INDIA has scored one more victory in what is generally described as ‘vaccine diplomacy’ (though rather derisively by political opponents of the Modi-Government). As many as nine European countries have accepted to treat India’s vaccines as requisites for ‘Green Pass’ for travel to their lands. More countries are likely to join the ever-lengthening list, thus expanding the influence of India’s diplomacy. This is welcome news, to say the least.

 

India’s Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) on a production licence from original overseas promoters, in particular, had faced negative response from a few countries. Other vaccine -- Covaxin -- too had faced some difficulty owing to more or less similar reasons. However, India dealt with this situation tactfully and firmly and convinced many countries that they would not be harming their health security if they allowed Indian travellers who have been administered Covishield and Covaxin doses. This process was certainly complicated as it involved attempts to alter health security threat perceptions. India attempted all tools in its diplomatic kit to start opening doors of many countries for travelling Indians. By any measure, this should be considered a plus point in India’s overall diplomatic activity.

 

The question is restricted not just to vaccination of Indian travellers with certain medicine; it relates also to the larger issue of multilateral relations India has developed over time with most countries in the world, giving a new sense of purpose and collateral benefits to the effort. The acceptance of Indian vaccines for ‘Green Pass’ formality is a result of that long and patient journey on the arduous route to winning friends across the global landscape. There should be no doubt that more and more countries are accepting India as a force to reckon with, to be friends with, to be on the right side of the story with India.

 

Of course, things started becoming more amenable to Indian position in global context after the arrival of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi on the scene seven years ago. Even before that, the world had always appreciated the polish in India’s diplomatic culture. Yet, previous endeavour had a slightly diffident tinge. Mr. Narendra Modi’s credit is that he erased that slight sense of diffidence almost overnight, in the process giving Indian diplomacy an edge in the international conversation. Though some may have derided it as ‘vaccine diplomacy’, India did extremely well to seize the moment of world crisis to assert its way into international consciousness by opting to act as the world’s ‘pharmacy’. It made every possible adjustment to help other nations -- that included even the mighty United States of America.

 

That assertiveness in lending a helping hand to others stood India in good stead when the second coronavirus wave hit the country. The world was all willing to help with a view to paying back India’s kindness.

 

This whole process is not not as simple as it may seem on the surface -- or as some people may want to dismiss. For, in essence, it symbolises a new era of international togetherness fostered by Indian diplomacy, driven by Indian initiative, sustained by Indian doggedness, endured by Indian consistency, and endeared by Indian comradeship.

 

By any standard, this, therefore, should be described as a golden era of Indian diplomatic endeavour -- thanks to the astute statesmanship of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and the fine team-work engineered by Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar (who had an illustrious predecessor in Mrs. Sushma Swaraj who led India’s diplomatic campaign very efficiently, transfering the metaphor of Indian diplomacy into concrete action). The success of multilateralism of the current moment is the outcome of that continual application of India’s well-modulated vision or global view.

 

Common Indian people must think deeply and calmly about this wonderful development of diplomatic activity. They must carry a sense of legitimate pride that they belong to a country that has already started establishing itself as world leader.