate its cultural identity. The Vice President's call to action is a reminder of the need for a balanced narrative that acknowledges both indigenous wisdom and contemporary global influences.
NationPress
26/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is soft power?
Soft power refers to the ability of a country to influence others through cultural and ideological means rather than coercion or military force. It encompasses areas like arts, education, and diplomacy.
Why is expanding India's soft power important?
Expanding India's soft power is vital for enhancing its global influence, promoting its cultural heritage, and ensuring that it plays a significant role in shaping international narratives.
How can universities contribute to this effort?
Universities can foster interdisciplinary collaboration, conduct critical research on Indian Knowledge Systems, and create accessible resources that highlight India's intellectual contributions.
What role do classical texts play in this initiative?
Classical texts serve as foundational sources of knowledge and wisdom that can guide contemporary thought and innovation, making their preservation and accessibility essential.
What does the Vice President mean by 'architecture of erasure'?
The 'architecture of erasure' refers to the systematic neglect and dismissal of indigenous knowledge and traditions, leading to their marginalization in favor of dominant Western narratives.
