The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) is an Indian public policy think-tank set up by Vivekananda Kendra, a Sangh Parivar organisation. It is considered closely associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of India, even though the organisation denies any formal links.Praveen Donthi, How Ties With The Think Tanks Vivekananda International Foundation and India Foundation Enhance Ajit Doval’s Influence, The Caravan, 5 November 2017.Dinakar Peri, VIF among top think tanks with political affiliation, The Hindu, 1 February 2016.Saubhadra Chatterji, Congress readies its ‘answer’ to BJP-linked think tank, eyes alternative, Hindustan Times, 20 February 2018. Swaminathan Gurumurthy, associated with another Sangh Parivar organisation Swadeshi Jagran Manch currently serves as its chairperson.
Origins and history The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) describes itself as an "independent, non-partisan institution that promotes quality research and in-depth studies." The Foundation was established in December 2009, by Vivekananda Kendra, a Sangh Parivar organisation, at a site in Delhi allotted to the latter by the P. V. Narasimha Rao government in 1993. Ajit Doval, who retired as the director of the Intelligence Bureau in 2005, became its founder Director. Swaminathan Gurumurthy, associated with another Sangh Parivar organisation Swadeshi Jagran Manch, was a force behind its creation. The Foundation made news in 2011–2012 when it was described as being instrumental in bringing together Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, along with Baba Ramdev, to form the 'Team Anna'.In the right place, Business Standard, 7 June 2014. The anti-corruption protests of the team which helped discredit the Indian National Congress government were run from the VIF.
In 2014, its director Ajit Doval was appointed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India's National Security Advisor. The Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra and the Additional Principal Secretary P. K. Mishra were also recruited from the Foundation's staff.From Vivekananda to PMO stars: Meet Modi's favourite think tank, Firstpost, 17 June 2014. The Prime Minister Modi is said to have been following the Foundation for some time and is impressed with its work.PMO borrows officers from VIF , Afternoon Despatch & Courier, 4 June 2014.
The Foundation states that it has no formal organisational links with the RSS or the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, commentators have found Hindu nationalist ideas in several of its publications. The news magazine Tehelka has claimed that the Foundation supplied the intellectual inputs for the Narendra Modi campaign, defended him against charges in the Ishrat Jahan case, and spearheaded the Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement to undercut the United Progressive Alliance government.
Output The Foundation's primary output ranges from short articles and reports published online to monographs and occasional papers and a quarterly journal called National Security. In addition, the Foundation also holds regular seminars and a monthly discourse on contemporary subjects titled Vimarsh. The think tank has also worked with other think tanks on joint reports. A monthly magazine Vivek is brought out too.
VIF Key members VIF is currently headed by former Deputy NSA of India Arvind Gupta. S. Gurumurthy is the chairman, and former Deputy NSA and former head of National Security Council, Satish Chandra is the vice-chairman of the think tank. +Notable current and former membersNamePosition in Indian Government under PM ModiFormer PositionReferenceAjit DovalNational Security Adviser of India Director of Intelligence Bureau, IPSNripendra MisraPrincipal Secretary to PM Narendra ModiChairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, IASAnil BaijalLieutenant Governor of DelhiUrban Development secretary, IASBibek Debroy1)Member of NITI Aayog 2)Chairman of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime MinisterProfessor at Centre for Policy Research, New DelhiV K SaraswatMember of NITI AayogDirector General of the DRDOK G SureshDirector General, Indian Institute of Mass CommunicationSenior Consulting Editor at DoordarshanP K MishraAdditional Principal Secretary to PM Narendra ModiAgriculture Secretary, IASArvind GuptaFormer Deputy National Security Adviser of India (2014–2017)Secretary National Security Council Secretariat, IFSA. Surya PrakashChairperson of Prasar BharatiChief of Bureau of Indian ExpressC D Sahay-Chief of Research and Analysis Wing, IPSS G Inamdar –Vice Chief of Air StaffSrinivasapuram Krishnaswamy –Chief of Air StaffKanwal Sibal –Foreign Secretary, IFSBalmiki Prasad Singh –Home Secretary, IASPrabhat Kumar –Cabinet secretary, IASSatish Chandra–Head, NSC Secretariat & Former Deputy National Security Advisor Tilak DevasherMember, NSAB, National Security Council Lt Gen R K Sawhney (retd.)Deputy Chief of Army Staff, and Director General Military Intelligence Many retired officers from Defence Forces/ Bureaucracy form the think resource. The members regularly meet to discuss upon subject, ranging from prevailing political, strategical and other administrative issues with an aim of resource development and promote nationalism.
See also
List of think tanks in India Observer Research Foundation
References