Last month, towards the end of May, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new parliament building of India. The inaugural event was boycotted by at least 20 opposition parties and condemned highly as an insult to India’s democracy for the arbitrary manner through which it was conducted. As much as it appears to have infuriated opposition of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi, it equally riled its neighbors especially in Kathmandu, Dhaka and Islamabad. The cause for its displeased neighbors has been the ‘Akhand Bharat’ mural that they have installed in their new parliament building.
Since its installation, people of Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan have reacted furiously to the ‘Akhand Bharat’ and have created diplomatic ripples. Although India has described the mural as a “cultural map and not a political one”, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan are not content. India must sincerely clarify that the idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’ is not an affirmation of BJP’s hindutva nationalism’s expansionist mindset that is insensitive to its neighbors and their sovereignties. They should be able to answer why it is logical for them to permanently install the map of Ashoka Empire that includes the geographical areas of the present-day Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan in their parliament and why its neighbors should be silent and at ease with such a menacing move.
This has mounted pressure on governments of its neighboring countries to take a stand against the Indian authority and their historical propensity of bullying its neighbors. Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is also said to have raised the issue during his recent meeting with Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor of India. Similarly, Bangladesh also decided to seek an explanation on the matter from the Indian side last week.
Since its installation, people of Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan have reacted furiously to the ‘Akhand Bharat’ and have created diplomatic ripples. Although India has described the mural as a “cultural map and not a political one”
The move is believed to be an apparent act of India under Modi’s regime. India, as the largest country and economy in South Asia, has constantly failed to take its neighbors into confidence despite the Modi government’s popular cliche ‘neighborhood first’ in terms of foreign policy. India’s attitudes encompass multiple reasons and requires thorough analysis. They can be decoded in one way in relation to India’s domestic affairs and incumbent government while it can be described in another way by those who are worried for the shared future of South Asia.
Let’s begin with India’s domestic affairs.
It is quite clear that Mr Modi and BJP’s mantra of winning votes is to ‘glorify’ India, unite the Hindu majority and vilify minorities. In the context of upcoming 2024 elections, the Modi government wants to move forward with agendas that can allure nationalist followers. Alarmed by the surprising comeback of Congress in Karnataka, BJP and Modi government seem hell bent on fetching new groups of followers while maintaining their current strength.
‘Akhand Bharat’ is nothing more than a part of their agendas to delight their follower base and thus grow Modi’s arrogant approval through the demonstration of his influence in the Indian subcontinent and weird muscle flex to its weaker, smaller and less stable neighbors. In his quest for power, knowingly or unknowingly, Modi and his regime is hurting the sentiments of many friends of India in nations like Nepal and Bangladesh. For India’s friendly neighbors their latest move equates to an act of bigotry.
Not bothered by South Asian reality
India’s move shows that the incumbent Indian government is least bothered by the South Asian realities and it is more into perpetuating its own way of politics. Despite having enormous potential for a more integrated and united region in the world, South Asia today stands as one of the least integrated regions. Home to the earliest known civilizations and today one of the most densely populated regions in the world, South Asia carries a high growth potential on all fronts.
In the attempt to promote the lives of the peoples in South Asia through integration for collective action, collaboration and mutual assistance, and cooperation with international and regional organizations, a declaration on South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was adopted back in 1985. Owing to the efforts of its member nations, SAARC made some commendable efforts in improving the world’s one of the most impoverished areas. Through the initial decades of its inception, it was able to reduce widespread poverty, strengthen energy cooperation, promote trade, food security, social welfare, education and combat terrorism. Unfortunately, over the last decade, the idea seems to be failing and falling apart. One of the most compelling reasons has been the lack of common identity. Political tensions between India and Pakistan have unequivocally hurt the organization.
In the attempt to promote the lives of the peoples in South Asia through integration for collective action, collaboration and mutual assistance, and cooperation with international and regional organizations, a declaration on South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was adopted back in 1985.
Regional economic cooperation and integration has been instrumental in achieving inclusive and sustainable development outcomes as demonstrated by the success of the European nations as EU and more convincingly ASEAN in Southeast Asia. By deepening economic cooperation, enhancing competitiveness, and reducing trade barriers, ASEAN has reaped rich development dividends. The future of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in South Asia relies on effective collaboration among state and non-state actors under the frameworks of Intraregional Integration. This entails bringing together governments, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to share knowledge, promote trade and investment, develop regional infrastructure, and address socio-economic challenges. Inclusive policies, social inclusion, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and good governance must be prioritized to ensure equitable distribution of benefits and foster sustainable development.
India, as a growing power, is supposed to play a creative role in uniting its neighbors in the friendliest manners and for the most ideal causes. India is expected to respect the equal sovereignty of its neighboring countries and work to build an ever-lasting partnership based on trust and shared development prospects. India should lead the dialogues in preparing South Asia as one of the most stable, prosperous and peaceful regions instead of creating friction, distrust and resentment. More importantly, as India continues to grow as a world power, it should be more obvious and vital to earn the confidence of its own neighbors and promote mutual cooperation in the region.
India, as a growing power, is supposed to play a creative role in uniting its neighbors in the friendliest manners and for the most ideal causes.
If India wishes to lead South Asia in terms of economy and prosperity, it should open up to resolve the long-standing differences with its neighbors, build trans-regional frameworks, offer a serious stake for its neighbors in its success and expand the possibilities for shared prosperity. Given the unique regional challenges and complexities, merely claiming a sphere of influence would only set India up for an unavoidable failure.
Answering bigotry through bigotry
In Nepal, Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah placed a ‘Greater Nepal’ map in his chamber following the ‘Akhand Bharat’ mural in India. The ‘Greater Nepal’ map depicts Nepal’s historical expansion of territories that include parts of current Indian and Bangladeshi territories beyond today’s Nepal’s boundaries. Another equally popular Mayor of Sub-Metropolitan Dharan promised to follow suit.
Opposition MP Biraj Bhakta Shrestha (RSP) even proposed that Nepal should also install the cultural map of ‘Greater Nepal’ in the federal parliament. Gagan Thapa, the General Secretary of the largest party in the parliament, opined similarly that Nepal should also publish a map of ‘Greater Nepal’.
These moves and statements are regarded as symbolic protests against, what observers say, India’s bigot act of placing ‘Akhand Bharat’ mural. Some other politicians have also seconded the ideas.
Although it is not desirable to have further confrontation in the region and answer to the irresponsible act of India cannot be more irresponsible acts by its neighbors, complacency and ignorance of its neighbors should not be expected. Objections should be raised and India should be sought for the answer. The bilateral and diplomatic damages must be repaired through mature diplomacy.
Genuine concerns
Major problem of South Asian leaders, regardless of the country, is that they have not yet made an agenda of shared prosperity as a collective dream of the region. Instead, they weaponize issues or problems with neighboring countries as a tool to divert the attention of people back in their home. India’s latest move to carve out ‘Akhand Bharat’ mural in its new parliament building can be taken as the continuity of the same trend.
Even in Nepal, and Bangladesh, concerns and outrage can be seen among people despite the government officials’ close ties with Indian counterparts.
How should this incident be responded to (by its neighbors)? This is a big question and an important one. No government either in Nepal or Bangladesh or Pakistan can afford the silence on the matter given the public sentiment against Indian actions. Let the case of Pakistan be judged separately as its issues with India endure to larger extents. Even in Nepal, and Bangladesh, concerns and outrage can be seen among people despite the government officials’ close ties with Indian counterparts.
This incident should not be the one to fuel any kind of tensions or conflict between countries in the region. But the incident should not go unnoticed as well. At least government officials from Nepal and Bangladesh should remind India that any act equivalent to bigotry is not expected from them.
It is also in the best advantage of India to understand that the dream of a more prosperous and powerful India is possible only when its neighbor countries stand with it, not against.
Comment