India`s new Non -Aligned foreign policy

India`s recent so-called "Non-Aligned Foreign Policy (NAFP)", in the context of the present global turmoil, is completely different from the Non aligned foreign policy propounded by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in the 1960`s / 1970`s.

1) Previous NAFP was an inward-looking policy that shut India off from global markets and pursued nation-building efforts that bore little fruit.

2) Present NAFP followed by the present NDA government has its tenets on -

(a) Geopolitical issues with neighbors,

(b) Energy security,

(c) Defense security,

(d) India`s trade in the global arena.

3) India's neighbors are a powerful China which is slowing down a bit, Pakistan which is in a political turmoil, Sri Lanka whose economy has collapsed completely and a growing economic star in Bangladesh. It was not very far in the past when the situation was completely different - China with its economic clout, Pakistan with its belligerence towards India and backed by China, and Sri Lanka too backed by China.

4) India`s growing economy needs to secure its energy imports and hence non alignment helps it to get cheap Russian energy as well as other sources from USA, Middle East, etc

5) Russia is India`s major defense supplier. However, India has USA, France and other western majors too as its strategic arms suppliers.

6) India refused to join global trade blocs like RCEP but has signed FTA`s with UAE and Australia and many more to come.

Hence it's a new "Non-Aligned Foreign Policy" embracing India`s needs as well as its external ecosystems.

Invite critical views

Language policy in India – advantages to be highlighted rather than imposition

 The debate over learning of Hindi across the country has led to strong reactions from the non – Hindi speaking states especially the North East and South India!!

The national NDA government should adopt a different strategy rather than make it look like an imposition – similar to the hugely successful digital payments strategy

Instead, the national government should run a mass campaign highlighting “Advantages of learning different languages”.

Like learning English is seen as a passport to better job prospects, learning a foreign language is construed to lead to better prospects globally, learning Hindi can be highlighted as a major advantage in a huge and diverse nation like India.

Major advantages that need to be highlighted –

Better job prospects across the country- any company will prefer to recruit a Hindi speaking competent candidate from South India as they can give varied exposure to the candidate across the country

Enhanced ability to connect with more people across the country for business people – business people from say Kerala can converse with a business connect is say UP.

·       Easier for students whose parents are in a transferable job

·       Ability to connect with more diversified set of people across India and understand         different cultures

 

As a part of the same strategy, the national government can also make learning non-Hindi languages as an option in Hindi speaking states – why can’t a student in Himachal Pradesh learn Tamil or Bengali for a couple of years?? This will lead to better cultural sensitivity across a diversified country like India. Lack of teachers needn’t be constraint as it can be overcome using technology.

From my own personal experience of hailing from Tamil Nadu but having lived mainly outside TN and outside India, I have reaped the benefits of learning different languages especially being a fluent Hindi speaker. During my first overseas stint in China, me and my wife learnt Chinese too understand China better.

Time to have a holistic approach to the language debate!!