INDIA IS A SPIRITUAL LEADER: MYTH OR REALITY

There is a buzzword in the world about India’s being a spiritual leader. The patriot classical Hindu protagonists are advocating vehemently for (re)establishing its old and golden image to the people, especially the students and youths in this vast country and the world as a whole. India just completed the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsab (Nectar Festival of Freedom) by commemorating its 75th year of Independence (from 1947 to 2022). India, henceforth, decided to celebrate the next twenty-five years as the “Amrit Kaal” i.e., golden period (from 2022-2047). During this quarter century, the vision of India is to achieve a technology-driven and knowledge-based economy, reminisce with respect to the Indian struggle for independence and the sacrifice of the freedom fighters, and promote India’s heritage, culture, literature, and language. When the government of India upholds and prioritizes the promotion of its age-old tradition, culture, language, spirituality, and philosophy, a critical group of scholars and thinkers put up multiple problems and crises facing India in the present time. Therefore, a debate is going on regarding the issue of India’s role as a global leader as well as the spiritual master. The criticism and counter-arguments by scholars and social thinkers are neither wrong nor anti-national. This is the beauty and fine characteristic of modern Indian democracy, where every citizen enjoys the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, though with certain restrictions as enshrined in the Constitution. In the run of this debate, the Prime Minister and his team are determined to take India to such a height that every man on this earth can have a taste of its spiritual and philosophical honey juice. Now the question is - are Indian culture, heritage, philosophy, and spirituality so rich and exuberant? What are there in India’s philosophy, and spirituality, and the teachings of Indian sages and saints? Do they have created any impact ever upon the minds and activities of people anywhere in the world? Can India really show the path to the global leaders and general people to end war and conflicts, and bring forth peace and prosperity? This article seeks to examine all these questions and finally explores if the acclaim of India as a spiritual leader is appropriate or absurd.

Keywords: India, spiritual leader, Indian philosophy, Indian scriptures, Amrit Kal, Indian yoga.