SHILLONG CALM FESTIVAL 2014
By Nawaz Yasin Islam
SHILLONG: A policy that encompassed the elite think tank to look at development beyond the lingo of Gross Domestic Product was shredded and analysed in a panel discussion, ‘Looking East towards cultural affinities and friendship’ on the second day of the Creative Arts, Literature and Music festival being held at the State Central Library today.
Much of the debate revolved around the significance of the whole term ‘Look East Policy’ which represents efforts to cultivate extensive economic and strategic relations with the nations of Southeast Asia.
There are many reasons for India’s past neglect of Southeast Asia. Owing to India’s colonial links, the ruling elite had an essentially Western orientation and thinking in the post-1947 period. Since this region was less developed than India until the 1970s, Southeast Asia was not an attractive trading and economic partner. India’s own economic policies were insular and protectionist and the gradual realization that her perceptions about this region were flawed led to a flourish in the relationship with Southeast Asia.
Speaking as a panelist in the discussion, Dr David Reid Syiemlieh, a renowned historian and academician opined that for him “Looking East” meant more academic linkages with the universities and institutions of South East Asia. He rued that most scholars were still obsessed with Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard.
Patricia Mukhim, Editor of The Shillong Times highlighted that the Look East Policy was first initiated in 1992 with big ambitions, most of which failed to materialise. “It is easy to say that we will connect with South East Asia but how can we do so when we have security-centric borders?” Mukhim said the seven states have to first understand each other and collaborate on a coherent road map as a region before embarking on ties with neighbouring countries.
Sri Lankan author Ashok Ferrey highlighted the disastrous policy of ‘Sinhalese only’ which has led to extremism which tore the county apart. He said Sri Lanka is now trying to woo both India and China for its economic gains. Ferrey suggested that instead of talking only about looking east the attention should be for India to build better relations with its neighbours.
Noted columnist and author Sanjoy Hazarika also pointed out that the Look East Policy was a non-starter as far as North East India is concerned but benefitted the coastline states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. “I have tried through the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES) to build academic ties with Singapore, Thailand, Bangladesh etc. and said that such collaborations paid more dividends.
His views were seconded by noted Bangladeshi writer, Farah Ghuznavi who reiterated that politicians thrived on divisive politics. She stated that civil society needed to become more vocal but also suggested that the fringe fundamentalist elements of both countries needed to be part of such intellectual discourses.
Most of the panellists including MLCU Vice Chancellor R G Lyngdoh were of the opinion that the Look East Policy was just a big hype with most parts of India as well as neighbouring countries having no idea of the same. “We prefer to live in isolation and somehow feel real secure about it. The solution, Lyngdoh said is to find common grounds to work on especially in the areas of music, dance and cultural exchanges.
The interactive session which was moderated by former bureaucrat and President ICARE, Toki Blah elicited some incisive comments from the audience.