It is time to take our Look East Policy to a new level. The continuous meeting and intermingling of people from diverse social backgrounds will help in crafting a liberal and cosmopolitan attitude to life.
The year 2010 marks the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Hanoi as a capital by Emperor Ly Thai To, whose statue adorns the centre of the city. The year and the attendant celebrations would be a proud recollection for the people of Vietnam, and Hanoi in particular. At the end of this month, Hanoi will host a summit of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations and the East Asia Summit. India will participate in both meetings.
We have come a long way since the first India-ASEAN summit held in 2002 in Phnom Penh. We are now on course to host the 10th such summit in 2012, presumably in New Delhi. In this backdrop, we can assess what can be done in the overall context of our Look East policy in general, keeping the Nalanda University project as a focus.
In January 2007, at the Cebu meeting of the EAS, the member-states reached an understanding on strengthening regional educational cooperation. As part of this, they welcomed the initiative for the revival of Nalanda University. This was the culmination of an idea conceived by the Bihar government and given shape later by Singapore. In March 2006, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam addressed the joint session of the Bihar Assembly and exhorted it to revive the ancient seat of learning in Nalanda where science, philosophy, spirituality and social sciences could be blended. The Bihar government introduced a Bill in the Assembly in 2007 and cleared it to establish this great university. The Nalanda project became the face of an emerging Bihar.
In the middle of 2006, a proposal was received from the Singapore government called “The Nalanda Proposal.” According to this, Nalanda would be the ideal site for establishing a 21st century learning institution linking South and East Asia. The idea envisaged simultaneous upgrading of the infrastructure to promote tourism, and establishing a university at Nalanda to offer higher education facilities, thereby enabling all-inclusive economic development of the entire region.
In order to carry forward the proposals, a Nalanda Mentor Group (NMG), under the chairmanship of Professor Amartya Sen, was established by the Government of India in 2007. The group examined the framework of international cooperation and the structure of partnership, which would govern the establishment of the university. It also made proposals for the revival of Nalanda and the governance structure of the university, and other aspects covering finance, areas of study, etc. The NMG's recommendations were to be endorsed by the EAS leaders through a declaration to take the process forward. However, owing to unforeseen developments in Thailand in 2008 and early 2009, the fourth EAS was delayed. At the last EAS, held in Hua Hin in Thailand in October 2009, the leaders endorsed and extended their support for the establishment of Nalanda University.
The NMG completed its work in the first half of this year. In the recent monsoon session, Parliament passed the Nalanda University Bill, thereby making available a legal basis for going ahead with the implementation of the project. Thus the forthcoming fifth EAS is uniquely important for India. It would give us an opportunity to share the approach to be adopted for the construction of the university. It would also give us an occasion to maintain and intensify interest in the project among the participating countries. Given that civil construction projects in India have an inertial impetus of their own, it is necessary for us to keep the idea alive. It is important that facilities and opportunities be provided to the academic community, including students in EAS countries, to keep itself aware of what is happening on the Nalanda front.
The Hanoi EAS offers us a chance to consider ideas for enabling a modern-day land link between the Indo-China region and India, with the proposed university as a backdrop, for intensified people-to-people contact. Initially, we could focus on each of the five countries in the Indo-China region that abuts India — , Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar — which also have a strong Buddhist tradition. This land link could be projected as a means of access and exposure for students, academics, pilgrims and tourists as a special feature of our relations with Southeast Asia in general and the countries mentioned above in particular.
To buttress or land links with the ASEAN region and beyond, we could consider introducing a monthly bus service for about 100 pilgrims who, for reasons of economy, health, etc., may prefer, or be induced, to undertake surface travel. We can utilise the recently opened Asian Highway (AH16) from Da Nang in central Vietnam to Mae Sot on the Thailand-Myanmar border.
After traversing Yangon and Mandalay, and collecting pilgrims in Myanmar, the bus could enter India and come to Gaya. They could visit Nalanda, Rajgir and Sarnath and other places of Buddhist studies in Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. If Bangladesh is convinced to allow passage for these visitors, they can reach Kolkata much faster before going on a pilgrimage and to academic centres across India. It may not be too difficult for India to convince Myanmar authorities to join the initiative. After all, General Than Shwe himself visited Gaya and its environs recently. The ordinary pilgrim's travel would be a very symbolic representation of people-to-people cooperation.
India could even consider donating some modern, long haul buses and have the flagging off of a bus convoy in Hue, cultural capital of Vietnam, so that it can reach Gaya or Nalanda after collecting academics and pilgrims en route. It could be scheduled to arrive in the week of the India-ASEAN Summit in 2012.
With Nalanda University acting as a beacon, regular visits by academics, pilgrims, students and tourists would compel us to focus not only on sticking to a schedule but also maintaining interest in all sides in the revival of the university project. The suggested land link will give it a historic and spiritual character.
One thousand years ago when Hanoi was being established, the Chola dynasty in peninsular India reached its pinnacle. One of its most powerful symbols, the Brihadeeshwara Temple in Thanjavur, also observed its 1000th anniversary this year. The Chola dynasty is the principal among those that consolidated and benefited by the original and proactive Look East Policy. The Cholas established strong maritime and commercial connections with countries and kingdoms to the southeast and east of India. Nagapattinam was the port from where all trade and other links were serviced with the kingdoms all the way up to, and including, China. As Professor K.A. Nilakanta Sastri states in his work, The Cholas: “At no time had Indian merchants ever ceased to frequent the shores of the Malay Peninsula and the islands of the archipelago, even Indo-china and China ... Towards the ninth century A.D. the countries of Southern Asia had developed an extensive maritime and commercial activity, and attained a prosperity unequalled in history.”
It is perhaps time to take our Look East Policy to a new dimension. The continuous meeting and intermingling of people from diverse social backgrounds helps in crafting a liberal and cosmopolitan attitude to life. An overland connection to Nalanda, just as Nagapattinam thrived on an aqueous connection, could be the first step in our journey of the next thousand years. India is ideally placed to spur a movement catalysed by spirituality, to reach an ancient destination in the new millennium — a place that set ancient India apart as a pioneer in higher education.
(The writer is a former Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He was India's Ambassador to Vietnam between 2004 and 2006.) _____
Comments:
N.Ravi’s article on “Look East Policy- A millennia apart” in the context of the 1000th year celebrations of Hanoi is timely. Also, this comes closely following our celebrating the 1000th year of the Thanjavur temple built by Raja Raja Cholan. If eminent historians like KA Nilakanta Sastry had dwelt with extensively on the Cholas and their relations with South East Asian countries a millennia ago, Kalki Krishnamurthy brought home to every TN household six decades ago these achievements in his immortal Ponniyin Selvan. Our Look East Policy announced by an earlier government remains only on paper. Mr. Ravi talks of an arduous bus journey through the various nations of South East Asia. Wouldn’t it be more rewarding –even if it involves political hindrances- if the Europe-Mekong rail network –one long forgotten is revived especially when China and Turkey talks of Berlin-Belgrade-Baghdad-Urumqui-Beijing rail line in cooperation with Turkey. Paris-Mekong rail project criss-crossing several nations would be not only a profitable project but also bringing peace and prosperity in the countries in this region; it may even overshadow the Siberian railway network. When the film produced on the occasion of celebration of thousand years of Hanoi looked overly Chinese, much to the chagrin of the Vietnamese people needing its revision, we do no know whether our concerned ministries did even try to make any contribution from our side to appropriately show some aspects of our contribution more to highlight the trade, cultural and religious contributions and cooperation among the nations in this region. There was hardly any media coverage of these celebrations at home. The Nalanda project needs to be pursued vigorously and expanded to over more aspects of our scriptures, spirituality and traditions. As for the SIngapore project of an eminent institution catering to the 21 century needs of modernity, there are other suitable Indian centres which can attract infrastructure needs and resource availability and overseas students’ convenience. Indian government should take a more active role and a fresh look in this behalf. In conformity with our modern urges, perhaps an airport at Nagapattinam would have been far more appropriate and profitable than the one announced for Karaikal. That would be a fitting tribute to the old kings if the current day India uses air services linking Nagapattinam with Penang, Kualalumpur, Singapore, Jogyakarta and Bali.
from: s subramanyan Posted on: Oct 7, 2010 at 07:00 IST
A first step should be granting of visa on arrival. it can boost the people to people contact which can not be achived with thousand summit meetings.
from: Asit Kumar Posted on: Oct 7, 2010 at 07:58 IST
Also there was a proposal for an International Highway through North East India to Singapore via Myanmar,Thailand and Malaysia -- hope something moves in that direction too.
from: Yashwanth P Posted on: Oct 7, 2010 at 09:35 IST
A rejuvenating write up. Thanks to The Hindu for publishing the same. While Spirituality and Academics could be some of the drivers of this connectivity, Economic necessity could also drive this land connectivity. Tripura, located in the North- East would then emerge as the natural gateway into mainland India, if the cooperation with Bangladesh is ensured. This then could open up our North- East States for development, by providing access to the mainland- exposing its wonderful Arts, Crafts, Culture and provide the much needed market access. Today, fish, eggs and various other essentials reach Tripura from far off Andhra Pradesh, via a tortuous route through Guwahati. The fuel costs involved and the wastage and spoilage could be avoided if the land route through Bangladesh is opened. Spirituality, Religion, Academics and Economics- all these considerations should drive and impel the Look East Policy.
from: Sundar Posted on: Oct 7, 2010 at 09:57 IST
The proposed Nalanda university project will surely going to boost humanities study in India and its neighbors. Government must try to globalize it in terms of curriculum, faculty , projects. studies of social science , sociology, history, philosophy is somewhat neglected in India, due to the overemphasis on technical educations as well as lack of job opportunities in arts and humanities.Interaction at the level of culture, philosophy and history will help in regional co-operation to increase. Government of India must conduct nationwide entrance test for admission in this university , just like IIT-JEE exam, to make it open for all students from diverse backgrounds like arts, commerce, engineering doctors , lawyers etc. One more benefit is that it will help to improve Bihar's image . Success of this university will surely encourage govt. and others to set up similar centers in other parts of India also. Proposed university can be a very strong tool to strengthen ties with not only south east countries but with Pakistan and gulf countries also. Its high time that India need one more international center of excellence after IIT's AND IIM's.Nalanda must achieve what oxford and Cambridge achieved in west.
from: Amit Mane Posted on: Oct 7, 2010 at 15:54 IST
Very useful initiative I hope it sets an example for every regional neighbour countries. Then it helps world understand eachother easy.
from: F.Ilikkan Posted on: Oct 7, 2010 at 21:19 IST
Our much vaunted Look East policy will remain just on paper if we do not stop putting the cart before the horse. The imperative for New Delhi is to resolve the long standing issues of North East India because all trade will have to pass through this region by road. River transportation can only be resorted to after Bangladesh agrees to let us use its river systems. We haven't even done a study whether our rail line can be stretched beyond Dimapur. We have to ensure that the road from Kolkata to Imphal is kept fit and trouble free from ambushes by insurgents. Next the road from Imphal to Kunming in China via Kalewa, Mandalay and Lashio in Myanmar has to be equally made secure as the major component of the Kunming Initiative. The current passenger flight connecting Kolkata with Kunming should be bolstered with air freight services preferably on a daily basis. However, the immediate matter is to resolve the ULFA, Naga and such insurgent issues which the incumbent UPA outfit has not bothered to pursue vigourously so far.
from: JK Dutt Posted on: Oct 8, 2010 at 04:03 IST
N.Ravi's article on Look East Policy initiative has rightly identified education as key sector that can take off India-ASEAN relations. A focus that is not political or economic and yet can influence both peacefully.However India needs first to put its house in order in north east,opportunities are never short besides implement its agreement and promises.Without this, it would become another Orissa. Recent ASEAN ambassadors visit to North East could make the highway, railways, natural gas pipeline a reality besides the economic spillover.But would China allow this, especially with the coming in effect of China ASEAN economic agreement in 2010 covering 1.9 billion people of the region and an economic bloc only next to NAFTA and EU? India's best bet is developing the region and education as pointed out.
from: Amnah Khalid Posted on: Oct 8, 2010 at 09:14 IST
A commentator has said that it would be prudent to use Tripura as the central point for developing he area. The suggestion needs to be seriously pursued by the government. If north eastern states develop without any damage to their environmental needs and a fillip is given to the people for their advancement in education and employment it will go a long way. The entire north esern region could develop so much that the trade relations with improve not only with southern China but also with Myanmar and Bangaldesh. For achiveing this, government should even grant liberal help and assitance to Bangaldesh when it gives unhidnered access to the movement of our people, goods and trade between north eastern states and the reswt of India via Bangaldesh. Both Bangaldedsh and India will benefi immensely. Of coufse these are within the remit of the minsiter who has been given cahrge of voerall development of North Eastern States. We have not heard for quite long from this minsiter!
from: s subramanyan
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