Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

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Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

India has a science soft power gap. Even after giving the world zero, Covaxin, Chandrayaan

If a nation is seen merely as a repository of ancient culture rather than a source of modern innovation, then it risks being excluded from conversations that shape the future of technology.

Last week, we celebrated Narendra Modi becoming the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in India’s history. On 10 June, his tenure surpassed that of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was not actually elected by the people when he first took office.

This achievement is particularly commendable, as the scale and complexity of governing a nation of 1.4 billion people, diverse in language, culture, religion, and geography, is no mean feat. Shloka 3.21 of the Bhagavad Gita exemplifies the sustenance of public trust that the PM has received over three consecutive national mandates in the world’s largest democracy.

Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate

“Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”

Rising from very humble beginnings, often mocked as a “chaiwallah” by the elitist opposition operating out of the “hallowed” and sanitised environs of the Delhi elitist Lutyens zone (aka Delhi Gymkhana Club), he reached the highest echelons of elected office without any generational wealth or support of a political dynasty. He led by example, surviving on bare minimum of sleep and other comforts of life, much to the consternation of his political rivals.

One of the most important achievements of the PM’s 12 years in the seat of power has been the rise of India’s global image, and the narrative surrounding India as a country and as a people. When global interconnectivity is bringing nations much closer, both literally and figuratively, the international stature of a country is no longer only a function of its size, its military prowess, or even the number of its people. Rather, the narrative arising from its historical and intellectual contributions, and from its vision for the future, forms the building blocks and very foundations of its foreign policy.

Also Read: From summer camps to ISRO missions—Indian women are leading STEM

The story of soft power

Soft power was originally defined by the scholar of international relations Joseph Nye in his book, Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power.

“Soft power is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments,” Nye wrote. He argued that it arises from the attractiveness of a country’s culture, political ideals, and policies.

Soft power was then broken down into three essential resources — first, culture, or the arts, lifestyle, and values that are attractive to other nations; then, political values, the perceived fairness,........

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