Bharat, the land of diverse landscapes and ancient wisdom, has always been a fertile ground for creativity. Creativity is the invisible divine hand ensuring the manifestation of the improbable. Every unique and normal aspect of India is creative. Making anything work for you is as close to godliness as one can be. I say that because God holds the power to manipulate elements and entities and put them to alternative uses to fulfill his divine purpose. Indian praja (people) possess that creative spirit, as they possess the unique capability to manipulate objects and situations to suit their needs. This is because they possess the creative power to transform one thing into another using the knowledge of its core constituents and proportions.
The culture of self-knowledge has been the first creative innovation in ancient Bharat. This was the first creative manipulation. Manipulating a gross body, which endlessly pursues its needs for food and procreation, into an instrument for enlightenment is incredibly creative. The word enlightenment in the last line means to be in a state of unfading happiness. It is necessary to keep in mind that this ethos not only spread across every corner of Bharat, but also remained alive during times of distress and duress, and continues to remain alive in India. If democracy is considered a highly successful modern innovation for organizing people and societies, then the Vedic and Dharmic approach, which is rooted in truth and duty, is the first and most successful creative innovation of humanity.
I reckon that the secret behind India’s flourishing creativity is that we Indians have always had the much-needed freedom from and freedom to. The number of oppressors and years of oppression made no significant difference to Bharat’s ethos because the damage that they could do was pretty much only to the physical body and to the thinking emerging from the recognition of oneself as the physical body. Our teachers have taught us that we are nothing but witnesses to the interactions and transactions of the physical body. As witnesses, we have all the freedom to be creative. Our creativity has, much like a ripple, spread in all the directions and possibilities of manifestation. From the intricate carvings of Ajanta and Ellora to the vibrant hues of Madhubani paintings, from the rhythmic cadence in Carnatic music to the innovative spirit of modern-day tech hubs, creativity pulsates through the very fabric of Indian culture.
This inherent creativity is not a singular, monolithic entity. It’s a multifaceted plural phenomenon, deeply rooted in the nation’s rich history and evolving with its dynamic present. For centuries, Indian creativity has been nurtured by a profound connection to tradition. The teacher-student tradition is a significant one that is often overlooked, but it is precisely this that holds the secret. Epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the philosophical depth of the Vedas and Upanishads, and the intricate systems of classical arts have served as enduring sources of inspiration primarily due to the teacher-student tradition. These traditions are not merely relics of the past; they are living, breathing entities that are constantly reinterpreted and reimagined by artists and thinkers to suit the needs of the present and the future.
Stability in the national leadership has led to a resurgence of focus on the Indic creative arts and creative industries. The creative ethos of India is emerging to the fore. The grand experiment of the West involving capitalism, consumerism, and materialism is reaching its final moments. They bet that having money will solve problems and bring unfading happiness. Their hypothesis has failed. This makes the pioneering Indian approach to achieving happiness the only remaining central paradigm that can and will guide humanity further.
Bharat has embraced the spirit of creative innovation, firmly rooted in its ancient wisdom and tradition. The rise of India’s tech industry demonstrates the nation’s ability to adapt and excel in the digital age. The day when Indians stop being knowledge workers and service providers and instead lead the vision for technology should not be too far off. Indian entrepreneurs are driving innovation in fields like software development, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. Our creative spirit will enable us to harness modern technology along with sustainability and environmental consciousness. This will be a real game changer. If I am to make a creative prediction here, the one aspect of Bharat that will see an increase globally is vegetarianism. This is purely intuitive, but the world will move towards a vegetarian diet, where vegetables are grown in homes tailored to individual needs. Creative innovations will bring this lifestyle element to every home. Exploitation and industrial killing of living beings, including plants, animals, birds, and fish, will diminish.
A smiling India is my dream. And Bharat’s creativity is its most valuable asset in getting there. Bhartiya creativity is a source of cultural richness, economic growth, and social progress. To effectively harness this potential, Bharat can draw upon the 4P4R model of creative governance. This model represents a holistic convergence of modern and ancient wisdom, offering practical and actionable guidance. It centers around the 4Ps: Person, Place, Policy, and Partnership, and the 4Rs: Rescue, Revive, Revise, and Rebuild for reaching the ultimate goal of finding and sustaining happiness. GDP does not measure a nation’s well-being in this model; instead, it is measured by the number of smiles. This framework, designed for both “near-term intervention” and “strategic long-term approach,” relies on creativity. The social well-being revolution sparked by Swami Paramanand Giriji through technology is a fine example of the 4P4R model of creative governance. He has, with incredible ease, manipulated technology to encourage people on the path of seeking the truth and living within the boundaries of duty. A technology that is often blamed for corroding people is now an instrument of liberation, bringing sustained smiles. The path forward is clear. The time to shirk lethargy and comfort is gone. The biggest entrepreneurial opportunity is in creatively bringing smiles. I am keen to see your ‘Jugaad’ to meet this opportunity.
The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views of BlueKraft Digital Foundation.
