India and several territories of the Caribbean have a strong linkage historically tied to colonial rule and ethnicity and by extension culture that has led to increasing trade. Historically, it has been the Indian presence via indentureship from May 1838 and trade that actually played an important role in the expanse of India’s culture reaching the shores of the Caribbean. This linkage is tied to “soft power”.
All major powers are using ‘soft power’ (non-military or non-physically threatening means like foreign aid or developmental assistance, culture and arts including cinema, museum, sports, language, architecture, scholarships, medicine, spirituality, cuisine, visits by leaders, etc.) in their foreign policy to influence other nations. It is a humanistic as opposed to a militaristic approach in conducting foreign policy with a goal of uniting citizens, businesses, and communities across countries in the pursuit of shared or common objectives. The main objectives of soft power is to increase influence, boost trade, and enhance security. India, like USA and other global players, has also turned to soft power (including yoga) in its foreign policy going back to early years after independence (1947) and most recently by doling out rare vaccines to counter epidemic as when India gave out tens of millions of Covid 19 vaccines in 2021/22 to countries around the globe. Guyana and the Caribbean were beneficiaries.
I am invited as a guest speaker on India’s Soft Power at an international conference in New Delhi on October 24 at the prestigious India International Center which has had a long history of hosting conferences. Remarks will be delivered in person on India’s soft power in the Caribbean and leveraging the diaspora for mutual benefits in the region. I am also on the program chairing a session on the Indian diaspora on October 25. The aim of the international conference this week in Delhi is to bring together scholars, practitioners, experts, and policymakers to deliberate and discuss India’s diaspora and soft power.
The influence of India is strong in the Caribbean region – presence of Indian people and culture including language, religion, Bollywood, arts, foods, among other facets. India has been generous with scholarships and developmental assistance including soft long-term loans or line of credit. Indian engineers are assisting with projects including construction of roadways and other infrastructure. All these soft power techniques have helped to forge closer ties between India and Guyana and the region.
A special relationship exists between India and Guyana (and Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago) because of ethnic and cultural linkage and the historicity of Indian presence in the region. This bond has been carefully preserved as it has also with Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and several other Caribbean territories. And most recently, India has cultivated close relationship with Barbados, Antigua, and Dominica.
Admiration for India’s political leadership go back to the early 1900s (Nehru, Gandhi, others) during that colony’s freedom struggle. In recent times, admiration was displayed for Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, Atal Beharri Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi all of whom visited the Caribbean region and have been held in great esteem. Indian Presidents and or Vice Presidents also visited the region.
This cultural base on which India-Guyana relations as well as that with several other nations that have consistently been nurtured, is a true testament to the countless similarities that exist between India and our country and the region. Indian culture has had a deep profound impact in the milieu of several Caribbean territories. Trade relations have improved over the years. More and more Indians (from India) are employed in the region in the technical and medical fields. Indian companies are investing in the region. Cultural diplomacy, medical assistance, and other soft power can further enhance bilateral trade. Historically, too, it is trade and the Indian presence via indentureship that actually played an important role in the expanse of India’s culture reaching the shores of the Caribbean.
The deep significance that India attaches to the Caribbean has been discernible when Prime Minister Narendra Modi en route from Argentina in November 2018 had planned to stop over in Trinidad and Guyana. He held India-Caricom summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly a few years ago. He had several bilateral meets with Caribbean leaders at the UN and at Climate summits and Commonwealth summits. Reports indicate he is planning to stop off in Guyana next month.
PM Modi will always be remembered for his compassion, foresight and commitment for the welfare of Caribbean people when he dispatched medicine and other materials to mitigate the Covid epidemic, an act no other nation replicated. PM Mia Mottley of Barbados showered accolades on Modi for India’s kindness and generosity that saved many lives. PM Ralph Gonsalves also praised Modi’s leadership as has Gaston Browne of Antigua and other Caribbean leaders as well. They are also supportive of yoga which is embraced in Barbados and the region. More and more people are embracing yoga throughout the region and globally as a health benefit to combat dreadful diseases. The UN General Assembly affirmed the significance of yoga for the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of all individuals resulting in a less stressful life.
This special Guyana-India and Caribbean-India relationship benefits our country and region. Caribbean nations have sought India’s assistance at global forums. Regional cooperation with India and her vibrant soft power ties will bring us closer together to increase economic benefits offered in the region and in the sub-continent.
These ties will only grow with contemporary relevance. They should be encouraged, strengthened, preserved, and carried forward for generations together.