A Gesture Beyond Protocol: Modi's Visit to Papua New Guinea

At the dead of a Sunday night some two years back in May 2023, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi disembarked at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, its Prime Minister James Marape had bent down to touch his feet. It was a gesture that broke protocol and had gone viral on the social media. It was a first ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Papua New Guinea and that made this gesture even more compelling and momentous. Marape's expression was perhaps a kind of answering the call of his ancestors. A "Dil Chahta Hai" moment.

At the dead of a Sunday night some two years back in May 2023, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi disembarked at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, its Prime Minister James Marape had bent down to touch his feet.

PM Modi jointly co-hosted with PM Marape the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on May 22 which includes Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. In many Polynesian languages such as Maori, Tongan, Samoan etc., "Kainga" is a word which means village. It also means family, tracing lineage across generations. "Kainga" maybe something of a derivative of Kalinga. The Pacific Islands have been victims of exploitation under British and French colonial rule over the last two centuries who continue to exert political influence and presence through military bases. For these tiny island nations, seeking out Indian indulgence, while blow-torching their past colonial masters, the French and the British as well as the US, is perhaps a reconnect with their distant past for a new beginning.

Operation Sindoor and the shift in India's Global Posture

Why recall an incident or event that is at least two years old? Why now? Though not very fashionable these days, I would quote Jawaharlal Nehru who said, "A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new when an age ends and when the soul of a nation long suppressed finds utterance". Though uttered at the time of independence, a turning point for India, the true point of inflection may have arrived now with "Operation Sindoor". With it, the opportunity for India to break free, for the soul of Bharat Varsha to re-emerge, for the Indic culture to regain its sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean littoral and beyond.

The Pacific Islands have been victims of exploitation under British and French colonial rule over the last two centuries who continue to exert political influence and presence through military bases.

This incident is also being recalled in the backdrop of the controversy or jibes surrounding a G7 Summit invitation for India. To be fair, a G7 grouping that does not include two of the three top leading economies of the world (in PPP terms), China and India, is a bit of an anachronism. The G7 is an old whites-only colonial wine-club still in denial that they no more drive the global economy. While the US is heavily in debt exceeding $37 trillion and staring at a possible recession in the second half of 2025, Germany and UK are tottering at the brink with negligible or negative growth. Falling population, massive unchecked migration, economic slowdown, blow-back from Africa against neo-colonial exploitation of resources, a real challenge to the dominance of petrodollar as the global reserve currency, wars and tariff-wars have combined to fast-track the decline of the US-led "rule based international order."

In this backdrop, Op Sindoor has upset the applecart, signalling in its wake a seismic change in terror, diplomacy and warfare. Across the modern battlefield, wars begin easily but rarely end. Vietnam ended with a hasty US retreat. Iraq, Syria and Libya are deeply fractured, where radical jihadists have the upper hand. Afghanistan is back under the Taliban. Russia-Ukraine war drags on. Gaza remains a wound with no closure. Great powers dominate airspace and narratives, but fail at ending wars. India has done it twice; first in 1971 and now in 2025.

Redefining Regional Influence Amid Global Flux

So what now? India will remain watchful for any monkey tricks by Pakistan, a proxy state of the US since long and of China lately. Like Ukraine, it is on a path to self-destruct. India has to make sure to keep the debris out. BRICS is flexing its muscle as an alternate collective, but there are inherent contradictions within, especially China. The wolf-warrior approach of China in the past decade, its BRI projects driving countries to debt-ridden bankruptcy and its predatory actions in the South China Sea have roiled its maritime neighbours in the region. Internally, there is turmoil in the CPC against Xi Jinping. India stares at an opportunity to build its own table.

Though uttered at the time of independence, a turning point for India, the true point of inflection may have arrived now with "Operation Sindoor".

India has demonstrated its resolve to chart its own path, importing S-400 from Russia despite US threats and warnings, continues to buy Russian oil ignoring west-imposed sanctions regime, build game-changing digital financial infra, ramping up manufacturing and embarking on Atmanirbhar Bharat for its defence hardware. India must cast its nest wide now. What better than revive our old civilisational ties spanning the Indian Ocean littoral and beyond.

Reviving Civilisational Ties and Cultural Legacy

The centrality of Haj pilgrimage for the Muslim world and the role of the Papal seat in Rome reveal that influence of religion in geopolitics shouldn't be underestimated. India as the fountainhead of the Indic civilisation and birthplace of Buddhism needs to realise its potential. The fact that Thailand and Cambodia, two Buddhist countries are fighting over an 11th-century Preah Vihear Shiva Temple in the Dângrêk Mountains says much about the sway of culture and heritage.

India has demonstrated its resolve to chart its own path, importing S-400 from Russia despite US threats and warnings, continues to buy Russian oil ignoring west-imposed sanctions regime, build game-changing digital financial infra, ramping up manufacturing and embarking on Atmanirbhar Bharat for its defence hardware.

The maritime heritage of ancient Kalinga spanning over two millennia from 5th century BCE to 15th century which was not only about trade and commerce but helped spread Buddhism and Hinduism through monks and marriages, will come to play a pivotal role in the coming days. The unique gesture of Papua New Guinea PM James Marape was a harbinger of those vibes.

The legacy of Kalinga continues to thrive even today. "Kling" and "Keling" are words commonly used in South East Asia for people and textiles from India. A province named "Kalinga" in Philippines is proud of its distinct heritage. In Australia, there is a Brisbane suburban locality called "Kalinga." The ancient Burma, now Myanmar, went by the name "Kalingaratta".

The Indic civilisation spread from South Asia to Polynesia, not through colonisation but through culture, not by waging wars but by sharing wisdom. The world is shifting radically, ruthlessly and rapidly. At this juncture of global geopolitical reset, Indian leadership of the global south can become a reality. An Indian-led Commonwealth of Indic Nations (COIN) which builds on and strengthens our civilisational connect may emerge as the new grouping of consequence.