Indian Diplomacy: Caste, Ambedkar and Buddhist Diplomacy

In postcolonial nations like India, foreign policy and diplomacy have traditionally held a normative space apart from the supposedly “hard” power politics of the Cold War era. Following Pt. Nehru, also referred to as Nehruvian Socialism, the ruling elites in India have historically hegemonized discourse and policies in accordance with the subcontinent’s hierarchical Brahmanical framework. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s departure from the Nehru administration signalled his disapproval of Indian diplomacy that was tilted towards authoritarian communism and socialism. The pragmatic approach, advocacy for the unity of “leagues of democracies,” and his conversion to Buddhism further underscored the need for an alternative perspective of the Indian state in handling international affairs. While the Indian establishment tried to understand the importance of Buddhism in reaching out to other worlds especially South-East Asian societies, the current regime went one step further in displaying its keen interests to engage other world with the ideals and identity of Buddha. Interestingly, the Modi regime and his ideological underpinnings not only have serious limitations over Buddhist philosophy but it mischievously propagated Brahmanical Hinduism in better light through Buddhist roots and civilisation.