India and Nepal can demonstrate a model of heritage diplomacy: Harsh V Shringla

New Delhi: Civilisational Diplomacy is most effective when it is shared, and when it reinforces cooperation over competition, Rajya Sabha MP and former Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla said here on Saturday.

“The India-Nepal experience with Buddhist heritage suggests that it can – and it has already been doing so. India and Nepal navigate a complex regional and global environment, this heritage assumes renewed significance. It is often the foundation of trust and moral legitimacy that cannot be manufactured by policy alone,” Shringla suggested.

He was addressing a Conference on “Global Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation: India-Nepal Partnership in Buddhist Heritage”


India and Nepal can demonstrate a model of heritage diplomacy that is people-centric, ethical, and resilient, Shringla said, adding, “Buddhism is not merely a religious tradition in South Asia, it is a civilisational bridge, a moral philosophy and a shared historical memory that transcends modern political boundaries.” The India-Nepal partnership is not a constructed partnership; it is a historical continuum.

“In contemporary geopolitics, we often refer to concepts like soft power, cultural diplomacy, heritage diplomacy, and so on. Yet, from my perspective and diplomatic practice of many years, one lesson stands out clearly – such approaches work when they are authentic and credible, he noted, adding, “Shared Buddhist heritage offers India and Nepal this credibility. It is not a built narrative;it is lived history. When approached collaboratively, this heritage can build trust – bilaterally, and globally.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cited India as a protector of Buddhist Heritage, and that “India has given the world Buddha, not Yudhha.”