PM Modi is clear that to realise his grand plans, support of all Indians is needed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio outreach programme Mann ki Baat’s 100th episode has indicated a host of geopolitical underpinnings that could have a long-term impact on India at the regional level at the least. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat was broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashto, Persian, Dari (a dialect of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan) and Swahili besides English.
The choice of foreign languages for the broadcast like Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Pashto and Dari is indicative of the Prime Minister’s confidence to enhance support on the cultural front from people outside India, especially countries that were part of India over two millennia back.
The outreach is intended for these regions and several related cultural aspects were covered in the 100th episode, which is important in the current context. The areas where Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Pashto and Dari are spoken were under Chandragupta Maurya empire ((350-295 BCE).
The choice of these foreign languages used for the broadcast coincides with the Akhand Bharat map. The areas in which these languages are spoken have been separated from the Akhand Bharat in the historical past. Geopolitical analysts said the disintegration of the common cultural fabric also referred to as sindhu ghati ki sabhyata (Indus Valley Civilisation) from the Akhand Bharat is indicative of the pain the Prime Minister feels for the historical shift.
However, the experts pointed out that the outline of the Akhand Bharat in Modi’s vision is more focused on coexisting cultural values and not religion-based as either Islam or Buddhism is prevalent in these regions. The policy also discounts military integration for assimilation. The vision is also indicative of Modi’s strong adherence to the parent organization’s ideology and willingness to accommodate people of various cultural backgrounds if Akhand Bharat becomes a reality. Modi’s strong bond with the BJP’s parent organization RSS is also explicit.
The vision and the discreet implementation of the idea are a pointer that Prime Minister Narendra Modi relies mostly on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for policies related to this. Doval directly deals with the region in which these languages are spoken. He has also spent several years on the ground in this region.
The vision is also indicative of a grand strategy for the next five years where India will challenge, compete and contain China through the cultural initiative. The challenge, competition and contain strategy will make India more secure and help New Delhi create a regional cultural umbrella. With the execution of the grand strategy, the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb concept formulated by the Britishers to maintain law and order will fade with a broader cultural concept like the revival of Sindhu Ghati Sabhyata covering Balochs, Tibetans, Muslims and Hindus, experts said.
“To fulfil this strategy, the cultural and moral support of the Balochs in Balochistan, Tibetans in China and Pashtuns in Afghanistan is envisioned. All of these groups---Balochs, Tibetans and Pashtuns are opposed to China. The strategy aims to make India more relevant by supporting these groups who harbour anti-China sentiment,” Geopolitical analyst Dr Rituraj Mate told The Pioneer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a clear understanding that it is not easy to realize the grand strategy unless the support of all Indians is enlisted, a reason why the Mann ki Baat programme is being broadcast in 22 regional languages and 29 dialects across the country, Dr Mate said.
The vision further highlights the willingness to expose the original concept of Hindutva ideology which postulates vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family) and implement the grand strategy through cultural interventions as military means can neither be afforded nor is sustainable in the current era. The cultural influence of India will not increase unless significant acceptance from a cross-section of people in the region is garnered across geographies, he added.
(The writer is a special correspondent, The Pioneer)