India & Neighbourhood

-
  • India by far is the largest country in terms of area, population, and economic and military capabilities, larger than all its neighbours put together.
  • Each neighbour shares some significant ethnic, linguistic or cultural features with India but not so much with the others in the subcontinent.
  • It is this asymmetry which shapes the neighbourhood’s perception of India and vice versa.
  • But India also must recognize that the asymmetry is still not of the scale that can compel its neighbours to align their interests with its own. This is the challenge of proximity.
  • India also launched New Neighborhood Policy, 2005 to address the need of regional integration in South Asia in the age of globalization.
  • It focused on development of border areas, improved connectivity in the region and encouraging cultural and people to people contacts.
  • In 2014 India enunciated ‘Neighbourhood first’ policy by inviting leaders of all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries to swearing-in ceremony, of new government.
Lack of Regional heft
1.Unfavorable Structural Challenges:
  • India has historical legacies of border conflict, ethnic and social tensions and India’s are the dominant structural handicaps working against success of India’s policy in South Asia.
  • For example, the issues related to Madhesis in Nepal, Tamils in Sri Lanka, border and river water disputes with Bangladesh are accorded to various structural handicaps of India.
2.Lack of Consensus on Core issues of Security and Development:
  • South Asia is one of the only regions without any regional security architecture nor there is an effort to evolve any such architecture due to lack of consensus and neighbours perceive India as a Big Brother.
3.Impact of China:
  • China providing much needed investment in economy, especially infrastructure hence neighbours look out for China.
  • Also they try to check India through China card.
  • In Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Pakistan, China holds strategic real estate and has stake in their domestic policies and also they align with china to check India and vice versa.
4.India’s Hard Power Tactics has failed and led to Political loggerheads
Way Forward
  • Use soft power
  • Re orient the binary approach with China: Instead of opposing every project by China in the region, India must try to collaborate in China’s regional project or suggest a parallel offer with the help of QUAD (USA – India- Japan – Australia)
  • Replicate ASEAN Model in South Asian region and India must take a back seat in decision making in order to wipe off the Big Brother Image.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Indian Painting - Pre History

-
Image
    History and Evolution of Painting in India - An Overview India has a long tradition of artistic excellence and painting is one of the major mediums that has been used to express it. There is several evidence suggesting that painting flourished in India since ancient times. Archaeologists have found wall paintings in parts of India, which suggest that even the early historic man in India was engaged in activities of art and leisure The history of painting can be traced through the ancient and medieval period where the books were illustrated with paintings Then came the miniature style that dominated the Mughal and Rajput courts. With the coming of the Europeans, the art of painting and engraving took a western turn. Modern painters experimented with styles, colours and designs. Many Indian painters have gained worldwide recognition and are winning prizes and accolades for their vision. Principles of Painting The history of paintings can be known from primitive rock paintings of Bhim
Read more

Classification of Indian Paintings

-
Image
    Classification of Indian Paintings Indian Paintings have been broadly classified into two. Mural Paintings Miniature Paintings Mural Paintings The work on the walls or a solid structure are referred to as Murals. These have existed in India since ancient times and can be dated between 10th century BC and 10th century AD. The evidence of such paintings can be found at several locations in India. The beauty and the exquisiteness of mural paintings can be seen in places like Ajanta, Armamalai Cave, Ravan Chhaya Rock Shelter, Bagh Caves, Sittanavasal Caves and Kailash Temple in Ellora. Most of the mural paintings are either in natural caves or in rock cut chambers. The paintings follow a theme, the most common being Hindu, Buddhist and Jain. Mural paintings were also made to adorn any mundane premise. For e.g. Ancient theatre room in Jogimara Caves. Ajanta Cave Paintings One of the oldest surviving murals of Indian sub-continent, Ajanta caves were carved between 2nd century BC to 5th c
Read more

Solar system

-
Image
Galaxy Gravitational bound system of star, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter. Ex: Milky way. A galaxy is a huge system of billions of stars. Our solar system is a part of the milky way galaxy. Our Milky way galaxy was named “Akash ganga”. There are millions of galaxies that make the Universe. Distance galaxy: GN-z11 (March 2016) Hubble classification Eliptical (E) Spiral (S): Andromeda & Sombrero (unbarred) Lenticular Celestial bodies: Sun, Moon. Two types: Emit light (Star), Don’t Emit Light (Planets) North Star – Pole Star – Indicates north Direction Constellations (Group of star) – 88 Official Ursa Major – Big Dipper Tail – Alioth – Brightest in Ursa Major Saptarishi Mandal Polaris – Brightest in Ursa Minor The Sun Made up of extremely hot gases. The sun is about 150 million km away from the earth. 30 times greater than Earth. Black hole – It absorb light but does not emit due to high gravitational force. Corona – Outer surface of the sun (About 6000 k) S
Read more