This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the role of the Indian diaspora in India's foreign policy, based on Dr. Sachin Chaturvedi’s keynote address and insights from other eminent speakers during the Shri Baleshwar Agrawal Memorial Lecture Series. It argues that the Indian diaspora has evolved from being merely cultural inheritors to becoming robust economic, strategic, intellectual, and diplomatic assets for India. India’s foreign policy has extended beyond traditional government-to-government relations into the realms of public engagement and people-centric diplomacy—where the role of the Indian diaspora has become pivotal. This paper highlights how the diaspora is contributing at multiple levels—image-building, cultural exchange, economic investment, policy influence, and global collaboration. According to Dr. Chaturvedi, the diaspora’s contribution to India’s economy is not limited to remittances. They are significantly bolstering India's economic structure through innovation, technological investment, startup ecosystems, and skill development. Their intellectual capital—reflected in their leadership roles in global universities, think tanks, and institutions—strengthens knowledge-based collaboration and policy dialogues. Additionally, the diaspora enhances India’s cultural presence across the globe. From organizing festivals and preserving Indian languages to promoting yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian philosophy, they serve as dynamic agents of cultural diplomacy. The study also emphasizes the diaspora’s increasing involvement in policy-making. Indian-origin individuals now occupy influential political, administrative, and diplomatic positions across the United States, Canada, the UK, and Gulf countries, helping secure India’s interests on global platforms. This paper analyses the multidimensional role of the diaspora under five major pillars: economic contribution, intellectual capital, cultural propagation, public diplomacy, and policy-making participation. It concludes that the Indian diaspora has emerged as a powerful and enduring pillar of India’s foreign policy.
H. Anil Kumar (Fri,) studied this question.