Our decisions in govt reflect our cultural sensitivity: ICCR chief

Since he took charge as ICCR chairman Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has worked to highlight Indian icons and ethos he feels have not been portrayed adequately and is working on a comprehensive vision document. He speaks to TOI's Akhilesh Kumar Singh about the political hues of the project as well as the need to make India’s soft power count for more than it does.

What are the changes you have attempted to bring about in ICCR’s functioning?

The organisation is very vital so far as our soft power is concerned. But there was confusion, lack of clarity or inertia about how to enhance our soft power. I felt it was required to revisit the vision and mission of the ICCR and now we have a fairly defined draft vision and mission statement. There is a receptivity and welcoming approach towards India. But when we talk about soft power we have to convert this goodwill into an idea of India. I find several instances when Mahatma Gandhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, or several of icons have not been portrayed as they should. People are putting Ganesha pictures on slippers and toilet sheets. There are mischievous elements but then it is also likely that they don’t understand.

So what are the elements of our soft power strategy?

There is classical dance, music, fine arts, performing arts...but we have to ensure all sections of society, regions of India, represent India. Mizo dance, Chhattisgarhi metal art, Warli paintings or some remote areas in Tamil Nadu need to be showcased. This will give our soft power a broad base because India is not just Sufi and Bharanatyam. Our diversity needs to be presented properly. In a brainstorming with Niti Aayog we considered how Indian cultural relations can strengthen out strategic and economic interests. The Khadi commission chairman told me it is doing brisk business in South Africa...then this is the time for ICCR to hold seminars on Gandhian philosophy and cottage industry.

You talked about goodwill that India enjoys but what prevents adequate returns?

I think three things: academically, the presentation of India has to be far more powerful than it has been due to a Left leaning bias that India is a conglomeration of nations being held together forcibly. So there are books that Chhattisgarh is a nation, Chottanagpur is a nation. This we have to contest. In 1995, the year UN announced its International Year of Indigenous People, P V Narsimha Rao, as PM, stoutly refused to celebrate this saying in India, everybody is indigenous.

We have ensure that our decisions in government reflect our cultural sensitivities. A request was made to external affairs ministry that only hand-made carpets be used in embassies as this will encourage the industry. Immediately the suggestion was accepted. There was a question whether governance and democracy is part of ICCR agenda. I said yes as we are a spiritual democracy and a political democracy. If you look at democracy ratings (Freedom House survey) where does India stand? Not where it should due to lack of awareness about the success of Indian democracy.

Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were impressed by India. It is the Modi regime that has taken leaders to cities other than Delhi.

So are you also pulled into cultural battles with the Left and allegations of a right-wing revision of culture?

Naturally we have an imprint of ICCR functioning. For example we had an Indology conference and now three conferences organised in last three-four years. There was a seminar on yoga studies. But there are people who may not want it to happen, who still adhere to old outdated thinking. What Cho Ramaswamy had once said “If Left has any future in India, India has no future left” is true about views on Indian culture.

You recently talked about “cultural antyodaya”. What exactly does it mean in ICCR context?

I was giving an example of empanelment of groups and artists. There are 4,000 groups and individuals registered with ICCR. Countries used to write to us that send this group or that based mostly on their popularity. In Rajasthan we have 150 groups registered of which 127 have gone abroad in last 20 years. But in Chhattisgarh we have 15 groups but not a single group was invited. We will ensure that a more diverse selection of culture is presented abroad.