CULTURAL PLURALISM AND CIVILIZATIONAL HARMONY: INDIA’S DIALOGUE WITH THE WORLD

Abstract

This study explores the philosophical and cultural foundations of India’s civilizational ethos through the twin ideals of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“the world is one family”) and Sarva-dharma-sambhāva (“equal respect for all faiths”). Rooted in the Vedic and Upanishadic worldview, these principles form the moral axis of India’s pluralism and global engagement. The research analyzes how these concepts have historically shaped India’s interreligious harmony, cross-cultural dialogue, and global diplomacy—transforming diversity into a source of unity and strength. By tracing their manifestation from Ashoka’s edicts and Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi to Mahatma Gandhi’s ethical humanism and contemporary foreign policy, the paper argues that India’s civilizational dialogue with the world has always been guided by moral inclusivity rather than material assertion. In the modern context, these timeless values underpin India’s soft power, influencing global cooperation in areas such as peacebuilding, environmental ethics, and sustainable development. The study concludes that Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Sarva-dharma-sambhāva offer a universal framework for global coexistence—where diplomacy is rooted in Dharma, and cultural diversity becomes the foundation for civilizational harmony and ethical globalization.