The Indian diaspora’s growing clout in the US corridors of power has led to it being wooed by successive presidents from Barack Obama and Donald Trump to Joe Biden.
It was Obama who first started the tradition of lighting the White House for the Diwali festival way back in 2009. But the then Congress-led coalition government helmed by Dr. Manmohan Singh did not give much importance to religiosity. There was no media hype back home in India.
"Narendra Modi’s regime is a great believer in the power of the macho-Hindu nation. The recognition of yoga and the latest move by US lawmakers to declare Diwali a federal holiday also suits him politically back home." -- I wrote for an article for UCA News.
(Refer link .....
Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. It celebrates the return of Lord Ram to his kingdom in Ayodhya, which now serves as a political symbol for the BJP and allied forces’ Hindu revival campaign, from a 14-year exile and victory over the demon king Ravan.
Diwali fest as tool of 'Soft Power'
New Delhi:
The move by US lawmakers led by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney from New York to get a new draft law that would declare Diwali as a federal holiday is a landmark event of our time. (this happened in 2021)
In 2024 also --- Hindus matter when it comes to the US Presidential polls due Nov 5.
As US President in his earlier stint Donald Trump did celebrate Diwali at the White House with the Indian community !!
In 2021, I wrote for a piece for IANS --
After Yoga, we now have Diwali - the festival of Light and Sound - as a symbol of India's Soft Power. Statesmanship, mutual benefits and strategic significance - not necessarily in that order - decide foreign policy ball games in the contemporary settings.
Now, it is time to add 'Soft Power' as a major tool. The emphasis is bigger and more forceful in the post pandemic era.
Without realizing much, we now know that the world is changing pretty fast.
For beginners, a Microsoft study says nearly 40 percent of professionals are keen to give up their existing jobs. This too was 2021.
Welcome to a new world era - wherein the civilisational and cultural prisms too could prove to be effective tools in the changed world order.
Perhaps this can be underlined better also in the context of developments in Afghanistan and some roles played by Pakistan. Religiosity can have a soothing impact for someone who uses these occasions to gaze in within oneself.
These virtues are appreciated in advanced societies as materialistic achievements have made people lonely and friendless.
More than creating 'segments' like Hindu culture or fest, certain things are emerging now as a global phenomenon.
The timing of Diwali festival in between autumn and winter is not something to be lost about. The light and sound kill some bacteria in the air - that's for the rational school; and in pursuing this argument, one knows the problems lay in overdoing things.
Bursting of firecrackers would have been pleasant and a tasteful experience had not this become a symbol of showmanship. If firecrackers are bad for environment, so is gambling and the so-called gift-exchange culture of Delhi for human behaviour.
Here too, the problem is in overdoing things; not ordering blanket ban as a presumed corrective strategy.
The global recognition by the UN and ongoing craze for Yoga and a renewed zeal for festivals such as Deepawali have some messages.
Of these, the big picture message is - the international game can be no longer about pushing a single-agenda item. Soft power games also means persuasive diplomacy. It may be out of the box, but not something to be dismissed as out of the blue.
Life is often like standing in the dusk, to use poetic jargon.
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| India's Soft Power strength figured in Delhi G-20 Summit as well |
It is all about optimism. Optimism leads to patience. The storm would pass off eventually no matter how long it is. This is a major take away from oriental teachings and India's perspectives.
That’s the essence of India’s civilisational “soft power” strength too. Diwali symbolises glory of virtues over vices like most festivals and rituals across the globe.
Switching on to another chapter now, there are observers who say that Indians thrive in self pity and that's why we Indians often continue to curse ourselves.
The polarization of India’s intellectual class is so deep that it is difficult to express an opinion and that would still be considered an objective one.
If one writes a few lines on Hindu festivals and oriental traditions and values, he is in danger of being called a communal ! But the fact of life is that some Indian and for that matter Hindu fests have attracted attention and excitement globally.
This has not happened because Indians can influence the outcome in an US election, this is also because people see merits in some of these festivals and practices.
The festival of light and sound which essentially marks the victory of Good over Evil and Knowledge over Ignorance is being celebrated with religious zeal in countries such as the UAE, Canada, African nations and Malaysia.
(This was true for 2021 as well as 2024.)
In many countries, Diwali has made a mark as a festival of share and care. People also go out in charity works at orphanage, old age homes.
It is worth mentioning that in 2016 in the context of Art of Living’s World Culture Festival in Delhi, none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said - "We (Indians) can make contribution (of India’s soft power) only when we ourselves feel proud of our culture. But if we continue to curse ourselves, then how will the world look towards us.The world is not only united by concerns of economic growth, but also by human values and India can play a vital role in it"
The motive of building a predefined narrative against Hindu fests and practices - if any - thus has fallen flat.
The UN recognition of yoga came after the Modi government pressed for a resolution to that effect at the UN General Assembly. The UN Postal Administration (UNPA) also issued 10 stamps on Yoga Asanas on a single sheet to mark the International Day of Yoga in 2017.
One reason for the rising importance of a Hindu-majority India, its culture and its philosophies is geopolitics. In a fast-emerging multipolar world, the largest democracy of the world is bound to be a major player.
India has moved closer to key global players such as the US, Israel, France, Japan and Australia. It is on friendly terms with Russia and Brazil, and along with them is part of BRICS with China and South Africa as the other partners, hoping for greater economic cooperation in the decades to come.
The Indian diaspora’s growing clout in the US corridors of power has led to it being wooed by successive presidents from Barack Obama and Donald Trump to Joe Biden.
Ends
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| Rishi Sunak as UK PM :: Diwali |
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| Trump and Diwali |
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