India must use soft power effectively
Government has identified areas like film-making, TV production that could help reach the goal
Mumbai: With Narendra Modi saddled in the Prime Minister’s Office strongly and effectively, the nation is moving towards evolving and utilising its status as a soft power. Over the first few weeks the NDA government has expressed its desire to turn the nation’s economy into a knowledge-based economy. The same had also been promised in the BJP’s electoral manifesto ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
India’s achievements in areas like films, education and broadcasting are expected to help enable this quest of the Modi government. The Indian film industry is the biggest in the world and is considered to be one of the most important factors in realising this ambition.
The country’s prowess in the field of film-making had impressed China to the extent that during this year’s Berlin Film Festival they even sought to enter a co-production agreement to make films.
The information and broadcasting ministry is one of the key department in this government to spearhead the thrust in this area. Speaking to this newspaper, I&B secretary Bimal Julka stated that the government definitely wants the nation to realise its full potential and emerge as a leader in this field.
“India has the ability to emerge as a world leader by utilising its soft power potential. By successfully partnering with nations like China, which has shown keenness to enter into co-production agreements in the area of film making, this potential can be realised,” said Mr Julka.
He pointed out that by using India’s “soft power” more effectively it could definitely increase the country’s leverage internationally. For successfully utilising its soft power India needs to enter into co-production agreements, increase its participation in film festivals and provide for more students exchange programmes with nations of the world, he said.
It is understood that the government has identified areas like film-making, TV production, students exchange programmes, animation and gaming as the ones that could help enable India in achieving this goal. With a clear mandate from the voters and its international and national goals being spelt out by the PMO, the government is understood to be embarking on this mission earnestly.