Cultural Diplomacy in India: Dispersal, Heritage Representation, Contestation, and Development

Abstract

India (Bhārat), being one of the oldest cultures with continuity of traditions has introduced cultural diplomacy in the ancient past, and constantly followed the path of cultural dispersal as illustrated with the diffusion of Buddhism during the fifth-century BCE—the CE twelfth century in southeast and east Asia. One such example was marriage of princess from Ayodhya (India) to the king of Gimhae (Korea). Of course, the orientation of these diplomacies and uses changed from one dynasty to another. These dispersal and interaction lead to ‘heritage making’ in different parts. With change in ideologies by the present ruling government, representation of heritage is now superimposed by Hindu nationalism, resulting to rejuvenate Hindu temples and converting them as a cultural hub for tourism, replacing spiritual environment and religious identities, as exemplified in case of Ayodhya and Varanasi. Since 2014, the new government under their missions of (i) Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), and (ii) Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD), working to strengthen and promote the holy-heritage sites under pilgrimage-tourism in a sustainable way and befitting into the SDGs. However, only the time will give answer to the degree of success.