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By:

Prasad Dixit

11 October 2024 at 6:39:23 am

The ‘Exclusionary Vision’ Dilemma for Sovereign Countries

Sovereign nations protect their distinct cultural foundations while still upholding an inclusive vision of governance. The same principle should apply to India. The ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ event that was recently held in New York City attracted criticism that was only to be expected from certain obvious quarters who chastised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for having an allegedly ‘exclusionary vision’. In a free society, one can always express a personal opinion on the...

The ‘Exclusionary Vision’ Dilemma for Sovereign Countries

Sovereign nations protect their distinct cultural foundations while still upholding an inclusive vision of governance. The same principle should apply to India. The ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ event that was recently held in New York City attracted criticism that was only to be expected from certain obvious quarters who chastised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for having an allegedly ‘exclusionary vision’. In a free society, one can always express a personal opinion on the effectiveness with which the stated ideology or philosophy of any organisation is being implemented on the ground. However, labelling an organisation that considers ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ as its core belief as having an ‘exclusionary vision’ is curious, to say the least. We are living in a world of different sovereign countries, each with its own history, cultural identity that acts as a foundation for nation-building and, of course, its own international borders and immigration policies. It is interesting to see how different countries look at the cultural identity and ethos that shape them, and how they protect the foundation on which they stand while still championing their own ‘inclusive vision’. Illusion of Contradiction Take France as an example. The principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity were born out of the French Revolution. They serve as the guiding star for France. Many other countries in the world have also adopted these principles and drawn inspiration from them. Such noble principles, however, are never sufficient to define the foundation of a sovereign country that differentiates it from others. While Liberty, Equality and Fraternity are held in high regard in France, the French language is the foundation on which France stands as a sovereign country. As it is often said, language carries with it not merely its grammar and vocabulary, but a whole culture of its own. Approximately 13 percent of the population in France has a mother tongue different from French. It is noteworthy how France looks at its cultural foundation — the French language — vis-à-vis the spirit behind the principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity enshrined in its Constitution. Article 2 of the same French Constitution explicitly states that France has only one official language — French. From time to time, there are demands to grant official status to other minority languages, but they face tremendous political and legal resistance and are shot down. Other languages are denied even ‘co-official’ status because this is perceived as a direct threat to the deeply rooted ideology of the centralised linguistic unity of France. It goes a step further. There is a concerted, systematic effort to preserve the ‘purity’ of the French language and fight the ‘invasion of English’, called Franglais. It is mandatory under the law, including the Toubon Law, to use the French language in government publications and workplaces, and to include a French translation if any English slogan is used even in a commercial advertisement. Similarly, although Italy recognises a few ‘minority languages’, its official national language is only one — Italian. The approach taken by Germany or Japan is broadly the same. One cannot but wonder whether the same critics of the RSS would call an approach taken by France ‘exclusionary’. The fact is that every sovereign country has its own cultural foundation, which is the cause of its very existence. Countries go out of their way to ‘exclusively’ protect and preserve that cultural foundation. That does not mean, however, that France exclusively belongs only to the majority population whose mother tongue is the same as the national language. Nor does it mean that the State will treat its citizens differently based on their mother tongue, or give preferential treatment to the majority community over linguistic minorities. It is in this perspective that one needs to look at the civilisational ethos dating back thousands of years that forms the foundation of the Indian subcontinent, and the historical context of events that led to India being born as a present-day sovereign country in 1947. How India should treat its cultural foundation is no different from how France, Italy, Germany or Japan should do it. Needless to say, neither India nor any of these other countries discriminate against certain citizens when it comes to governance and the rule of law. There is no contradiction or ‘exclusionary vision’ whatsoever in the approach taken by France, and the same should hold true for India as well. Contextual Similarity As far as the United States of America is concerned, neither any particular language, nor any religion, nor any ethnic origin independently defines the cultural foundation of that country. And yet, there is certainly an ‘American culture’ that defines the country and acts as its foundation. People from all over the world, with very different backgrounds, have migrated to that land and ‘American culture’ has assimilated them. Although it may be difficult to define it very clearly, there is certainly ‘Unity in Diversity’ in American culture. The country calls itself ‘a melting pot’. It goes out of its way to protect this attribute through uniform civil laws that apply to all citizens regardless of their religion or ethnicity. Not everything was just and fair in American history. However, American culture and its democratic ethos not only allow open discussion and debate on what was wrong, but also encourage action on the ground to correct historical wrongs. Former President Bill Clinton summarised it well in one of the presidential debates when he said: “There is nothing wrong in America that cannot be corrected by what is right in America.” When it comes to immigration, whether for tourism or work, the US perhaps has been the most open country for several decades. Its policy towards even illegal immigration has been very soft. It has realised, however, that all this is being taken for granted by many countries and even deliberately misused. Any legitimate attempt, in the larger interest of the country, to change and tighten that policy and stop illegal immigration and settlement invites severe criticism. With that criticism, ironically, an otherwise very open and welcoming country gets painted as being very rigid and intolerant. This specific aspect of American culture, and the criticism it faces, has a clear parallel with the civilisational ethos that forms the foundation of India. Indian culture has also assimilated people from many parts of the world for centuries. It too has its own ‘Unity in Diversity’ that is not very easy for many to define and appreciate. It also welcomes open discussion about historical wrongs and makes a sincere attempt to correct them. The accommodating and welcoming nature — the ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ psyche — implicit in Indian culture has also been deliberately and rampantly misused. Any attempt to enforce the law of the land invites the same criticism that the US faces. Needless to say, India, like the US or any other country, would and should go out of its way to protect its cultural foundation. Doing so can be termed an ‘exclusionary vision’ only as part of a motivated agenda, if not an absolute unwillingness or inability to grasp and respect the cultural foundations of different countries. There is a need to refine and temper the definition of the so-called ‘exclusionary vision’ for it to make sense in a world of sovereign nations that want to legitimately protect their individual identities in different ways. In other words, the very definition of ‘exclusionary vision’ itself needs to be more ‘inclusive’ in more ways than one. Given its history, the US perhaps is the best country to appreciate what it means to espouse ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ as an inclusive ideology. It is also the best country to appreciate the fact that attempts to prevent the deliberate misuse of an inclusive ideology cannot be termed an ‘exclusionary vision’. (The writer has worked in the Information Technology sector. Views personal.)

‘Revolutionising the Future of Work’

Swapnil R Mishra
Jan 3, 2025
3 min read

Sreenivas Tirdhala, Co-Founder of iSprout, talks about co-working spaces

Sreenivas Tirdhala

Mumbai: As the modern workplace continues to evolve, coworking spaces are becoming increasingly popular among entrepreneurs, startups, and large corporations alike. iSprout, a leading player in the Indian coworking market, is redefining the future of work with its innovative approach to shared office spaces. In an exclusive interview, Sreenivas Tirdhala, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of iSprout, shares insights into the company's vision, growth strategy, and what sets it apart from other coworking spaces in the market."


Q. What motivated the founders of iSprout to start the company, and how did they envision transforming the co-working real estate market?

A. iSprout's founders were inspired by the changing dynamics of the modern workplace. We saw a gap in the market for workspaces that combined flexibility, convenience and community to professional infrastructure. Our vision is to redefine coworking in personal service and premium design and promote a sense of belonging among tenants. The main goal is to make iSprout more than just an office space a center for innovation, collaboration and business growth.

Q. What challenges did iSprout face when it was first starting, and how did the team overcome them?

A. In its early days, iSprout faced challenges such as limited market awareness, Competition from famous players, and the complexity of setting up a large office space, including the spread of COVID-19 This has caused unprecedented disruption Operations interrupted and changing workspace needs. The team overcame these obstacles by focusing on customer-centric solutions, building a strong base of operations and creating partnerships with key industry players attention to detail adaptability and resilience during the pandemic have given us a strong foothold in the market, and become a reliable service provider of innovative office solutions.

Q. What are iSprout’s plans for expanding to new cities or regions?

A. iSprout is strategically expanding its presence in metropolitan areas and tier 2 cities with high growth potential and increasing demand for flexible office space. With focuses on premium locations, and plans to add 1 million square feet of new workspace in Hyderabad and aims to replicate this success in cities like Chennai, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata and Kochi. Our expansion strategy focuses on scalability while maintaining the brand's unique identity and commitment to excellence.

Q. Has iSprout raised any funding so far, or are there plans to seek investment shortly to fuel expansion and growth?

A. iSprout, on the other hand, relies heavily on strategic partnerships and internal fundraising the founders are also open to outside funding to accelerate growth and scale operations. The plan is to find investments that align with long-term vision and bring innovative solutions to the coworking market.

Q. What differentiates iSprout from other co-working spaces in the market?

A. iSprout stands out with its focus on premium design, personalized service and promoting a strong community culture. Unlike traditional co-working spaces, iSprout tailors its offerings to meet its clients' specific needs. From ergonomically designed workstations to integrated technology solutions and dynamic environments, iSprout provides a holistic experience that goes beyond just an office space.

Q. How does iSprout identify and select locations for its co-working spaces?

A. iSprout takes a data-driven approach to selecting locations, analyzing factors such as business centres, connectivity, local amenities, and market needs. The team works closely with real estate experts (IPC/DPC/Local brokers) and prioritizes locations that align with target demographics and long-term strategic goals.


Q. What unique amenities and services does iSprout provide to its tenants?

A. iSprout offers complete amenities such as high-speed internet, tech-enabled meeting rooms, wellness zones, gourmet cafeterias, and premium lounges, All this is complemented by a specially designed interior which reflects the customer's brand identity. In addition to flexibility and convenience, iSprout reinforces that offering dynamic workspace options that allow tenants to use more than a fixed desk and choose a space that suits their needs, such as a breakout area, phone booth, or co-working space. With a dedicated team of experienced tenants that seamlessly manage all operational needs, iSprout ensures that businesses can focus on growing in a personalized professional environment.


Q. Can you share any data or milestones that highlight iSprout’s growth and success?

A. iSprout has established itself as a top 10 player in the Indian-managed office space sector, with operations in 6 cities and 23 centres. The company has successfully added 2.2 million square feet of workspace and expects to expand by another 1 million square feet soon. One of the standout innovations is the Airport Coworking Centre, which is Specially designed for travellers. With high customer retention rates and continued expansion, iSprout continues to grow in a highly competitive market.

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