The soul of Bharat: Endurance, vision, and civilizational pride

By Dr. Imran Khurshid


On 15th August 2025, India celebrated the 79th Independence Day of the country
– a proud moment for every Indian. Since gaining independence, India has made remarkable strides while facing numerous challenges, yet the nation has always endured. From the Chinese aggression in 1962 to the 1971 war, from economic hardships during the Cold War to sanctions imposed by the US in 1998, India has stood firm.

Even when America sent an aircraft carrier to the Bay of Bengal in 1971 to intimidate India, the country held its ground. Similarly, during the economic crisis of the 1990s and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, India navigated through adversity with resilience.

Today, even as the US imposes tariffs with India reciprocating, the nation will withstand these challenges. India is home to people who are educated, competitive, and enterprising. Indians across the world are praised for their intellect, skill, and dedication.

Time and again, the country has faced internal and external trials but has always found its own path. When crises arise, India has turned them into opportunities, leveraging them to grow stronger under capable leadership.

Once dismissed as “snake charmers” by colonial narratives, Indians have risen to lead some of the world’s most influential companies. Today, Indian-origin leaders head over 10% of Fortune 500 companies, shaping industries from technology to pharmaceuticals. Visionaries like Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sundar Pichai (Alphabet/Google), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), Arvind Krishna (IBM), and Reshma Kewalramani (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) exemplify this transformation.

Their journeys from modest beginnings in India to global leadership roles underscore the nation’s emphasis on education, resilience, and innovation. These leaders are not just steering their companies; they are shaping entire industries, demonstrating the enduring strength of India’s educational system and the global recognition of Indian talent.

Indians are globally recognized for their talent and competitive spirit. They make their country proud wherever they go, carrying a deep attachment to the homeland. Today, India is the third-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) and the fifth-largest in nominal GDP, valued at around $4.19 trillion in 2025.

The country has become a key player in global geopolitics, driven by strong sectors such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and a young, dynamic workforce. From times of famine and scarcity to becoming an exporter of goods and a thriving democracy, India’s journey exemplifies resilience, innovation, and growing influence on the world stage.

At the time of independence, many European nations doubted India’s ability to survive, citing its vast diversity, lack of unified national identity, and fragile institutions. Some Western observers believed that India’s deep ethnic, linguistic, and religious divisions would hinder its ability to maintain unity and stability.

Additionally, the absence of a strong central authority and the challenges of integrating over 500 princely states raised concerns about the nation’s cohesion. These doubts were further fueled by the British colonial perspective, which often portrayed India as a collection of fragmented regions rather than a unified nation.

However, the vision and institutions established by the founding fathers, along with the democratic spirit and active participation of the Indian people, have enabled India to thrive. While democratic experiments in many countries around the world – and in this region – have failed, India has stood firm and proven that democracy can succeed in a diverse society.

Democracy in India is vibrant not only because of its institutions but also due to the awareness, commitment, and engagement of its citizens. India’s civilizational culture itself has long embodied democratic values – encouraging debate, consensus, and respect for differing viewpoints – which naturally align with the principles of modern democracy.


This is not new to India; ancient institutions such as the sabha and samiti in the Vedic period, and later republican forms of governance in certain Mahajanapadas, illustrate that participatory decision-making has deep civilizational roots. This democratic civilizational culture, enriched by a tradition of tolerance and a “middle path” approach, has enabled Indian society to accommodate immense diversity without fracturing.

Poverty has significantly declined, and hunger is largely absent. The credit also goes to successive leaderships that have navigated the country through turbulent times, fostering talent and entrepreneurship among Indians.

Yet, the journey is far from over. It is the responsibility of every Indian to contribute to making India a developed nation. As one of America’s leaders once said, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

This should be the guiding spirit for all of us – while the government has its responsibilities, each citizen must take initiative and contribute to the nation’s progress. Today, no country can intimidate India.

Threats and sanctions, like those from the US, are nothing compared to the trials the nation has faced over its long history. From the sacrifices made in Kargil, Galwan, 1962, 1971, and during counter-terror operations, to overcoming internal and external challenges, India has always emerged stronger.

Indians are respected globally for their skills and resilience. On this Independence Day, it is time to take a pledge – individually contributing to the nation’s progress. It is a moment to honor visionaries like Rabindranath Tagore, who envisioned an India where freedom transcends political boundaries to encompass intellectual and spiritual liberation. Tagore’s poem “Where the Mind is Without Fear” calls for a nation where knowledge is free, the head is held high, and the world is not divided by narrow domestic walls. His establishment of Visva-Bharati University at Shantiniketan embodied his belief in education as a means to unite humanity beyond borders.

Bharat’s Guiding Light Beyond Power Politics and Western Narratives

Let us also remember Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, who combined revolutionary zeal with spiritual depth, advocating for India’s independence as a step toward fulfilling its spiritual destiny. Aurobindo’s concept of ‘spiritual nationalism’ emphasized India’s role in the spiritual awakening of mankind, viewing the nation’s rise as a divine mission benefiting all humanity. His vision transcended mere political freedom, aiming for a transformative unity that integrates the global community.

Similarly, Swami Vivekananda highlighted the power of India’s spiritual heritage, advocating that the nation’s strength lies in moral, intellectual, and spiritual awakening. At the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, he rose at a time when the world’s view of India was shaped by deep colonial prejudice – Indians were often seen through a lens of inferiority and subordination, as subjects of a backward and fragmented land. There was widespread misunderstanding about the country and its people, the extent of which we can hardly imagine today. The global narrative, shaped by colonial propaganda, portrayed India as a land of superstition and poverty, often viewing its people in a dehumanizing way, stripped of agency and dignity. Yet, with unmatched composure, courage, and conviction, Vivekananda shattered these misconceptions.

Opening his speech with the heartfelt words, “Sisters and Brothers of America,” Swami Vivekananda instantly bridged continents and cultures. In that moment, the vast hall fell into a profound silence, only to erupt into a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes. This spontaneous outpouring of applause was not just a response to his words, but to the warmth and sincerity they conveyed. In an era when such familial and spiritual warmth in public addresses was rare, his greeting touched the hearts of the audience.

Without satellite channels or social media, and in an era when the land of Bharat was under colonial subjection and its soul suppressed, Vivekananda’s moral authority, courage, and clarity of thought carried India’s message across the globe. He projected India’s vision of universal tolerance, self-reliance, and global leadership rooted in spiritual values, leaving an indelible mark on the world stage.

This vision of India – seeing the world as one family, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – is the actual guiding principle of the nation. It serves as a crucial lesson for scholars and commentators who, without understanding India’s worldview, portray the country as aggressive on the international stage like China or any other revisionist power, and misinterpret its foreign policy through simplistic Western frameworks. In reality, India’s approach is anchored in the idea of Vishmitra (friend of all) and seeks global peace, stability, cooperation, and predictability, not domination.

This is also a lesson for us today. Despite having advanced communication tools, global media access, and diplomatic platforms, we often fail to present our perspective convincingly. The recent example of the US imposing tariffs on India – while exempting China, the largest buyer of Russian crude oil – exposes gaps in our strategic communication. Europe continues to purchase oil from Russia, and even the US itself trades in various critical goods with Russia, yet India is singled out. Such selective targeting reflects biases that demand a firm, well-articulated response rooted in our values and national interest.

Regrettably, when our Foreign Minister presents India’s perspective eloquently, some so-called experts advise caution, claiming it may hurt India’s interests. They fail to recognize that representing our nation’s viewpoint boldly is not provocation – it is the essence of India’s diplomatic tradition, which blends firmness with dignity.

We also honor Lala Lajpat Rai, who tirelessly worked for national unity, education, and social reform, believing that India’s strength would come from the revival of its cultural and spiritual heritage. Let us respect all visionary leaders, salute our nation, celebrate its journey, and commit to building a prosperous future for Bharat by drawing inspiration from the ideals and sacrifices of these great leaders.

Blitz