Central Idea

• The philosophical underpinnings of India’s civilization are unique and powerful, and they empower India to withstand waves of invasions, natural calamities, and societal challenges. India’s worldview and approach towards human life make India stand out as a beacon to the world. However, many Indians remain ignorant of their own philosophical heritage, and building on these foundational values can serve as building blocks for India’s soft power.

The Fundamentals of Indian Philosophy

• Indian philosophy cannot be ascribed to any particular scripture.
• The fundamentals of the perceived philosophy of India have come from many scriptures, and the Indian approach is to let a thousand flowers bloom.

The Five Tenets that Make India Stand Out

India’s philosophy has at least five fundamental tenets that make it stand out: 1. Spiritual democracy, 2. Unity in diversity, 3. Confluence with nature, 4, antyodaya, and 5. vasudhaiva kutumbakam. These tenets reflect the teachings of sages and philosophers such as Gautama Buddha, Adi Shankara, and Guru Nanak.

1. Spiritual Democracy: India rejects any monopolistic approach to ways of worship, and it welcomes diversity in ways of worship. This approach reflects the fundamental unity of all that exists, and sages call it by various names.
2. Unity in Diversity: India’s unity is inherent in its diversity, and this diversity is our innate unity that manifests in myriad ways. India not only accommodates but also celebrates the pervasive diversity.
3. Confluence with Nature: India does not aspire to conquer nature, but instead, it has a tradition of sincere and deepest gratitude towards nature. Many Indian traditions and rituals reflect this approach, and sustainability is a part of our philosophy of human life.
4. Antyodaya: India’s unique concept of antyodaya puts the last man first. The most deprived are the most deserving when it comes to the distribution of the fruits of development. Antyodaya encompasses both social and economic justice and takes us beyond the binary of capitalism and socialism.
5. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: India has imagined the entire world as one family, where values like mutuality, sharing, and collectivism are given primacy. This approach nips in the bud all the uncalled-for apprehensions about ultra-nationalistic or jingoistic approaches.

India’s Philosophical Heritage Can Build on Its Soft Power

• India can build on its unique philosophical heritage, which can serve as building blocks of India’s soft power.
• India’s foundational values are needed now more than ever, as the global community faces conflicts and wars emanating from weird ideas of supremacy, oneupmanship, and monopolistic spirituality.

Conclusion

• India’s philosophy and approach towards human life and worldly concerns are unique and powerful, and they make India stand out as a beacon to the world. India’s soft power can build on its unique philosophical heritage, and India can use this to assert itself even in the most complex and unpredictable future. The key challenge is to establish that India is capable of walking the talk and using its philosophy to deal with societal challenges. Indian philosophy empowers us to handle the contemporary challenges, and it has gained India huge goodwill among the global community.

Mains Question

Q. India’s philosophy and approach towards human life and worldly concerns are unique and powerful, and they make India stand out as a beacon to the world. Discuss

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