‘Nehru made India stand, Manmohan made India work, and Modi made India run,' says Dutch author and futurist Adjiedj Bakas
Drawing a parallel, Bakas said the United States did not conquer the world with its army alone. 'It was also their soft power — Hollywood movies, fashion, etc,' he said, adding that India has just as much to offer: 'yoga, meditation, culture, fashion, movies, and even music.'
'Sapphire, which also features Arijit Singh, is playing everywhere right now,' he noted. Food, too, could be a key part of India's global influence, he said, especially as the world turns increasingly vegetarian. 'India has a huge bank of vegetarian recipes.'
He believes India's spirituality will also become more relevant globally. 'Gen Z in Europe is turning to God. India is a deeply spiritual country and has much to teach the world,' he said, adding that spiritual tourism is set to grow in India. 'Dwarka, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, should be rebuilt,' he suggested. 'Gautam Buddha spent much of his life in India. Jesus, too, spent about 20 years in India.'
Now in his early sixties, Bakas is a well-known trendwatcher who has co-authored more than 40 books. When asked what drew him to India and the Global South for his latest project, he credits David, who was the project lead at Atradius, the firm that insured Dubai's Palm Island. 'He nudged me to look at the Global South,' Bakas said.
Referencing Elon Musk's idea of New York and London as twin financial hubs of the Global North, Bakas proposed a counterpoint: 'There's a proposal to build a railway between Dubai and Mumbai, which could make travel between the two cities possible in 30 minutes. Together, they could serve as the financial hub of the Global South.'
Referring to India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he added, 'India has grown from strength to strength—Nehru made India stand, Manmohan (Singh, former PM) made India work, and (PM Narendra) Modi made India run.'
For Bakas, the book also marks a personal homecoming. 'My family was from Bareilly in UP. They moved to America in the 1870s when slavery was abolished and new opportunities arose in plantation work,' he said. Today, he predicts a prosperous future for India: 'In 1820, India was the third-largest economy. History will repeat itself—India will reclaim that position in 2025 or 2026.'
Among his other forecasts: a beautified India that goes beyond skyscrapers, and the rise of 'Karma Capitalism' — a model where businesses generate returns not just for owners, but also for surrounding communities.
'India has 20 per cent mountains and 80 per cent flat, fertile land, including the deserts of Rajasthan. If farmed smartly, India can feed all of its people,' he added.
With the rapid rollout of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, job loss remains a concern. When asked what skillsets will remain irreplaceable by AI, Bakas listed: emotional intelligence, hospitality, the ability to build human connection, psychology, and storytelling.
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