On 28 September 2014, Narendra Modi stepped onto a revolving stage at Madison Square Garden. The event came four months after he became prime minister. Around 18,000 Indian-Americans attended the gathering after winning free tickets through a lottery. Moreover, Modi spoke in Hindi for over an hour during the New York event. His language choice connected with millions watching on Indian television. The address showed many Indians that global affairs also belonged to them.
From Madison Square Garden To Global Stages
The New York programme created a new pattern for public diplomacy. Later, Houston’s NRG Stadium hosted another major gathering in September 2019. Around 50,000 people attended the event. During that programme, the United States president joined Modi on stage. He also walked through the stadium with the Indian prime minister. Similarly, Sydney welcomed Modi in May 2023 at Qudos Bank Arena.
Anthony Albanese introduced Modi by comparing the reception with Bruce Springsteen’s popularity. He also called Modi the boss during the introduction. Two months later, Modi addressed the diaspora at La Seine Musicale in Paris. The event happened before the Bastille Day parade. Indian troops also marched on Champs-Élysées as guests of honour.
Furthermore, these events reached millions of Indian homes within hours. Viewers in cities like Patna and Coimbatore saw global leaders treating India as an equal partner.
Making Foreign Policy Part Of Daily Public Life
Earlier prime ministers also created moments when foreign policy reached citizens. Delhi welcomed Zhou Enlai in 1954 with large public gatherings. Indira Gandhi gained support after India’s victory in Bangladesh in 1972. However, those moments connected with individual visits or specific events. They gradually faded after those situations ended.
Modi created a continuing connection between diplomacy and public life. He introduced annual Yoga Day celebrations, new expressions, national pride, and public participation rituals.
Therefore, ordinary citizens became regular participants in India’s diplomatic story. This became one of the notable features of his tenure.
Yoga Day Connected India With The World
International Yoga Day started during Modi’s first visit to America. Before the Madison Square Garden event, Modi addressed the UN General Assembly. During that speech, he proposed International Yoga Day. The resolution passed in December with 177 co-sponsors. It received the highest number of supporters for such a General Assembly resolution. On 21 June 2015, nearly 36,000 people performed yoga at Rajpath. Since then, schools, army cantonments, and embassy lawns worldwide have joined the annual practice.
Consequently, an idea presented in New York became a global activity on a date selected by India.
Diplomacy During Crises And The G20 Presidency
The same public that joined Yoga Day also followed India’s international actions. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Operation Ganga brought Indian students home from neighbouring border countries. Moreover, the evacuation became part of Uttar Pradesh election discussions. Modi mentioned the operation during several rally speeches.
Later, India’s G20 presidency in 2023 expanded this public connection. The government organised over 200 meetings across nearly 60 cities.
These meetings brought foreign delegations to locations that had never hosted such gatherings. Additionally, every state received a role in the presidency.
The leaders’ summit began on 9 September at the new Bharat Mandapam convention centre. The prime minister’s placard displayed “Bharat”, matching President Droupadi Murmu’s summit dinner invitations. Finally, Delhi achieved a joint declaration and secured permanent African Union membership at the summit. Many capitals expected difficult negotiations, but Indians closely followed the discussions.
