Can Eastern foreign relations be reshaped by postcolonial values? India is already practicing Buddhism in response to that issue. Some context: While India has a majority Hindu population, its national emblem and the choice of its flag ( specifically the white band ) were adopted from Buddhist symbols at the time of independence.
Over the last few years, the International Buddhist Confederation, composed of a network of researchers, has been at the vanguard of India’s referral to the Buddhist earth. India’s growing relations to the world’s Buddhist area are being strengthened by the IBC.  , The force of the work, which is sponsored by India’s Ministry of Culture, is to investigate alternative types of wedding based on Buddhist rules and postcolonial links. India and its Asian supporters are collaborating to create a new model that will guide international cooperation on growth issues, starting with Buddhist values.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly that it had chosen the Buddha over Yuddha ( the word for war or conflict ), citing Buddhism as a pillar of India’s global identity and a path to peace. In subsequent global speeches, he has reaffirmed this point, citing Buddhism as central to New Delhi’s political strategy and reply to global tensions.
All political parties across the intellectual spectrum acknowledge that Buddhism is a central component of Indian and Asian social discourse, despite Prime Minister Modi’s and Bharatiya Janata Party’s well-known ties to Hindu nationalism.  ,
India’s democratic administration has repeatedly revived this aspect of its commitments with Asia, and the degree of Buddhist civilization’s expansion across Asia is well known. Simply put, there is a discussion among Asian nations about adopting some standards for global conduct given the current world situation. A significant portion of the Modi government’s funds has been allocated to making these issues work for a long time.  ,
Importantly, Buddha’s doctrines of reasoning, kindness and the interconnectedness/interdependency of all things and beings resonate strongly in India’s renewed drive for a new ethical conversation at the international stage. These rules are seen as a basis for local cooperation, consensus-building and fight protection.
Buddhism serves as a political tool for promoting interconnectedness and prosperity in India and as a spiritual tradition. This reflects New Delhi’s wider global aspirations, which are to achieve regional cooperation and happiness in Asia.
Buddhism has a major role played in Indian foreign policy for a long time. Indian nationalists ‘ critical analysis of India’s spot in Asia reflected the traditional extent of Buddhist effect there.
Buddhism was also viewed by Hindu philosophers and reformers as a potent countermeasure to social injustices and as a unified power in Asia during the colonial era. While it sparked intellectual debates among Hindu nationalists, there remains wide consensus on its value in shaping India’s part in Asia, promoting peace and cooperation.
In recent years, India’s international coverage has focused more on soft power in its relations with Asia. Despite having a history of hegemonic ties and practicing Buddhism before it was granted its independence, New Delhi’s development initiatives and diplomacy now speak for themselves more clearly.
Buddhism, which has shaped the cultural and social fabric of India and Asia for decades, is key to this plan. Important activities include the , International Buddhist Circuit, remnant exhibitions,  , recovery of Buddhist churches across Asia , and the , return , of some Buddhist objects to India.  ,  ,
It is already obvious how effective this approach is. In March this year, remnants of Lord Buddha and his two main followers were displayed in Thailand, where they , attracted , over four million followers. A similar museum in Mongolia in 2022 , received state-level accolades. More lately, in June 2024, Modi attended the opening of Nalanda University, the highest core of Buddhist learning in ancient days.
The biography of Guru Padmasambhava, the Indian spiritual who introduced Buddhism to Tibet and the Himalayan place, is gaining in popularity among researchers. His influence, earlier understated, is then gaining renewed interest. Padmasambhava ( known as the” second Buddha” ) is credited with establishing Tibet’s first monastery and shaping the region’s arts and architecture, including in Bhutan and Nepal. It is thought that he used his mountain runs as a means of propagating Buddhist traditions.
Furthermore, the ancient Pali language has become a focal point for the Indian government, due to the publication of key Buddhist texts, including the , Tripitaka , ( the earliest texts that make up the Buddhist Canon ), in Pali. Actually the language of the common people in Buddha’s period, Pali evolved into a complex language as it spread to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia,  , influencing languages , including Sinhalese, Burmese, Thai and Khmer.
In October 2024, Pali was  , declared a” classical language of India”. Modi marked the occasion by addressing a large gathering of Buddhist monks, many from Southeast Asia, reaffirming , India’s commitment , to preserving” the words of Lord Buddha with their original values”.
In recent years, New Delhi has hosted major international Buddhist summits ( with IBC as the nodal knowledge partner ), bringing together diplomats, scholars, monks and monastic heads from across Asia. These events, inaugurated by India’s top leadership, foreground Buddhism’s growing centrality in India’s foreign policy.  ,  ,
For instance, following , the First Global Buddhist Summit , hosted by India’s prime minister, India hosted the , First Asian Buddhist Summit , in 2024, with the president of India as the chief guest, reinforcing India’s” Act East” policy. This strategy emphasizes regional development through cultural ties, including the restoration of historic sites, student scholarships, and a redefining of economic cooperation grounded in civilized values. The Asian Buddhist Summit concluded with the announcement of the , Delhi Declaration, which outlined a framework for cooperation among Asian nations guided by Buddhist , principles.  ,
Beyond cultural diplomacy, Buddhist teachings are being applied to contemporary challenges facing the environment, mental health issues and combating disinformation. The September 2024 International Buddhist Media Conclave in New Delhi, which brought together world-wide Buddhist media outlets and businesspeople to discuss technological advancements and novel methods of preventing disinformation, is a notable example.
Buddhism’s long influence in Asia has shaped the region’s art, architecture, ecology and spirituality, encompassing all aspects of life. These initiatives align India’s development objectives with those of the region by highlighting India’s soft power and reintroducing Buddhism into Asia’s strategic culture. This method aids in the conceptualization of a global order based on the Buddha’s teachings.
Prateek Joshi, a graduate student at Oxford who is currently working as a media executive for the Indian Buddhist Confederation, an independent ministry of culture organization that aims to foster a lively dialogue between Asian governments and Buddhist scholars, is a graduate student at the University of Oxford.
Genevieve Donnellon-May is a researcher at Oxford Global Society and a fellow at the Indo-Pacific Studies Center. She was named a young leader for the 2023 Pacific Forum and serves on Modern Diplomacy’s advisory board.