IAN HALL |
Under the current leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s approach to religious diplomacy has taken on a new character. In part, this shift reflects the BJP’s broader agenda to reshape India’s culture, society, and governance according to Hindutva, or “Hindu-ness.”
Under the Modi government, India’s religious diplomacy has been tailored to different audiences. For Western publics, India promotes itself as a land of ancient wisdom, promoting practices like yoga and Ayurvedic medicine. In contrast, when engaging with Asian countries, particularly those in the Buddhist world, India emphasises its Buddhist heritage. Initiatives like the Hindu-Buddhist dialogues and the Global Buddhist Summit are designed to strengthen cultural and religious ties with nations like Japan and Thailand, highlighting shared values and histories. India’s religious diplomacy for diaspora audiences takes yet another form, reinforcing the narrative of a resurgent Hindu civilisation.
The effectiveness of these various initiatives is hard to assess. Some elements, like the Hindu-Buddhist dialogues, have been well-received in parts of Asia. Elsewhere, it appears that India’s efforts to improve its image have been undercut by concerns about Hindu majoritarianism and the treatment of religious minorities in India.
Professor Ian Hall is a member of the Griffith Asia Institute.
This article is a synopsis of the journal article “The Hindu Right and India’s Religious Diplomacy” published in The Review of Faith and International Affairs, volume 22, issue 3.
