India’s Recent Moon Landing and how it Impacts India’s Status in the Asia-Pacific and Beyond
In recent years, space exploration has constituted a key aspect of global technological advancements and international competition. Launched on the 14th July 2023 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India’s Chandrayaan-3 made history when, on the 23rd August 2023 at 12:32 UTC, it became the first spacecraft to touch down on the lunar south pole. As only the fourth country to successfully land on the moon, the event thrust India into the global limelight, sparking discussions on the country’s scientific and technological potential as well as its global standing.
India’s current Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, since his ascension to power in 2014, made no secret of his ‘soft power’ foreign diplomacy strategy. In an interview with French newspaper Les Echos in July,, Modi stated “It is our civilizational ethos and heritage that provide the basis [of] what could be termed as India’s soft power. We are blessed to have this in abundance. Our exports have never been war and subjugation, but yoga, ayurveda, spirituality, science, mathematics, and Astronomy.” It is these ‘exports’ that Modi draws on frequently in national and international addresses, exemplified by his and his government’s frequent reference to India as a “Vishwaguru” - teacher to the world. The Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing has served to further project this identity, with Modi, in his address to Team ISRO on August 26th 2023, remarking “This India thinks in a new way and spreads the beam of light in the world even after getting into the dark zone. In the 21st century, this India will solve the biggest problems of the world.”
Establishing India’s reputation as a key player in both Asia-Pacific and global politics has been one of the Modi administration’s focus points and the landing of Chandrayaan-3 brings with it a host of geostrategic benefits for India. The Asia-Pacific region, for instance, is a hotbed of geopolitical tensions and rivalries, and India's successful moon landing provides an opportunity for the nation to enhance its soft power internationally. The ability to undertake sophisticated space missions projects an image of technological advancement, innovation, and resourcefulness. Furthermore, as other nations in the region look for partners, India's achievements could potentially attract them to collaborate on space and technology initiatives, forging strategic alliances that serve to strengthen India’s diplomatic ties. The success of the Chandrayaan-3 also brings the chance of attracting foreign investments and partnerships. With the Asia-Pacific region being home to numerous emerging economies seeking technological advancements to drive growth, India's space achievements offer a possible avenue for economic collaboration, as nations seek to benefit from India's technological expertise and resources.
The success of Chandrayaan-3 will undoubtedly also have far reaching benefits that extend beyond India. Whilst the mission will provide greater insight into the composition of the Moon and the lunar south pole, it will also likely intensify the competition between spacefaring nations within the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, compelling other countries to invest more heavily in their space programs to maintain their standing. This competition could lead to greater technological advancements and scientific discoveries internationally, benefiting humanity as a whole.
While the accomplishment showcases India's progress in space exploration, it also raises questions about the allocation of resources in a country grappling with economic disparities, poverty, and basic infrastructure challenges. The hefty financial investment in space endeavours prompts concerns about the prioritisation of national development versus technological prowess. According to the National Family Health Survey (NHSF) report released in 2022, for instance, 19.4% of Indian households do not have access to toilet facilities. On top of this, the ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023’ report by the UN highlighted that in 2021, 74.1% of the Indian population were unable to afford a healthy diet. It could therefore be argued that the funds channelled into space endeavours could have been directed towards addressing pressing issues such as poverty, education, and healthcare. The argument that technological advancement will eventually benefit these sectors does not negate the immediate impact of resource allocation.
The celebration of Chandrayaan-3 has also undermined tensions on the ground, directing international discourse surrounding India away from ongoing ethnic and communal violence. The Indian State of Manipur, for instance, has been under ongoing civil strife since the 3rd May with conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki tribal communities resulting in over 100 deaths and roughly 60,000 displaced. On August 29th 2023, the first Assembly session was held in Manipur since the violence broke out in May, lasting 11 minutes, during which Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh asserted that the state government did not intend to hold a discussion on the violence in the state. Singh did however make it a point to convey his sentiments towards the Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission, expressing gratitude to scientists and Modi.
Additionally, Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have received criticism dating long before their ascension to power in 2014 for their right-wing Hindu-nationalist ideals, promoting a homogenised Indian identity and cultural hegemony. The choice to name the landing site ‘Shiv Shakti point’, after two principle Hindu deities reinforces the main assertions of Hindutva ideology: that India is a Hindu nation and that Hindu hegemony must be established. Whilst impressive and historically important, the success of Chandrayaan-3 therefore underlines questions around Modi and his government’s priorities and whether these priorities veer closer towards the crafting of a global image than the betterment of society.
With Chandrayaan-3, India has achieved an important feat, proving its scientific and technological abilities and asserting itself as a competent player in the global space exploration arena. This success fosters a sense of pride and confidence amongst its citizens and may well serve to inspire, and create opportunities for further technological and scientific endeavours of this scale in the near future. For Modi, who is up for re-election for a third term next year, the landing of Chandrayaan-3 poses yet another opportunity to merge his image with that of India’s economic and technological growth, just in time for his next campaign.