From CAATSA pressure to biased global media, the West and China benefit when India stays silent.
It’s time for India to combine hard power with soft influence — by investing in global media, owning the story, and always putting India First.
Narrative is power. Control it, or be controlled.
In the smoke and mirrors of modern geopolitics, narratives often carry more weight than missiles. A single Western headline can shift the world’s perception, reframe aggressors as victims, and cast silence over the most horrific acts — as long as they happen far from American or European borders. Despite its growing stature as a global power, India continues to lose the narrative war. And in a world ruled by perception, that’s a risk we can no longer afford.
Let’s connect the dots.
The Unequal Standards of Global Outrage
When Hamas fighters killed civilians in Israel, the West backed Tel Aviv unconditionally. When Russia invaded Ukraine, every Western capital demanded sanctions and global unity. But when Indian soldiers die on the Line of Control or civilians are bombed by Pakistan-backed proxies, where is the outrage?
Instead, we see a convenient silence — or worse, a moral equivalence drawn between India and Pakistan, a democratic nation versus a state-sponsored terror ecosystem. Most recently, openly circulated photos of Pakistani generals offering state funerals to US-designated terrorists. There was no rebuke. No sanctions. No suspension of IMF aid. In fact, funds were approved shortly after. The hypocrisy is staggering.
India’s Neutrality – A Strategic Choice, Not a Moral Failure
When India refused to take sides in the Russia-Ukraine war, or when it maintained a neutral stance on the Israel-Palestine issue, it wasn’t a sign of weakness — it was a sign of maturity. We placed Indian interests first. We secured discounted oil from Russia during global shortages. We kept channels open with all West Asian sides, safeguarding both our diaspora and energy interests. Yet the Western media dubbed this as “fence-sitting” while conveniently forgetting how NATO’s own wars destabilised entire regions.
India’s refusal to toe the Western line invited a subtle backlash. Today, we see it unfold: resuscitating the India-Pakistan hyphenation, amplifying “concerns” over Kashmir, and downplaying the very real threat of terrorism emanating from across the border. It’s not just political. It’s economic.
The Economics of Influence and the War on Indigenous Defence
Let’s talk business — defence business. India’s S-400 missile defence system from Russia, the Rafale jets from France, and our own indigenous Akash systems and drone tech are not just strategic tools. They are threats — to US defence contractors.
Every indigenous innovation or non-American purchase by India chips away at its market dominance. And so begins the push: pressure through CAATSA, veiled criticism via think tanks, and subtle media campaigns projecting India as “aggressive” or “authoritarian.”
China, on the other hand, watches with glee. A prolonged India-Pakistan conflict serves its purpose — it keeps India regionally distracted, economically strained, and globally boxed in. Whether it’s Galwan or Gwadar, Beijing is always two steps ahead, waiting for the world to paint Delhi as the next villain.
The Missing Piece: Soft Power Backed by Hard Truth
India has invested billions in hard power—nuclear deterrents, cyber defence, and indigenous missile systems—but when it comes to soft power, we are still playing catch-up.
We must ask: Who is controlling the global media narrative?
Not India.
And this is where our billionaires, tech giants, and storytellers must rise.
Why are there no Indian-owned or influenced global media platforms shaping international opinion? Why aren’t our narratives of peace, growth, resilience, and national pride being exported? Why is there no Indian CNN and no Indian Al Jazeera? Because soft power isn’t built overnight — it’s built by intent, investment, and imagination.
It’s Time for the Indian Billionaire to Think Like a Statesman
Ambani, Adani, Tata, Mahindra, Infosys, Wipro — the names are global, and the impact is undeniable. But power without global influence is hollow.
India doesn’t just need billionaires. It needs builders of narrative. India needs its wealthy elite to enter the global opinion space. Buy into media, fund think tanks, create publishing houses, sponsor global art and literature, and put Indian perspectives on global television.
A Closing Truth: India Chose Its People First, Always
Whether it was vaccine diplomacy during the pandemic, standing firm during the Balakot strike, or refusing to abandon oil purchases for virtue-signalling, India has always prioritised its people—not the headlines, not the hashtags.
That’s what true leadership looks like. But to safeguard that leadership and ensure we are not spoken for but speak for ourselves, India must realise one truth: Hard power protects, but soft power prevails.
The war for perception is on. Let’s make sure India wins it.