Walter J. Lindner, Germany's ambassador to India from 2019 to 2022, reflects on India's growing global influence in his book, *What the West Should Learn from India*. He highlights India's enduring soft power, rooted in its rich culture and history, while emphasizing its increasing importance as the world's most populous nation. Lindner notes that India's participation is crucial for addressing global challenges, positioning it as a stabilizing force in international relations. His insights shed light on India's pivotal role in shaping the future.
As interest in India grows on the global stage, it is clear that the nation's economic and cultural significance is increasingly recognized. Just as China’s ascent in the early 2000s prompted a flurry of literature, India's current prominence is inspiring a new wave of exploration and understanding. Among those who can illuminate India's journey is Walter J. Lindner, who served as Germany's ambassador to India from 2019 to 2022, following a distinguished career as Germany’s state secretary.
Lindner's connection to India began with an adventurous backpacking trip in the 1970s and evolved into a vibrant role in the Indian media, particularly noted for his distinctive rides in a classic red Ambassador car through the streets of Delhi. Now, he shares his insights in his book, *What the West Should Learn from India*, which explores India's pivotal role in the emerging global order and the significance of understanding this dynamic in the West. In a recent conversation with Nirmal John over Zoom, Lindner discussed India's transformation and its assertive position in global affairs.
When asked about India's reputation for soft power, Lindner acknowledged that it remains a fundamental aspect of the nation’s identity. “Soft power is still there because it is part of India's DNA. Its spirituality, history, culture, religions, music—all these have left an imprint worldwide,” he noted.
However, Lindner emphasized that India’s importance extends beyond soft power, particularly as it now boasts the largest population in the world. “It is a country without whose opinion and participation, the world would not really move forward,” he stated. He highlighted that solutions to pressing global issues—such as combating plastic waste, managing mega cities, and addressing the water crisis—are increasingly tied to India's involvement.
Over the past few years, amidst global political challenges, India has emerged as a stabilizing force, balancing superpowers and bridging divides between regions. Lindner remarked, “India has, even without doing much, gained a lot of importance in foreign policy. It is the natural growth of importance of the country.”
As India continues to navigate its path on the global stage, the insights from figures like Lindner help to illuminate the unique role the country plays in shaping the future.
You mentioned the balance between North and South, and East and West. How does it differ from the traditional Indian choice of nonalignment with any of the power blocs?
India remains a non-bloc country, a nonmilitary bloc country, and I think it has done well since the time of Gandhi, through the times of Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. Ukraine and Gaza have shown that India is one of the few countries which has good access to all sides. India manages to balance. There is a tendency by Western countries to draw India into their camp and to push it to have the same voting patterns in the UN and other places. But India remains true to itself. As S Jaishankar (India’s external affairs minister) said, there is a double standard in the West. You need to have smart politics which keeps you out of bloc thinking, and I think they have done well. The world needs leaders who can talk to Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump and the Europeans. In the long run, we need countries that keep channels open and I think this is brilliantly done by India.
You suggest that there is a fundamental need for the West to relearn India.
For many in the West, India remains an enigma —it is pretty unexplored or under-understood. It is either a touristic country, or a meditation place, or exotic, but it is not taken as a whole. It is spiritual and touristic and attractive, but it is also a complex, political country. How do you explain this to observers who have no real access to the DNA of India? That's what I am trying to do.
The world has to learn that it is not just a place of gurus and satsangs, but a place of IT wizards with entrepreneurship too. Soon it will be the third or fourth biggest world economy. That's why we have to relearn India.
From the India you saw as a backpacker in 1977 to the India where you worked as an ambassador—how has the country changed?
About 40-45 years ago, when I was there the first time, India was half the size it is today. It was a different India. The world has changed in 50 years, and so has India. My access when I came back as an ambassador, of course, was different than as a hippie backpacker. My access to political circles gave me insights into modern India. It showed me how much has changed. But, again, you find the old India too—if you talk to a guru, or a sadhu, they would give you the same answer to your questions as they did 50 years ago. So this is India —the only place where you find this kind of holistic approach. Why are Indian CEOs so successful in the world? Maybe because they have this Indian holistic approach to take care of the soul and the heart. It is not a pure capitalistic approach. This is a good combination.
What is India’s role as a voice of Global South?
First, the Global South is a huge category. And there is no formal role for a speaker for this vast space. While India is not pushing for the role of a leader, through its weight and its population, and its wise foreign policy, it is a natural candidate for leading the Global South. China could, too, but it is much more inclined to an ideology that is confrontational in some aspects. Sure, on Israel and Hamas, India has quite a different approach than, say, Venezuela or Iran. But India is in a good position because it is good with capitalism and social democratic ideas. It has a lot of ingredients that are talked about in the world.
What happened to your Ambassador car?
I left her behind in Delhi. I hope to ride her when I come to India early next year for the Jaipur Literature Festival.
“Ukraine and Gaza have shown that India is one of the few countries which has good access to all sides. India manages to balance. There is a tendency by Western countries to draw India into their camp. But India remains true to itself”.
“India is the only place where you find a holistic approach. Why are Indian CEOs so successful in the world? Maybe because they have this Indian holistic approach to take care of the soul and the heart. It is not a pure capitalistic approach. This is a good combination”.
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