Humanities & Social Sciences 8 (2015 8) 1724-1737 ~ ~ ~ УДК 304(540) India’s Soft Power: Images and Components Andrey A. Gruzdeva Anastasiya V. Konukhovab , and Sergey A. Podyapolskiyc aSiberian Federal University * 79 Svobodny, Krasnoyarsk, 660041, Russia bState Scientifi c Library of Krasnoyarsk Krai 114 Karl Marx Str., Krasnoyarsk, 660017, Russia c Law fi rm “Crisis Management Group” 8 Maerchak Str., Krasnoyarsk, 660075, Russia Received 12.04.2015, received in revised form 29.04.2015, accepted 19.05.2015 The authors study a complex and partly contradictory process of modern India’s soft power formation. <...> They focus on such components as Bollywood (Indian “dream factory”), music and dance, fabrics and attributes, diamond industry, Bangalore (territory of innovative technologies development) and internal and external policy. <...> The second one is associated with the policy of non-violent resistance. <...> The third one comprises all the variety of modern information technologies. <...> The authors come to the conclusion that a harmonious balance of the three images and synthesis of various components contribute to strengthening of India’s soft power. <...> Keywords: soft power, Indian policy, Indian culture, Russian-Indian relations, Bollywood, diamond market, IT outsourcing, cultural wars, a socio-cultural image. <...> These are M. Gandhi’s theory of nonviolent resistance, the conceptions of “soft power” (J.S. Nye, Jr.), “cultural wars” (P. Buchanan, I. Thomson), humanitarian technologies (P.V. Klachkov), etc. <...> Andrey A. Gruzdev, Anastasiya V. Konukhova… India’s “Soft Power”: Images and Components Hypothesis We hypothesize that various components of India’s soft power can be brought into correlation with three main images. <...> In this image India is a beautiful woman, attracting European gentlemen. <...> Feminine traits of this image are obvious as it is associated with oriental exotics – philosophical and religious teachings and practices, music, cinema, dance, cuisine, etc. <...> The second image is connected with M. Gandhi’s activity and non-aligned movement. <...> The features of this image are inner strength, independence, and determination. <...> Its recognizable elements are non-violent resistance, multiethnic democracy <...>