Question

How far do you agree with the view that the presence of Indians diaspora in the world has given the much-desired fillip to India’s relations with other countries?

Answer 1

Approach:

• How Indians diaspora in the world pushing for India's interests abroad.(with examples)
• Diaspora's role in shaping India's foreign policy

The 2015 International Migration Report estimated that 16 million Indians lived abroad, according to UN World Migration Report (2018) Indian diaspora is the world's largest. India was the world's largest recipient of remittances in 2016 having received $62 billion. However, the importance of Diasporas does not end with remittances alone but extends to knowledge transfer, the sharing of resources, acting as unofficial Indian ambassadors and pushing for India's interests abroad.

However, as for the diaspora's role in shaping and furthering India's foreign policy goals, it is unclear to the extent of their engagement. Nevertheless, as more people of Indian origin take up larger roles in politics, business and entertainment abroad, they will be more likely to not only invest in India but also help further India's interests.

Two good examples are Antonio Costa, the Portuguese Prime Minister, and Leo Varadkar, Ireland's Prime Minister. Both belong to the Indian diaspora and come from two economically strong countries that can trade with India. Portugal has already signed MOUs with India in science and technology, double taxation avoidance, space, trade and investment. Further, the two countries have agreed to create a joint science fund of four million Euros where they will collaborate in science research projects.

As for Ireland and other countries like the Netherlands with a large Indian diaspora, they are more likely to support India in her bid to join the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). This will be even more likely with enough pressure from the diaspora.

India can also benefit from the diaspora in North America in achieving her space, defence and security goals. Groups like the United States India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), Friends of India, Canada India Foundation (CIF) and Canada India Business Council (CIBC), are already actively pushing for India's interests. Take for example the recent passing of the American defence budget in June 2017, totaling $\$$ US621 billion, where Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera, stressed in his amendment for "advanced defence cooperation between our two nations".

India needs delicate balancing between its relationships with Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar as it has interests engaged with all three countries. Currently, India enjoys a favourable relationship with the three countries, perhaps to an extent due to the presence of the diaspora.

Indians in the Middle East are known to be honest and hard workers. This "soft power" asset may have helped in convincing Saudi Arabia that India is and will remain a long-term trading partner despite Modi pursuing stronger ties with Israel.

Smaller but equally important ways in which the Indian community abroad helps further India's foreign policy goals is by helping in the return of stolen artefacts. The Indian Pride Project for example successfully lobbied to bring back the famous Nataraja from Australia, and sandstone Yakshi from the United States.

However, the support of the diaspora is neither automatic nor continuous. They have been critical of bureaucratic procedures in India among other issues. The Canadian politician, Jagmeet Singh, for example, has been very critical of the treatment of minority groups in India. Yet, the diaspora can help further India's interests and have risen to the occasion when India needed them. Moreover, the expectations of the diaspora, in return for their help from the Indian government is varied. While those from countries like Australia, the US and Canada demand dual citizenship and easier routes to invest in India, immigrants in the Gulf states require more help in day-to-day survival, and people of Indian origin in countries like Fiji, Kenya and Trinidad and Tobago look to India for cultural ties. The government will have to continue to work with these diaspora groups separately to fully benefit from the complementary relationship shared between the diaspora and its home country, focusing on his flagship programs like ‘Make in India’, while also playing a larger role in the Indian space programme and in the expansion of trade, defence and security ties.