 "How humanitarian aid can help India boost its soft power")
India’s humanitarian diplomacy is a symphony of soft power, where each note—from disaster relief to vaccine outreach—resonates compassion and exemplifies strategic outreach. Even as Indian Air Force C‑130J and C‑17 transport aircraft raced to deliver aid to earthquake‑stricken Myanmar, they encountered sophisticated GPS‑spoofing attacks that sought to mislead their navigation systems. Pilots switched seamlessly to backup inertial navigation, ensuring that relief supplies reached those in need despite cyber interference. This was as much about a helping hand as a signal to the world of operational readiness.
India remains front and centre in global disaster response. In November 2023, following a jolt that claimed over 150 lives in western Nepal, New Delhi was the first responder—airlifting 11 tonnes of medical equipment and essential supplies into Kathmandu within days of the quake. When twin 7.8‑magnitude shocks ravaged Turkey and Syria in February 2023, India launched Operation Dost—airlifting NDRF search‑and‑rescue squads, a field hospital and over ₹7 crore worth of medical supplies on seven C‑17 flights within days of the disaster.
This same‑day execution of disaster aid underlines India’s preparedness and operational excellence. It also tells the world about India’s large-heartedness, which does not take political considerations into account when reaching out to a disaster or an emergency.
Beyond emergencies, during the COVID era, India’s Vaccine Maitri programme exemplified a logistical marvel. Between January 2021 and March 2021, India supplied 6.5 crore doses of COVID‑19 vaccine to 93 countries across Asia, Latin America and Africa—even as it simultaneously conducted the world’s largest domestic inoculation drive for its 1.3 billion citizens.
From once being a recipient of disaster aid, India has now become a net provider, turning its growing economic capabilities into a platform for global solidarity.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia’s robust response to terrifying natural disasters across the world is an important example of its emergence on the world stage—and New Delhi will do well to allocate even more resources to this effort, ensuring that its symphony of soft power continues to soothe lives across continents.
The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
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