An analytic interpretation on the importance of India's soft power in international cultural diplomacy over the centuries

Dr. Sumanta Bhattacharya 1, *, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe 2, Arindam Mukherjee 2 and Bhavneet Kaur Sachdev 3

1 MAKAUT, Public–Foreign-Defence Policy, MPI (oxford University) ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2563-2787.
2 Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ICCR).
3 Political Science hons (Calcutta University) Development studies, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9156-0086.
 
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2021, 12(03), 131–136
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2021.12.3.0995
 
Publication history: 
Received on 17 October 2021; revised on 03 December 2021; accepted on 05 December 2021
 
Abstract: 
India’s Soft Power which is part of Smart Diplomacy or cultural diplomacy in India. India’s soft power diplomacy can be traced back to the time when Swami Vivekananda visited Chicago Parliament of Religion and spoke about Hinduism and India, which attracted many Indians and Foreigners who visited India and learnt about the Indian culture and the Sanskrit, his book on Raja Yoga influenced Western countries to practice Yoga who came to India and visited asharams, India’s main soft powers include spiritualism, yoga, Ayurveda, the world is shifting towards organic method of treatment which has its trace in India. There is culture exchange of arts, music, dance. Indian Diaspora and Young youth are the weapons for the spread of Indian culture across the globe, People are interested in Indian culture and epics of Ramayana and Mahabharat and studying on Kautliya. India literature and craft have received international recognition, countries abroad have included Sanskrit as part of their educational curriculum. India has also emerged has an export of herbs medicine to many foreign countries like Middle East, Europe, Africa etc. and this soft power of India will help in creating a massive influence across the world but before that Indian should have ample knowledge about their own history and culture and languages.
 
Keywords: 
Soft power; Smart diplomacy; India; Cultural; Yoga; Ayurveda; Sanskrit
 
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