Bollywood movies like Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Tamasa were released during Indian blockade in Nepal. They did brisk business in multiplexes of Kathmandu. Nepali housewives have not boycotted Indian daily soaps nor stopped following fashion trends of their favourite Indian actresses. Dancing numbers like Chitiyan kaliyaa re are all rage in wedding receptions. Even public vehicles that spend whole day in long queues for fuel keep playing Hindi numbers. Induction electricity cookers (made in India) have replaced gas stoves in Nepali kitchens. Cross-country flow of students through various exchange and scholarship programs continues. Enough evidence that India exercises strong soft power in Nepal. So what went wrong?We share language, religion and culture with India. We share open border and have deepest roti beti relations with it. But this Indian soft power has not prevented spread of anti-Indian sentiments among Nepalis.
The Hindi song lovers hate India. Despite its continuous denial, Nepalis see border blockade as India's doing.
American political scientist, Joseph Nye describes soft power as an ability to mould behaviors of others, both at government and public levels. He says that with such power a state can do what it wants through payment (carrot), coercion (stick) and attraction tactics. Soft power works even when hard power is limited as soft power rests primarily on three resources—culture, political values and foreign policy.
The country that wants to become a global leader uses use both soft and hard power as complementary elements. But there is discrepancy between soft power and hard power that India uses in Nepal. This is at the root of growing anti-Indian sentiments in Nepal.
There is great deal of cultural exchange, promoted by civil society, non-governmental institutions and other actors, between Nepal and India. It helps bring two nations close, narrows down differences and fosters cordiality. Indian use of soft power is well placed. But its foreign policies and the principles it preaches are not in line with the idea of soft power. It is in fact against the idea of democracy, liberalism and principles of panchasheel of which India is a follower.
India is the largest democracy in the world but its commitment to democracy in the neighbourhood is under question. Professor SD Muni once claimed Indian establishment puts national interests above liberal democratic values. Nepalis have seen what India's national interests are.
India's foreign policy on Nepal is offensive, aggressive and threatening to Nepal's sovereignty. This aggression has caused humanitarian crisis in Nepal.
India has used the stick and obstructed supply of fuels, food and medicine and become the primary cause of our negative growth and double-digit inflation.
In her recent Rajya Sabha address India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj admitted that India treats Nepal much as an 'elder brother' treats younger brother. It shows Delhi is not ready to treat Nepal as a sovereign equal. Clearly, this is the case of misuse of hard power by India.
Such misuse of hard power will undermine soft power and be counterproductive to foreign policy goals of India. Nepal and India have started accusing each other of non-compliance in international forums.
Nepal's Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa accused India of interfering during his address to Universal Periodic Review at UN's Human Rights Council in Geneva last month. India accused Nepal of non-compliance of human rights norms. Perhaps this is the first time India and Nepal have resorted to such accusations in the modern times.
The growing distance between Kathmandu and Delhi will affect Nepal more than it affects Delhi but India won't gain anything either. It will be counterproductive for India's image as a global leader. The country that offends all its neighbours can only mar its own image.
India wants to acquire permanent membership of United Nations Security Council. Nepal had backed India's bid. But if India keeps treating Nepal cruelly, Nepal will withdraw its support.
By misusing its hard power, India has belittled its soft power—which has the ability to rebuild frayed relations between peoples. It should correct this mistake to regain the goodwill of Nepali people. It should learn to maintain a fine balance between soft power and hard power in its neighbourhood.
Soft power has held the people of two countries together despite Indian mishandling of Nepal. But this might no longer be true if India continues to corner small countries like Nepal.
The author is a student of International Relations and Diplomacy at Tribhuvan University
@injina_panthi
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