Discovering Bharat: How PM Modi redefined India's cultural narrative

The Prime Minister has been unwavering in his commitment to his belief system, shedding the cloak of hypocrisy and denigration that concealed his affiliation with Hinduism.

One of the most notable contributions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his leaders has been the redefinition of the Indian cultural narrative by infusing it with a renewed sense of pride and global relevance. His decade-long tenure was marked by an emphasis on celebrating India's diverse and ancient traditions. He has perfectly imbued his international activities with cultural diplomacy.

After independence, India grappled with a colonial legacy, intensified by a brown sahib culture that impacted the education system and public discourse. Everything Hindu was considered backward and regressive, and real growth was a race against ancient beliefs, a constant marathon, in which a nation attempted to move beyond its glorious past, vilified and denigrated for centuries. We were all in this race, without realizing it, in our own way, we tried to get rid of everything that made us Bharatiya.
And this psychological modeling began at a very young age. Our school textbooks were filled with legends about glorified foreign invaders and the colonial contributions of the British to India. This was to downplay India's rich tradition and achievements long before the so-called civilizing intervention of foreigners. The glories of ancient knowledge systems and universities like Nalanda, which had been extolled by Chinese scholars in their writings thousands of years ago, were lost and we had to look to the Harvards of the world for validation intellectual. We had lost much more than freedom, we had lost our identity.

The first post-independence prime minister, also from the OBC, Prime Minister Modi has a keen sense of this lack of self-esteem, the consequence of persistent marginalization and oppression, a generational wound that is has worsened over the centuries. This was not simply a matter of pride which can be easily manufactured. It was a negotiation with a deeper understanding of the cultural self, so integral to national integrity and identity. As the saying goes, if you don't know where you come from, you'll never know where you're going.

And India was on its way, but first it had to discover Bharat.
A Vikas that depended not just on the infrastructure of the nation but on its cultural psyche. The break with the past was evident from the beginning, when Prime Minister Modi performed the Ganga Arti in Kashi, after being elected Prime Minister. There was predictable criticism, but the prime minister was unwavering in his commitment to his belief system, shedding the cloak of hypocrisy and denigration that concealed his affiliation with Hinduism. Remarkably, this was a break with the first prime minister. Pandit Nehru was apathetic about his faith and consciously Westernized, viewing culture as an obstacle to progress. With Modi, India was turning the page on its postcolonial identity and the self-deprecation of our ancient civilization and wisdom. Our ancient culture now had to be seen as a contribution that needed to be recognized and not erased. In many ways it was a coming of age, a break from the tentacles of a parasitic dependence on old masters for validation and acceptance. A decade later, this steady journey has made India a leader and an important voice in the Global South, with Prime Minister Modi seen as an elder statesman and guide to many postcolonial nations.

When so many of our ancient knowledge systems have been lost to the invasion of the land and psyche, Prime Minister Modi has made an assertive effort to preserve and promote ancient languages ​​like Sanskrit and Pali, among others, to ensure that the process of digitization, translation and study ensures the accessibility of Indian intellectual heritage to future generations. Institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) are increasingly integrating ancient knowledge systems with modern science, demonstrating India's timeless contributions to global knowledge. This is just one of the fallout from this shameless approach. It has always amazed me that Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country, readily calls its national airline Garuda, the winged vahan of Lord Vishnu.
A decade after his election to the nation's highest office, it is clear that Prime Minister Modi's vision for India extends beyond economic growth to encompass a cultural resurgence that positions India as a leader global. His initiatives have sparked a renewed sense of pride among Indians, both within the country and in the diaspora. By combining traditional values ​​with modern aspirations, PM Modi has crafted a narrative that celebrates India's past while keeping it in tune with the demands of the current times. He explained that to gain a place in the future, one does not need to abandon one's past. It is in many ways a deeply moving repayment of the debt to our ancestors, who, despite centuries of servitude and oppression, retained their faith and culture despite immense pressure. We, the heirs of a free India, owe it to their determined resilience to not only imbibe this carefully preserved cultural heritage and wisdom, but also to share it for the greater good of the entire world.

Prime Minister Modis' leadership underscores the timeless relevance and resilience of India's cultural heritage, ensuring that it continues to inspire and influence generations around the world. His efforts constitute a beacon for a country that is reclaiming its identity, freeing itself from the shadows of colonialism and marching with confidence towards a culturally enriched future. And also as an example of a civilization that embraces the world.

* Advaita Kala is an award-winning author and screenwriter.