Can There be South Asia Without Borders?
‘One South Asia’ sans man-made political boundaries across the vast geographical topography is neither fully unconceivable nor substantially plausible considering the prevalent volatile anarchic political environment, economic misery found in most part of the region. If Indus can flow through a couple of hand-drawn frontiers, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra can naturally meet in Bangladesh after flowing through India; if the immeasurably impregnable Himalayas stand a strong demarcating wall on the north of the South Asian countries; if a single cultural string vibrates irrespective of where is touched upon and if the phonetic sound remains almost the same across the region, we can have a ‘One South Asia’. On the other hand, widespread poverty, illiteracy and underdevelopment; the existing political and economic disparities; current inertia at bilateral levels; tattered relationship of India – the largest occupant of South Asia – with neighbouring countries and among other South Asian countries; ineffectiveness of SAAR (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) as an instrument of change and prosperity across the parent region and a host of other socio-cultural-religious issues deny in no uncertain terms the conception of the idea of ‘One South Asia’. If ever a South Asia is born, it will born to a propitious democratically-nurtured political ambience and an economic order defined by barrier-free zone and free trade economy.
The reasons for having a One South Asia are not far to seek. The success of European Union in bringing unforeseen changes in the economic and political situations of its members, especially the backwards ones can be replicated in the South Asian region. The region can have an economic union while retaining the sovereignty and integrity of its constituents. Like in the EU region, there could be a common market, common currency and common visa across the South Asian region for the greater benefits of all concerned. The countries in the region would pool their resources so that together they develop South Asia economically, commercially and environmentally. A unified South Asia will be based upon the dictum: from each according to his capacity and to each according to his necessity.
The physiography of South Asia is the physiography of the Indian subcontinent. India covers the three quarters of South Asia in terms of area and population and Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and of course, Afghanistan sit on the rest of the South Asian region. Fortified with mountain regions of Himalayan heights on the north, surrounded by fathomless Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east; the vast South Asian Region invariably experiences unique evenness in its societal and cultural indices.
India, being the largest dweller largely defines and influences the pan South Asian culture, society, religion and to some extent its political and economic systems. India can play the role of the protagonist in the making of One South Asia if she concentrates her diplomatic might and resourcefulness to this effect. Being the largest sharer of South Asian region, India should play a proactive role in bridging the existing political and economic differences among the partnering countries. India should more focus on the realization of a unified South Asia than going for other diplomatic victories.
History of South Asia has been a mute witness to the prevalence of opposing trends of unification and fragmentation. The advent of extensive empires of the Mauryas, the Gutpa saw a unified South Asia whereas the development of regional kingdoms co-existing with other regional powers witnessed a fragmented South Asian region. The Mauryan doyen Ashok spread the Buddhism throughout the realm. Hinduism has been a reigning religion across the region with Islam, Christianity, Jainism all preaching across it. There were no legal political boundaries and the whole of South Asia could be brought under single suzerainty as was done by the aforesaid empires. It is rightly said he who forgets history, loses his ability to create history. History can be repeated in new a new socio-economic and political ambience of the South Asian region. The ruling political system in this scenario must be democracy and rule of law.
The geographical factors in the region are no less suitable to have a one South Asian region. The whole of it except Sri Lanka and Maldives can be connected with roads and rails. If all the South Asian countries rely on the bounty of nature, the region can be economically prosperous ensuring happiness and good life to its people. With vast network of transport and communication, unanimous R&D on utilization of oceanic and mountainous flora and fauna of the region, institutional arrangements for free movement, free choice of occupation and residence across the region will go a long way in materializing a unified South Asia.
However, the current political environment in some of the countries of South Asia like Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh where democracy is yet to live its infancy, growing intolerance against minority religious communities almosteverywhere in South Asia, anarchic developments on the borders between India and Pakistan, India and Bangladesh et al are not conducive to the flourish of democracy across the South Asian region. There is an inescapable need for setting the political house of South Asia in order before marching towards achieving a single South Asia in economic and cultural sphere. Cross border shelling, attack on the civilian population by nefarious groups (who perpetrate such actions to fulfil their fanatic objectives in the name of ‘jehad’ and put the blame on a government.), carrying on terrorist actions in adjacent countries through fake visas, all amount to failure of constitutional rule in most part of South Asia. These persistent destablising forces should be dealt with iron-handedly through both institutional and legal measures with the participation of all governments in the region. There is also a need to curb national chauvinism and religious identities which have disseminated hatred in the region.
The role of SAARC in forging unity and integrity in all spheres across South Asia should be second to none. However, it has been mostly a failure even on economic front, let alone in political mediation. The intra-regional trade of SAARC at present is abysmally small when compared with the volume of trilateral trade between member-countries of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the EU. The success of SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) is greatly hampered by shattered bilateral relation between member countries, especially India and Pakistan.
In fine, the idea of a One South Asia being practicable needs many factors to get addressed. The foremost is the unique role India has to play in such endeavour. Indian has to redefine its role on bilateral fronts with all countries of South Asia and get prepared to tread the extra mile in meeting the aspirations of the constituents of SAARC countries. India following German in the EU should invest in SAARC through structural funding in infrastructure development. India has to vehemently articulate a cohesive vision for South Asia by managing domestic disruptions like Tamil Issue in Sri Lanka and land boundary agreement with Bangladesh. In order to achieve a united South Asia civil society relations must be strengthened to generate support for it. South Asian nations together should make a combined cooperative of common rivers, a mountain system, an ocean and a conjoint ecological system. They should make a blueprint for development of the region relying upon the natural endowment which is the same throughout. The vision for a united South Asia will remain a far cry unless the deep-seated bilateral tussles, individual issues, lack of cooperation among the countries of the region are not given due attention. (1267 words)
