India should be able to speak to the world through yoga and aI, Ayurveda and animation, classical music and gaming, and cutting-edge digital creativity. These are not contradictions

Power has traditionally been understood in fairly straightforward terms, economic strength, military capability, technological advancement and political influence. But in today’s interconnected world, there is another form of power that is becoming equally important: the ability of a country to attract, inspire and influence without coercion. That is the power of soft power.

India has always possessed it. What is changing now is the scale of the opportunity before us. In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi identified soft power as one of the seven Saptadharas that can take India towards greater national strength, alongside manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, technology and innovation, infrastructure, defence, and the green and blue economy. The inclusion of soft power in this framework is significant because it places culture, creativity and global influence within the larger developmental vision of Viksit Bharat.

For India, soft power is not something that needs to be artificially created. It already exists in extraordinary depth. Yoga is today practised across continents. Ayurveda has found growing international interest. Indian cinema and music travel far beyond the country’s borders. Indian food has become part of everyday life in cities across the world. Our spiritual traditions, festivals, textiles, classical arts, literature and philosophies have shaped perceptions of India for generations. But possessing cultural richness and converting it into sustained global influence are two different things. That is where India’s next opportunity lies.

There is a broader understanding of soft power beyond the traditional ideas of heritage and culture. It connects yoga, Ayurveda and tourism with newer sectors such as VFX, animation, gaming and the creative economy. It also identifies wildlife, national parks, major sporting events and the rapidly growing concert economy as areas through which India can attract the world and showcase its........

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