Cultivating a meticulously designed culture has a formidable obstacle—the enduring spectres of colonial hangovers and internal discords.
India’s minister of external affairs Dr S Jaishankar's recent address is a poignant reflection on the enduring struggle to reestablish Bharat's identity and the resolute commitment he has maintained throughout his odyssey. As a dedicated diplomat, he consistently focuses on the vital concept of strategic culture, recognising the profound malaise afflicting South Asia—an ingrained identity crisis exacerbated by hollow freedom, where the rhetoric of freedom coexists with the acceptance of oppressive methods, such as the caste system, strategically manipulated by colonial powers to erode our common roots across all facets of life. Regrettably, numerous nations have succumbed to pseudo-patriotism, decorated by false nationalistic narratives, compromising the bedrock principles of true identity in pursuit of so-called independence.
In this context, Minister Jaishankar astutely underscores the perilous tendency of society to laud figures like Alexander the Great while neglecting giants like Ashoka the Great—the last South Asian ruler to comprehend and successfully execute strategic culture. Ashoka's prioritisation of Buddhism, even in the face of a robust Hindu tradition, exemplifies a rare understanding of the nuanced dynamics inherent in shaping a nation's cultural fabric.
The Minister eloquently delves into the essence of strategic culture, defining it as a distinctive and enduring amalgamation of beliefs, values, and practices governing the threat and use of power. Rooted in geopolitical settings, history, and political culture, strategic culture shapes the very foundations of a nation's strategic thought and action. It operates as an integrated symbolic system, employing logic structures, languages, analogies, and metaphors to establish broad and enduring grand strategic preferences. Minister Jaishankar emphasizes that a genuine strategic culture endures over time, maintaining consistent preference rankings across historical epochs and contemporary analyses.
It achieves this by presenting these preferences authentically, lending them a unique realism and efficacy in the complex arena of interstate politics. In essence, strategic culture becomes the compass guiding a nation's strategic choices, a crucial element in shaping a resilient and authentic national identity.
Cultural strategy, however, transcends the mere presentation of a glorified historical narrative to external audiences; its essence lies in rectifying the structural crises within a nation, elevating the lives of its ordinary citizens to unprecedented levels of prosperity. When a substantial portion of the populace still relies on state-provided free rations or experiences a surge in crime rates among the ordinary, a profound issue exists. This not only jeopardises the nation's internal stability but also casts a grim shadow on the international image being meticulously crafted.
The stark revelations in the recently disclosed annual report by the National Crime Records Bureau are nothing short of alarming. In 2022 alone, a staggering 4,45,256 cases of crime against women were reported, marking a 4.0% surge from the preceding year. Equally distressing is the 8.7% increase in crimes against children, totalling 1,62,449 cases. Crimes targeting senior citizens rose by 9.3%, reaching 28,545 cases. The alarming escalation extends to crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), with rates surging by 13.1% and 14.3%, respectively. The overall crime rate witnessed a significant increase from 25.3 in 2021 to 28.6 in 2022. Notably, crimes against foreigners spiked by 28.0%, with theft and rape being the predominant offences. Disturbingly, 56.8% of the victims were from the Asian continent, while 18.0% hailed from African countries. Human trafficking cases rose by 2.8%, with 6,036 reported victims, comprising 2,878 children and 3,158 adults. Furthermore, the report disclosed a staggering 13.5% increase in missing persons, totalling 4,42,572 individuals in 2022. This dire situation demands urgent attention and a robust cultural strategy focused on rectifying these societal afflictions to safeguard the nation's integrity and international standing.
Though not exclusively delving into history or cultural studies, Jawaharlal Nehru demonstrated an unmatched understanding of the enduring cultural continuity in South Asia. In reflecting on India's history and ancient literature, he marvelled at the vigour of thought, the clarity of language, and the richness of the mind that had permeated the region for five millennia.
He discerned the layers of cultural tradition, acknowledging the impact of invasions and upheavals, yet recognising the enduring thread that connected generations. Former Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor J.N. Dixit highlighted the dual influences shaping India's foreign policy—the strategic wisdom of Chanakya and the compassionate ethos of Ashoka. While Chanakya's realism guided one stream, Ashoka's ideals, inspired by Lord Buddha, flowed as another undercurrent in the collective subconscious.
In the contemporary arena, Jaishankar 's exploration of India's foreign policy emphatically underscores the imperative to liberate ourselves from the shackles of Western paradigms and narratives. He vehemently argues that India, standing tall as the first non-Western power to ascend significantly post-1945, must harness the rich tapestry of its cultural heritage to project a distinctly unique persona and narrative onto the world stage. With a penetrating critique of the prevailing ignorance in the West concerning India's intricate thought processes, Jaishankar issues a resounding call for a nuanced understanding.
His lamentation over the conspicuous omission of epics such as the Mahabharata from standard introductions to Indian strategic thought is a stark indictment of the prevailing myopia. Jaishankar passionately advocates for the rectification of this glaring oversight, recognising its pivotal role in fostering a multicultural appreciation that is indispensable in navigating the complexities of a truly multipolar world.
Yet, the journey towards cultivating a meticulously designed strategic culture confronts a formidable obstacle—the enduring spectres of colonial hangovers and internal discord that afflict nations in the region. The pivotal question persists: who will take the lead in transcending the confines of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, mustering substantial efforts to erode profound polarization, and weaving a tapestry of unity grounded in mutual respect and sensitivities? Herein lies the essence of strategic culture—not a mere political instrument, but a foundational concept embodying concord both among and within nations. In the face of unparalleled global challenges, the clarion call for a strategic culture reverberates as the foremost catalyst for nurturing unity, surmounting political manoeuvring, and charting the course towards a collective destiny.
(The writer is a journalist from Sri Lanka and worked with Colombo Guardian, views are personal)
