CHANGING INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY: EMERGING TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN CULTURAL DIPLOMACY: YOGA, LANGUAGE AND TRADITION

As our Indian constitution rightly mentions ‘India that is Bharat’ and India's foreign policy is deeply rooted in the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ ("the world is one family"). This philosophy emphasizes mutual respect, peace, and coexistence. While other traditional diplomacy focused on hard power and strategic interests, the changing global landscape of the 21st century has put more emphasis on "soft power," which refers to influencing others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion. India's rich cultural heritage provides a wide range of soft power tools, including yoga, various languages, and ancient traditions. These are now being strategically used as crucial tools in today's Indian foreign policy. This research paper investigates the changing trends, ongoing challenges, and significant opportunities that arise from India's cultural diplomacy. It specifically focuses on yoga, language, and tradition as ways to improve its global influence and achieve our foreign policy goals.