Cultural revival of India in Modi regime: An approach to soft power diplomacy
Author(s): Prabhat Kumar and Govind Gaurav
Abstract: The cultural revivalism in India is rooted back in the ancient history of the country, when the cultural heritage of the nation was blossoming and thriving under the rule of different dynasties and civilizations. Nonetheless, in the course of the colonialism the traditional Indian cultural practices and knowledge systems were severely eroded and marginalized. Following the Independence, leaders in India realized the necessity of retaining and advancing its cultural heritage as a survival strategy of retaining national identity and thereby ensuring cohesion. However, cultural revivalism under the Modi regime (since 2014) saw a new focus on the presentation of cultural diversity in India as an important component of the Indian soft power diplomacy. Therefore, this paper examines the concept of cultural revival with the aim of appreciating the multidimensional character of it. The paper throws light on cultural revival in India under the Modi regime and provides an overview of main initiatives and policies undertaken to revive cultural heritage and present plenty of rich cultural tapestry of India. In addition, it examines how cultural revival can be taken as a good strategy to exploit the soft power diplomacy of India in the international community.
Prabhat Kumar, Govind Gaurav. Cultural revival of India in Modi regime: An approach to soft power diplomacy. Int J Political Sci Governance 2025;7(11):111-118. DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2025.v7.i11b.750
