Prosperity and economic clout rather than war and aggression will be the key determinants of status in the world community.

THE TERM `Great Power' or `Major Power' should be seen in a modern 21st century setting and not in its historical context. India does not subscribe to the conventional idea of power. India approaches the notion of power with an alternative vision.

India's power capabilities are a guarantee of the freedom and security of its people who constitute one sixth of humanity. For us, power is a means of advancing the welfare of our people and a tool for preserving and consolidating the autonomy of our foreign and domestic policy. Moreover, as befits India's history and the traditions of its post-independence foreign policy, our pursuit of power is firmly anchored in an international mission aimed at eliminating the scourge of war, protecting international law, strengthening the U.N. and striving for a new deal for developing countries whose people constitute the large majority of the world.

India's recent achievements in terms of hard power are many. They include the development of a nuclear deterrent; military modernisation; rapid economic growth with a rate expected to reach over 8 per cent this year; transition from a food deficit, aid receiving nation with limited foreign exchange reserves to a food exporter and aid giving nation with the sixth largest foreign exchange reserves in the world; major advances in areas of high technology and global recognition of India's huge reservoir of young and world class human resources.

Traditionally, military might has been considered the most important of the various ingredients of power. However, the use of force in naked pursuit of national interests is no longer a viable objective for moral as well as pragmatic reasons. Power in the 21st century will flow from a well-run economy. Prosperity and economic clout rather than war and aggression will be the key determinants of status in the world community.

It has been argued by some that India's decision to develop nuclear weapons was purely a political act aimed at enhancing its status in the world by breaking into the exclusive nuclear club. This is a fallacy. In a world where weapons of mass destruction are still to be eliminated, nuclear weapons sadly remain the ultimate guarantor of a nation's security. It was the imposition of an imperfect non-proliferation order, evidence of which is all around us, that compelled us to make the transition from nuclear abstinence to that of a reluctant nuclear power. India is a mature nuclear power, which takes the responsibility of possessing this awesome capability very seriously.

To turn to soft power, India's influence has spread far and wide since ancient times on the strength of our culture, religion and philosophy. As the land of Gandhi and as a nation that won its independence through a struggle unique in the annals of history, India has an international image that few others can claim. Similarly, our leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement, our contribution to virtually every major activity of the United Nations, including over 36 peace-keeping operations involving around 67,000 troops, and our consistent espousal of the cause of developing countries is well recognised by the international community.

India's track record as a democracy; the success we have achieved in welding together an extraordinarily large and diverse society into a nation, our fiercely independent judiciary and vibrant press also stand out in any international comparison. Moreover, yoga and Indian food, music, cinema, fashion, dance, writing, etc. are all riding the high tide of globalisation and winning new friends for India in far corners of the world. The success of our IITs and IT industry has spawned a novel stereotype of an Indian as a workaholic computer whiz kid. Ambitious forays into foreign lands by our trade and industry are also resulting in the slow but steady emergence of `Brand India.'

Three important aspects deserve further elaboration. Firstly, India is a unique model of democracy plus economic growth in the developing world. The success of Indian democracy is important not only for its intrinsic worth but also because economic progress built on the foundation of popular participation and rule of law is likely to be much more sustainable. Moreover, as India's developmental efforts take deeper root and we succeed in taking education, health and infrastructure to our rural areas, we will add significant new numbers to our scientific and technical workforce and that in turn will impart further momentum to economic growth. More than any other factor, it is India's silent revolution in the field of rural development and women's empowerment, which will catapult India to world status.

Secondly, India's self-perception has shifted from that of a weak developing country to that of a great power in the making. This constitutes a huge mental leap for India. Thirdly, India's foreign policy has never been as complete and comprehensive as it is today. Throughout the Cold War, we were estranged from the West in general and the U.S. in particular. Today, we enjoy a very good relationship with not only the United States but also all major Western powers. And, this has not been at the cost of our traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Russia or any other country, including our developing country partners of Africa, Latin America and Asia. Further, we are now even thinking the unthinkable. Differences with China and Pakistan, which have festered for decades, are being addressed in a straightforward and pragmatic manner as never before. There is a new dynamic in South Asia with the signing of the SAFTA. SAARC is exploring how progress can be made towards an economic union, including a common currency. And, work has already commenced on transport and energy corridors that will criss-cross Asia with India as its hub.

In any discussion on a country like India emerging as a major power, it is but legitimate that we ask the question — can India afford this? It is my firm view that the Holy Grail cannot be India's unless and until we address our domestic economic and social issues. These problems are a drag on our ambitions and must be conquered through determined national effort.

However, pursuit of power in the international community and the need to address pressing tasks at home are not exclusive of each other. Our efforts in the international and domestic fields complement and supplement each other, especially so in a globalised world. The speed with which we address our domestic challenges will add to our influence in the international community and vice versa, the more we emerge as a power in the world, the more we will be able to contribute to the strengthening of our economy.

Further, unity and social harmony within the country is a sine qua non for India's progress in the international arena. India's biggest strength is its secular and multi-cultural ethos. The fact that India's Muslim population is the second largest in the world and that its Christian minorities outnumber the entire population of many European countries is a badge of honour for us. To damage our heritage of tolerance and pluralism or to waver in upholding these principles is the biggest setback that can occur to our great power ambitions.

While India has sought to change existing power equations in the global order, it has essentially been a status quo power that does not seek to upset the existing order through violent means. India does not resort to export of terrorism or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Of all the members of the Al-Qaeda arrested so far, not one has been from India. We are not part of the NPT. But we believe in and uphold the broader non-proliferation goals of the treaty. We do not seek to snatch territory from others or re-write the history of our sub-continent. We criticise the developed world for its unfair economic policies. At the same time, we seek to engage the North in dialogue and to appeal to their reason and wisdom. India has repeatedly drawn attention to the undemocratic character of the permanent membership of the U.N. But that has not prevented us from working with the Security Council and its members in advancing the goals of the U.N.

There is no doubt that the road ahead is long and arduous. Like all matters of international politics, the rise of India will depend not just on India's actions but also on how the rest of the world responds to this development and the objective circumstances of the coming decades. Nevertheless, India has started a confident march in the right direction and we are determined to succeed in reaching our goal.

As a major power, the values that India will seek to spread in the world and the goals that we will strive to achieve will be the same values and goals that infuse our national and civilisational experience. India will always stand for democracy within and amongst countries. It will act as a pro-active agent of peace. India will continue to strive for international equity and justice. It will be a champion of the free movement of goods, services and persons across national frontiers. Finally, by combining democracy with economic growth and by successfully managing its pluralist society through an open, transparent and participative process, India is already setting an example for the rest of the world.

(Adapted from an address delivered in New Delhi on March 12, 2004.)