BRIGHT SIDE OF MEDALLION
- Manifestation of Modi, Media and Indian Character
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very active in this process. While trying to raise the morale of the Indian people, Modi emphasised that collective power should be shown on behalf of the Indian people. As a leader who uses social media effectively, Modi talked about the measures that people can take against coronavirus from his accounts. Measures such as paying attention to the elderly, maintaining the social distance by keeping the isolation and using homemade masks, following the guidelines published by the Ayush Ministry, strengthening the immunity, downloading the Aarogya Setu (application for the citizens to detect the risks of virus infection), helping the poor and providing them food, not dismissing the workers and respect for healthcare professionals were among these recommendations. The most important measure in the fight against Covid-19 was the social distance, and for this the public had a big task and required discipline had to be ensured. Modi for the provision of social distance was again reminded of the sacred story Lakshmana Rekha. He recommended this to the public by doing yoga for mental and body health. However, a song called Muskurayega India (We Will Smile, India), which started with the promising sentences of Modi and accompanied by some of the most important names of Bollywood, was released for the public to gather morale.
On the other hand, Modi’s influence on society was also very evident in the fight against Covid-19. In particular, the two collective demonstrations Modi encouraged in the fight against the new type of coronavirus outbreak showed the extent of this effect. At the first event, he asked people to stop at 5 pm on the balconies, with applause, or kitchen utensils, to celebrate the healthcare staff in combating the new coronavirus. He announced the event with the messages “increase the great power of 130 crore Indians” and “make everyone not feel lonely during coronavirus isolation” messages. The second mass demonstration was held like a Diwali celebration, with the slogan of 9 minutes for India at 9 pm on April 5 (which was a big trend in the Twitter), after the lamps were turned off and the candles and diyas were lit, after Modi’s call to “challenge the darkness caused by the coronavirus crisis“. The event was celebrated with religious slogans and chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai“, with great enthusiasm for about half an hour. Prime Minister Modi, on the other hand, tweeted a photo showing that he had lit a lamp in his official residence in Delhi, half an hour after the event started. Wearing blue kurta, the Prime Minister published the following short Sanskrit poem:
Salutations to the light of the lamp which brings auspiciousness, health and prosperity (and) which destroys inimical feelings; Salutations to the light of the lamp.
In addition to Modi’s effectiveness in social media and close communication with the public, one of the most important facts in lockdown process was the role played by TV, the most common mass media in the period when the people closed their homes. When the TV watching models are taken into consideration since the lockdown was first announced, it is seen that the Ramayana series has come to the fore. DD National channel decided to re-publish Ramayana (1987-88) and Mahabharat (1988-90), the mythological series of the eighties. In addition, Shaktimaan, Shriman Shrimati, Chanakya, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Buniyaad, Circus and Byomkesh Bakshi were broadcast on the same channel, while Alif Laila and Upanishad Ganga series were broadcast on DD National’s sister channel DD Bharati. Ramayan was published twice at DD National every day at 9 am and 9 pm. Mahabharat was shown twice a day at DD Bharati at 12:00 and 19:00 with new episodes. Others were divided into other times of the day. The impact of these series on the national curfew was successful. Because the Ramayana series breaking the rating records confirms this situation.
In addition to event incentives reminiscent of the Prime Minister’s religious ceremonies and the re-launch of religious serials, news channels have not bypassed launching religious figures. For example, the news that monks in Bihar-Bodhgaya prayed to strengthen the nation’s determination in the fight against Covid-19 was one of them. Another example is the news that All India Hindu Mahasabha (All India Hindu Grand Assembly) members attend a gaumutra (cow urine) party and drink cow urine. According to Hindu Mahasabha members, the urine of the sacred cow was helping to prevent coronavirus disease. They believed that the Hindu cow was protecting themselves against coronavirus because they thought it was sacred and had medicinal properties. Some of the members stated that they had consumed cow urine for many years and they did not need English medicine at all. However, there are also statements that they think Covid-19 is “an avatar that comes to punish those who eat non-vegetarian food”.
All this can be considered as very interesting news for different cultures. However, when the current situation is evaluated from a broader perspective, it is not a coincidence that religious items is frequently used both for the efficient lockdown and the fight against the virus. Because the reactions of the nations against an event, fact or crisis reveal their character. The reactions of India reveal its nature most clearly for those who can see it. Therefore, the religious rhetoric used by both Modi and the media during this process is quite outside the Hindutva conjuncture, at least it has to be evaluated with this eye.
- How India Managed Foreign Policy in This Process?
The fight against the global pandemic has not only directed the countries into itself, but also emphasized the interdependence of states and the obligation of cooperation. In this respect, India’s foreign policy was also very intense in the process of fighting Covid-19. First of all, it can be said that the U.S.-Indian relations have passed a small test, depending on Covid-19. An urgent solution was required for the USA, which was heavily affected by Covid-19. Trump has put a lot of pressure on the use of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of Covid-19 patients since the United States emerged as the hotspot of the coronavirus. Despite the warnings of scientists and experts, Trump had repeatedly launched the anti-malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chlorokine as the needed solution. Since medicine was not produced in developed countries such as the USA, where malaria cases are not observed, the US turned to India for the supply of the hydroxychloroquine drug, which has been launched as a ‘game changer’ in the fight against Covid-19. Because India produces 70% of the world supply of the drug in question. India, on the other hand, added this drug to the list of drugs, which were banned on 25 March due to Covid-19. Upon this, President Trump, who wanted the lifting of the embargo on the medicine, and Prime Minister Modi talked on the phone and stated that the USA could “retaliate” if India did not open its pharmaceutical stocks for export. Following these words, Indian officials made statements that, after meeting local requirements and current orders, hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol exports would be allowed depending on availability. In addition, it was announced that necessary support will be provided to neighboring countries and to countries that have deteriorated due to the virus when necessary. Accordingly, Trump had bought more than 29 million hydroxychloroquine for the potential treatment of Covid-19 patients. Trump thanked PM Modi for the hydroxychloroquine decision and said it would not be forgotten. In addition, the White House’s Twitter account, which does not follow another world leader, was followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PMO India and the President’s account, and was interpreted as a soft diplomatic victory by India.
Another important country that engaged India’s foreign policy in this process was China. When China first appeared in Wuhan, it was criticized by the United States for not providing information about Covid-19, and even Covid-19 was described as “Chinese virus” by Trump. However, India avoided the blame and continued efforts to prevent the global health crisis. In addition, China and India celebrated the 70th anniversary of their bilateral relations on April 1, which coincided with the period of fighting the Covid-19. Chinese ambassasor Sun Weidong posted a video to deepen trust between the two countries and spoke about what could be done in the future, with an emphasis on the history of bilateral relations. If we go a little further, the informal Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping Summit took place on 27-28 April 2018 in Wuhan, which paved the way to ease tensions in the Doklam sector of the Sino-Indian border, and the entire focus of this particular summit was to end tensions following the Chinese military intervention in Doklam. A clear message emerged from the meeting, in which the two leaders developed a personal relationship, that India and China were able to develop bilateral relations while maintaining peace and tranquility throughout their borders, adhering to the terms of the border agreements signed in 1993 and 2005.
However, within the framework of the events that developed later, there were serious differences between India and China in the international forums, and especially in the UN, regarding the openly anti-India views about Jammu and Kashmir and their unwavering support for Pakistan. Behind these differences was the abolition of the constitutional autonomy that India provided to Kashmir in 5 August 2019 and China’s close relationship with Pakistan. On the other hand, despite the relations developed with China, there is also a group who argues that there are references in the Indian parliament that Aksai Chin is part of the country (Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha stated that the day after the abolition of Kashmir’s constitutional status, POK and Aksai Chin were also part of Kashmir and were ready to die for Kashmir) are behind this step. According to this group, China made strong moves by supporting efforts to internationalise Pakistan’s Kashmir issue in international forums, especially in the UN. If we come back to today, the changing conjuncture caused by Covid-19 also caused a different problem in the bumpy relations of India and China. China has described India’s new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy as discriminatory because it violates the WTO’s principle of free trade. Because the Indian government revised its FDI policy, making it difficult for foreign companies from countries that share land borders with India to invest in the country.
If we focus on the real cause of the new economic crisis between India and China, primarily, China’s prestige loss due to Covid-19 led many foreign companies in the country to India as its new production center. 1,000 foreign firms in China were considering production in India, 300 of them were actively planning as the cries of ‘Exit China’ increased. These companies, which see India as an alternative production center, discuss their offers at various levels of government, including central government departments, Indian embassies abroad, and state industry departments. In line with these developments, India has blocked the way for Chinese companies to invest after the changes in FDI policy. Because Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (founded as a political and cultural organization in 1991, is the wing of RSS that deals with economic issues) and Indian companies opposes Chinese companies investing in the territory of India. This situation, as mentioned above, was harshly criticized by China and caused a new tension between the duo. Aside from these tensions, India, which is going through a financial bottleneck like all other countries, wants to turn this situation in its favor and the Indian government is trying to launch India as a production center.
In addition to its dialogues with the great powers, India has highlighted its priorities in foreign policy in this challenging process, placing great emphasis on its relations with its neighbors. Indian leader Modi has called for SAARC country leaders to propose that the online summit be organized as part of the fight against Covid-19. This proposal of Modi was surprised, because SAARC had not held any summit meetings since 2014. The talks have been shelved, since the tensions between India and Pakistan and Prime Minister Modi’s decision not to attend the SAARC summit in Islamabad in 2016 (Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan did not attend this year’s meeting, but sent his private health advisor instead). In this sense, the Indian government has managed to master foreign policy skillfully, particulary SAARC countries, both locally and globally, especially in the G20. However, the coronavirus struggle has revealed the strengths and weaknesses of India, as in all other countries. Poverty and religious tensions have increased; poverty, migrant workers, Muslim problems and health system problems have become more visible. As a result, India should focus on healing these wounds by turning this challenging process into an opportunity, sincerely accepting its own shortcomings.