Buddhism, India’s Soft Power Projection Tool

May 9, 2023

Context:

In April, India successfully hosted a two-day global Buddhist summit in New Delhi, which was organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation.

Significance of the Summit:

The summit provided India with a significant opportunity to project and connect with the Buddhist population around the world.
Hosting the summit helped strengthen India’s soft power.

India’s efforts so far:

The Indian government promotes tourism through the development of the “Buddhist tourist circuit”.
Important personalities of India visit Buddhist sites during their Southeast and East Asian visits.
India has not given ‘Yuddha’ to the world but ‘Buddha’.
The Delhi summit’s theme, “Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis”, also highlights India’s attempts to provide an alternative to contested global politics, with morality as the guiding principle.

Buddhist diplomacy:

It has the potential to promote regional cohesion, given that nearly 97% of the global Buddhist population is based in Asia.
Practical Use: During the Cold War, China effectively used Buddhist diplomacy to engage with its neighbouring countries, and it continues to employ this approach to gain legitimacy for its Belt and Road Initiative.

The guiding principle, China factor:

India’s efforts to position itself as a great power committed to cooperation rather than coercion are rooted in its deep historical and cultural ties to the region.
The current government’s guiding principles for foreign policy, Panchamrit principles include “Sanskriti Evam Sabhyata” which means cultural and civilizational links.
To maintain its edge over China, more action is needed. India must act to ensure that it remains a key player in the global Buddhist community.

Way Forward:

India should continue promoting Buddhism at the highest levels of government, while also organising cultural events to showcase the country’s rich Buddhist history.
India should work to strengthen its ties with key Buddhist institutions and leaders around the world.
The Delhi summit was a step in the right direction, providing a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange and the sharing of ideas.
The film link: India also needs to utilise the reach of Bollywood in promoting its Buddhist heritage. China, with its influence over Hollywood, has completely dominated the narrative around Buddhism through cinema.
India’s G-20 presidency this year could be used to promote Buddhist diplomacy on a bigger scale through various cultural meetings, especially as Buddhist teachings align with the motto of India’s G-20 presidency, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.