tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196231532024-02-18T20:49:05.703-08:00T.P.Sreenivasan-The BlogT.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-9752950711740826202019-05-12T18:19:00.001-07:002019-05-12T18:27:01.550-07:00The battle for Sabarimala<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The battle for Sabarimala<br />
T.P. Sreenivasan MAY 01, 2019 00:15 IST<br />
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The will of the people of Kerala, more inscrutable than before, is safely sealed in rooms with extra security as demanded by the times. The long wait for the Lok Sabha election results will mark an anti-climax, with temples getting a break from the delirium of devotees. Offerings from candidates will quietly pour in, making it comfortable for temples to regenerate and repair the damage done. As activists leave the temples, devotees can return to their prayers in peace. The rhythms, the bells and the music will be heard again, without being immersed in political cacophony.<br />
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Embracing Hinduism<br />
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This is the first time that God and temple rituals came to the forefront as election issues in Kerala. Earlier, it was only entreaties and special prayers that marked the election process. The first signs of the change appeared when some of the communist conclaves featured Christ and Krishna, together with Karl Marx and Fidel Castro. The explanation was that divine teachings may have influenced communism, but that was the beginning of the efforts to end the monopoly of the BJP over Hinduism. Soon enough, every party began to create its own version of Hinduism to prove that the BJP version was extremist. Political parties began to embrace Hinduism of different varieties rather than alienate Hindus, many of whom were inclined towards the BJP.<br />
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An India without the Left?<br />
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A Supreme Court judgment on the long-standing issue of whether women between the ages of 10 and 50 should be allowed to enter the Sabarimala shrine caused a tremor in Kerala, though initially there was a general consensus that constitutional rights would eventually let women of all ages enter the temple. There were some issues about women being unable to remain pure in body and soul for the entire 41 day-period of penance because of menstruation. But the surprising insistence of the Kerala government on enforcing the decision without any concern for the safety or the convenience of the women pilgrims led to sharp differences over the Supreme Court verdict. Following the model of the Ram temple, which brought the BJP to power in Delhi, the highly polarised political parties took on the cause of the vast number of devotees, who wanted customs and traditions to be protected. The strongest position was taken by the BJP, which espoused the view that young women should not enter and a review of the verdict should be sought. The Congress hesitated for a moment, but in keeping with its soft Hindutva agenda, supported the traditionalists. The government stood firm and turned Sabarimala into a battlefield, openly escorting activists to the sanctum sanctorum.<br />
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Temple and state<br />
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Gaining political mileage<br />
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As political postures developed around the issue, the Left parties pushed for a renaissance movement to reform outdated practices, while the powerful Nair Service Society sought protection of the faith by either reviewing the Supreme Court decision or by legislative action. The BJP supported the faithful and championed their cause, but stopped short of using its majority in the Lok Sabha to issue an ordinance to counter the decision of the Supreme Court. The Congress eventually came to the side of the believers. As a consequence of these developments, the Kerala government was seen as a renaissance group, while the others became champions of faith and rituals. Since the line between the BJP and the devotee groups was thin, the BJP got more political mileage out of the controversy than the others and, therefore, is expecting to open its parliamentary account in Kerala this time. The Congress also believes that it has gained popularity with the devotees. The Left believes that it too has gained on account of its government-sponsored renaissance, demonstrated by protests staged under its auspices by women.<br />
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Rise in number of voters<br />
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The vexatious issue on the day after the polling was the phenomenal rise in the number of voters compared to previous elections. Each side believes that more voters came to vote this time because of its own enhanced popularity. Obviously, the issues raised this time were not those of mortals, like unemployment and price rise, but those relating to God. Though the Chief Electoral Officer of the State had decreed that Lord Ayyappa’s name should not be dragged into the campaign, the Sabarimala issue was on the minds of voters as they went to the polling booths. The description of Kerala as ‘God’s Own Country’ was a mere tourist slogan once, but today political parties are banking on divine intervention to determine Kerala’s future.<br />
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T.P. Sreenivasan is a former Ambassador of India and currently Director General, Kerala International Centre, Thiruvananthapuram<br />
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-55209322011295235852017-07-31T00:41:00.002-07:002017-07-31T00:41:26.715-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Fight for the final pearl</h3>
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T.P.Sreenivasan, Jul 23, 2017</div>
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China's string of pearls to choke India is still in the making. Most of the pearls are in place, strangling India's neck with different degrees of tightness. Others are strung loose and still have some flexibility. But the effort is now to drill a hole in a precious pearl, which had escaped Chinese strategy to hook it and complete the stranglehold on India. Bhutan is in the throes of a struggle to remain a decoration around India's neck, rather than a choker. India has no choice but to resist with all its might as the loss of Bhutan will herald the complete supremacy of China in South Asia.</div>
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Bhutan has been pursuing happiness in its own way through deep religious sentiments, preservation of nature and culture, democracy, loyalty to India, sustainable development and an internationalism of restraint and mutuality. King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, whose reign I had a chance to watch from close quarters, was a man of vision, who could have managed a nation many times the size of Bhutan. He was fully aware of the dragon menace to his north, but made a deliberate choice to dance with the elephant. But more importantly, he carried the young generation with him in ushering in democracy, maintaining close relations with India and promoting the environment. Bhutan is the only country in the world with a negative carbon footprint. The succeeding Wangchuks have respected his legacy and followed his vision. India has played a crucial role in promoting Gross National Happiness in the Himalayan Kingdom.</div>
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The bedrock of India-Bhutan friendship has been the provisions of the 1949 Treaty between the two countries which made the protection of Bhutan and promotion of its foreign policy India's responsibility and the revised Treaty of 2007 has not made any substantial change in that situation.The Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) has been taking care of Bhutan's security needs just as the Border Roads Organisation unit, DANTAK, built the vast network of roads that now criss cross Bhutan. The first motor car came into Bhutan only in 1968 and the Volkswagen I brought with me to Bhutan was a novelty even in 1971.</div>
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Bhutan was not entirely free of nationalism even in my time and there were murmurs among the elite in Bhutan about India's predominant position. Some even suggested that, by being close to India, Bhutan would incur the wrath of China. A way the King found to deal with such criticism was to secure flexibility on the foreign policy front, while not diluting the security arrangement. Bhutan's admission to the UN and flexibility on votes on issues which were not of direct interest to India were manifestations of "independence" in foreign policy that Bhutan enjoyed. For instance, the Bhutanese vote was not the same as India's on issues like the problems of the landlocked states and least developed countries. But on issues of special interest to India like the South Asia as a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Bhutan stood firm with India.</div>
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In a classic case of Bhutan not being guided on foreign policy by India, Bhutan recognised Bangladesh soon after India did, without even waiting for a request from India. I had the honour to receive the note of recognition from the then Foreign Minister Lyonpo Dawa Tsering. But that action was received with overwhelming gratitude in India. No one bothered to point out that Bhutan should have waited for India's advice. The King knew how to please India even by violating the Treaty!</div>
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China's initiative to change the status quo at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction is by no means a thoughtless action by a local commander, as may have happened in some of the skirmishes that have taken place on the Line of Actual Control on the India-China border. The Chinese strategy with regard to Bhutan has all along been to show extreme sensitivity to Bhutan's interests, as if in contrast to India's hegemony over Bhutan. The fast way in which much of the China-Bhutan border was settled should be seen in this light. Bhutan was genuinely happy about what happened, since Bhutan had expected the same treatment as India in Chinese hands. Leaving the tri-junction for settlement as part of the final settlement with India was eminently reasonable. China had also respected the Bhutanese claim so far by leaving Doklam as disputed territory. The present claim that Doklam is part of China is patently false and that is why it is suspected that the motive is to enlist Bhutan rather than to threaten India. The Chinese could have selected any other spot on the Indian border, instead of trying to change the status quo at the tri-junction.</div>
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China had long entertained an ambition to open a diplomatic mission in Bhutan, which had resisted it on account of an understanding with India that opening of diplomatic relations with other countries would be after consultations with India. Since dialogue with India has been ruled out unless India withdraws from Doklam, an eventual compromise would be direct negotiations between China and Bhutan, which might end the stand-off, but get Bhutan to be eternally grateful to China for its reasonableness and an eventual settlement of its border with China. Such a development will make Bhutan end up on the string as the final pearl.</div>
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China and India have grave grievances against each other, but somehow the latest Chinese initiative does not seem to be designed to distance India from the US and Israel or to enlist India in the OBOR initiative. The situation does not give India any opportunity to secure NSG membership or to get Azhar on to the list of terrorists. Doklam is not likely to lead to a boycott of Chinese goods either. On the contrary, the lesson that China is seeking to teach India is that the cosy relationship it has with Bhutan will not last and that the Chinese will complete the string of pearls. The unusual harshness in the Chinese pronouncements and its refusal of dialogue clearly point to that kind of denouement. The suggestion by the External Affairs Minister that both sides should withdraw simultaneously even without a dialogue or preconditions indicates that the message has reached India loud and clear.</div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-5835816783266177292017-07-31T00:36:00.000-07:002017-07-31T00:37:36.590-07:00Kargil: How Clinton pushed Sharif to withdraw<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Kargil: How Clinton pushed Sharif to withdraw</h3>
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T P Sreenivasan, Jul 30, 2017</div>
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By a sheer coincidence, Nawaz Sharif resigned as Prime Minister of Pakistan within days of the eighteenth Kargil Vijay Divas India celebrated this year to honour the martyrs of the Kargil conflict of 1999. I recall the historic meeting Sharif had with President Bill Clinton on July 4,1999 at the Blair House in Washington, which marked a turning point in the conflict that lasted sixty days.This was the first time in history that the US took a clear stand in favour of the Indian position in a conflict with Pakistan.</div>
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The details of the Clinton-Sharif meeting have been revealed in the writings of Strobe Talbott, Bruce Reidel and Bill Clinton himself. My own book, ‘Words, Words, Words’ has a chapter entitled, ‘Nuclear Winter, Kargil Spring’, which contains the information given to me as the designated representative of the Embassy throughout the day of the meeting by Rick Inderfurth.</div>
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It is clear that Sharif went to Washington in desperation to end the conflict, but made a heroic effort to drag Clinton to undertake a mediation mission like he had done in the case of the Israel- Palestine situation. “Sharif was concerned that the situation that Pakistan had created was getting out of control, and he hoped to use my good offices not only to resolve the crisis, but also to help mediate with the Indians on the question of Kashmir itself”, says Clinton in his autobiography, ‘My Life’.</div>
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Clinton’s attention was drawn to the Kargil conflict on account of the intelligence he had received that Pakistan was contemplating to use nuclear weapons in case it was defeated in the Kargil conflict. He wrote letters to the two Prime Ministers to seek a resolution, abandoning the traditional hyphenation between India and Pakistan by saying clearly that the solution was for Pakistan to withdraw to the LOC and for India to refrain from crossing the LOC in retaliation.</div>
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Clinton was impressed that even after Pakistan crossed the Line of Control (LOC) and captured Kargil, India refrained from crossing the LOC to repel the aggressor. Moreover, the United States condemned Pakistan’s “infiltration of armed intruders” and went public with information that most of the seven hundred men who had crossed the Line of Control were attached to the Pakistani Army’s 10th Corps. This completely contradicted the Pakistani claim that the intruders were freedom fighters of Kashmir.</div>
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The initiative to seek the good offices of Clinton to resolve the issue came from Sharif as he felt that Pakistan would not get the support from the US to continue the conflict. But Clinton made it clear to Sharif that he should come only if he was willing to agree to withdraw the Pakistani forces. But in a special gesture, the President agreed to spend the US National Day to discuss the issue with Sharif. He informed Vajpayee about the visit and invited him also to join. But Vajpayee declined because of India’s position against any third country intervention in India-Pakistan issues. Clinton informed Vajpayee that he would convey the gist of the discussion to him as the talks proceeded.</div>
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Although Clinton had made it clear that unconditional withdrawal was the only option for Pakistan, Sharif’s opening proposal was a ceasefire to be followed by negotiations under American auspices. His fallback was to make Pakistani withdrawal conditional on Indian agreement to direct negotiations sponsored and probably mediated by the United States. After a day of gruelling negotiations, during which Clinton threatened to declare failure of the talks, Sharif agreed to “take concrete and immediate steps for the restoration of the LOC. In return, Sharif got an assurance from Clinton that he would take “personal interest to encourage an expeditious resumption and intensification of the bilateral efforts once the sanctity of the LOC had been fully restored.” The decision on withdrawal was firm and explicit, while the face saving given to Sharif was virtually meaningless. Instead of Clinton mediating, the assurance was only to encourage an expeditious resumption of the bilateral efforts, which was not against the basic Indian position. Still, I made a reservation on that formulation when Rick Inderfurth read it out to me after the meeting.</div>
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According to US Sources, Clinton telephoned Vajpayee twice during the day to seek his views, but Vajpayee was totally noncommittal. Even when the news of the agreement was conveyed to him, Vajpayee’s reaction was only, “What do you expect me to say, Mr.President?” In other words, he kept his distance from Clinton’s efforts even though he may have been grateful about the outcome.</div>
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Interestingly, Sharif had gone to Washington with his family, hinting that he might not be able to return to Pakistan if he did not secure US support for Pakistan’s position. But apparently, Clinton leaned heavily on him to agree to withdraw. He refuted the suggestion that Kargil was similar to Israel-Palestine situation and that it was the duty of Clinton to mediate. Clinton clarified that in the Israel-Palestine situation, he had requests from both sides to intervene, while India was clearly against his mediation. Clinton compared the Kargil situation to the Cuban crisis, which had brought the world to the brink of a nuclear war. When Clinton told Sharif that he had information that Pakistan army was ready to use nuclear weapons, Sharif expressed total surprise.</div>
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The discussion took the whole day essentially because Clinton was careful not to give Sharif a sense of defeat, leading to Sharif staying on in the US as a political refugee. It was important to keep his credibility with the army intact so that he could return to Pakistan with a face saving device to order the army to restore the sanctity of the LOC. Clinton proved to be a master negotiator in this particular case as he was convinced that the military adventurism by the Pakistan army should be sternly rebuffed.</div>
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According to Talbott, at one point,”Clinton had worked himself back into real anger—his face flushed, eyes narrowed, lips pursed, cheek muscles pulsing, fists clenched. He said it was crazy enough for Sharif to have let his military violate the Line of Control, start a border war with India, and now prepare nuclear forces for action. On top of that, he had put Clinton in the middle of the mess and set him up for a diplomatic failure. Sharif seemed beaten, physically and emotionally. He denied he had given any orders with regard to nuclear weaponry and said he was worried for his life.”</div>
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India-US relations have a long history of ups and downs and many of the downs have been on account of the US support for Pakistan. But Kargil was the one case in which spring broke out in India-US relations after they were frozen in the wake of the Indian nuclear tests. Kargil victory belonged to India, but the decisive step taken by Clinton and the role of Nawaz Sharif in it may well have prevented a catastrophe.</div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-69208435035815236832017-04-17T07:18:00.001-07:002017-04-17T07:18:07.048-07:00Birds of a feather<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: arial rounded mt bold; font-size: large;">Birds of a feather?: A President, a Prime Minister and a Chief Minister</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">T.P.Sreenivasan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">No three men could be more different from each other than Messrs. Donald Trump, Narendra Modi and Pinarayi Vijayan. They differ in backgrounds, ideology, values and habits. While one of them was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the others had humble beginnings. Their responsibilities are different and they exercise power of varying degrees. Even their lifestyles have nothing in common. The pomp and </span><span style="font-family: arial rounded mt bold; font-size: large;">splendor of the White House do not match the grandeur of the ornate Trump Towers around the world. Mr.Modi has carved out a sartorial fashion niche for himself after he became the Prime Minister. The move to the Cliff House has not made any difference to the modest apparel and lifestyle of Mr. Vijayan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">However, a slender thread of similarity runs through them across miles of land and sea. None of them was in power three years ago. Messrs.Trump and Modi had only a small chance of winning the elections they fought. There was many a slip between the cup and the lip for Mr. Vijayan. None of them had absolute political power before. But today the fortunes of the US, India and Kerala will depend on their performance. Their successes and failures will determine the fate of about 1.5 billion people. They are committed to the progress of their people, but their methods are considered decisive and divisive at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The three of them came to power through free and fair democratic elections, but none could claim to have formed governments of the people, for the people and by the people. They had high majorities to take them to the pinnacles of power, creating anxiety in the minds of those who opposed them. There was hope that once they were elected, they would become the leaders of their people, in true democratic fashion, regardless of the size of their majorities. But they remained loyal to the platforms they had announced before the elections, without seeking the support of their opponents. Majoritarianism, rather than democracy is the source of their agenda and power. Succession is also not clear for the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">All of them rode to power on an anti-establishment wave because of the failures, inefficiency or corruption of their predecessors. The voters chose them not necessarily for the promises they held or their record of the past or their integrity. All of them had skeletons in their cupboards, such as unfair business practices and disrespect for women in the case of Mr.Trump, communal antagonism in the case of Mr.Modi and suspicion of corruption in the case of Mr.Vijayan. It was not that the voters loved them more, but that they loved their predecessors less. The voters were shooting in the dark when they elected them. Anything would be better than the craftiness of Hillary Clinton, the ineffectiveness of Manmohan Singh and the mistakes of Oommen Chandy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">It is too early to make an assessment of the three men. Mr. Modi has done three years, Mr. Vijayan six months and Mr. Trump less than a hundred days. But their strengths and weaknesses have been displayed sufficiently to see where they are heading. All of them are likely to complete their terms of office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Mr.Trump has stuck to his election guns, regardless of the anxieties about them around the globe. Except on the day of his election, he has neither spoken nor behaved as a President of all Americans. His executive orders, appointments and pronouncements only increased universal concern. But he has begun to be flexible and willing to reverse personnel decisions more than Mr.Modi or Mr. Vijayan. He has adopted a more traditional line with China and Russia than originally indicated and has shown no signs of withdrawal from global issues as he had professed. He sees no nepotism in deploying his close relatives in the White House to assist him, an idea that neither Mr. Modi nor Mr. Vijayan can emulate. He gives the impression that he will safeguard the integrity of the Presidency and will not do anything to invite impeachment, which was talked about within days after the election. His strong intervention in Syria, challenging both Presidents Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad, looked principled and instinctive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Mr. Modi has virtually washed away the blood of communal carnage from his hands even though it had appeared that all the perfumes of Arabia would not sweeten his little hand, as Lady Macbeth lamented about her own misdeeds. He has established his priorities in domestic and foreign policies and framed slogans and actions to pursue them with determination. The "good days" and "development of all" he had promised appears to be in the realm of reality today. He is leading from the front and he takes failures in his stride. In foreign policy, he took India into the American camp even more deeply than his predecessors did. With Pakistan and China, he took a tough line and made peace more elusive. He will definitely leave behind a well governed and prosperous India, but he will only pay lip service to secularism and communal harmony. He appears poised to win another general election, which would strengthen his self proclaimed mandate. The streak of dictatorship in him is likely to accentuate rather than recede in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">As a Communist Chief Minister, Mr. Vijayan was expected to carry the party along all the way to swim or sink with it. But he appears to be enchanted by Mr.Modi’s success in dominating the party and the state. His penchant for wrong decisions and then sticking to them, with a few exceptions, even against the bigwigs in the party may hurt him unless he corrects his highly personalized style of decision making. His steely determination has won him the reputation as a “man with two hearts”. The phrase is not supposed to mean that he is kind and benevolent, but that even if one heart melts, he has another one to hold firm. The thorn in his side is the “Fidel Castro” of Kerala, 93-year old Mr.VS Achuthanandan, who, unlike Fidel, intervenes in the day to day administration of the state and hits Mr.Vijayan where it hurts. With Mr. Achuthanandan in his own party, he does not need the opposition to keep him on his toes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial rounded mt bold; font-size: large;">Messers. Trump, Modi and Vijayan may not compare themselves with each other or consider each other as role models. They are not birds of a feather that flock together. But history has placed them as leaders with similar expectations and similar challenges. Inveterate optimism on the part of the electorates has invested them with the power to dispense justice, despite their past errors. None of them had a period of political honeymoon with the people as they had to confront events, which rolled in like unending waves from the first day. Their methods have not been particularly popular, but there is still considerable optimism about them as their people realize that they have a major stake in the success of these three men.</span></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-42816117782887322742017-03-30T23:12:00.001-07:002017-03-30T23:12:30.026-07:00Indians in the US are victims, not targets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Indians in the US are victims, not targets <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">By
T.P.Sreenivasan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">In
this age of post truth, impressions rather than facts matter and there is a
tendency to jump to alarming conclusions, based on signals. So there is nothing
surprising about the three attacks on Indians in the US being put at the door
of President Donald Trump. After all, he is the one who has poisoned the minds
of his people against foreigners, imposed restrictions on arrival of immigrants
and restricted the H-1 B visas, whose beneficiaries are mostly Indians. But
objective facts show that the Indians were unintended victims rather than
targets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
Kansas shooting that killed Srinivas Kuchibhotla and injured his friend, Alok
Madasani occurred in a bar, which they had adopted as a hangout. A local man,
who was known for his drinking habits and petty crimes, Adam Purington was
telling them, half in jest that they did not belong to the US. This irritated
not only the Indians, but also other customers and they threw him out of the
bar. An enraged Purington returned after a while and shot at not only the
Indians, but also a young white man, who tried to apprehend the culprit.
Purington was charged with premeditated first degree murder and attempted
murder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
authorities considered the attack a possible hate crime and it reverberated in
the US and India, raising <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fresh alarm about a climate of hostility
towards foreigners in the United States, where President Trump had made
clamping down on immigration a central plank of his “America first” agenda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #F1F3F2;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The White House strongly rejected the notion that there might be
any connection between the shooting and the new administration’s sharp language
about immigration and President expressed concern. In his address to the
Congress, the President said </span><span style="color: #4c4e4d; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">that the “shooting in Kansas City ...
remind us that while we may be a Nation divided on policies, we are a country
that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“People
are devastated,” said Somil Chandwani, a friend of the two victims who lives in
Overland Park, Kansas. “I wouldn’t say they are angry. They have a sense of
insecurity at the moment. People are trying to find answers.” The charge sheet
gave no details about the motive of the shooting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
word, India, did not figure in the conversation between the two Indians and
their attacker, but there was a mention of illegal migrants and the Indians
said they were legal residents, who had studied in the US. It was the fact that
the attacker was thrown out by the other customers that enraged Purington and
not necessarily any words or action of the Indians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
silver lining on the incident was that the young white man, who tried to rescue
the Indians and took a bullet was duly rewarded by the local residents and
Kansas declared March 16 as an “Indian American Appreciation Day”. The incident
was clearly isolated and did not reflect a sentiment in the locality. There
were also reports that the attacker said later that he had shot two Iranians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #F1F3F2;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Within
a few days, two more attacks took place, one in Lancaster, where <span style="color: #4c4e4d;">Harnish Patel, who had lived in the US with his family
for 14 years, was shot and killed outside of his home. A Sikh man was also shot
in Kent, Washington, while he was in his drive way, working on his vehicle. The
victim, Deep Rai was also allegedly told to go back to his country at one time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F1F3F2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #4c4e4d; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These three attacks have naturally
deepened the fear among South Asian and immigrant communities that President
Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric and executive orders encouraged violence
against them. But there is no evidence that the Indians have been specifically
targeted. The average Americans are fairly ignorant of geography and the
differences between various nationalities. Similar incidents took place after
9/11 terrorist attacks and the victims were Sikhs, who apparently were mistaken
for Muslims. The headgear was enough to make them look like Osama Bin Laden!
They were unable to distinguish between Iraqis and Kuwaitis at the time of the
Gulf war. An American was heard boasting to his neighbours that his son had
gone to finish off the Arabs. He was not aware that the US was fighting to
liberate one nation of Arabs from another nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F1F3F2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #4c4e4d; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Undoubtedly, the
immigrants have not been particularly popular in the US, except among the city
dwellers, who knew their worth as doctors, teachers, intellectuals and more
recently, IT experts. Outsourcing was seen as an evil by the unemployed in the
villages, prompting even President Obama to say that the US should have
business in Buffalo, not in Bengaluru. But he did not do anything to halt
outsourcing, which was a win-win situation for both the US and India. Even
President Trump will not be able to do without immigrants, particularly the
Indians in the IT industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F1F3F2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #4c4e4d; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many people have been
asking what India can do to prevent tragic incidents involving Indians. It can
do precious little, except to condemn the incidents, insist on proper
investigation and payment of adequate compensation. If the victims are US
citizens, our leverage is even less. As long as there is no systematic
targeting of Indians or condonation of such incidents by the Government
agencies, there is no reason even to protest. The case was different in 1998,
when the US Government itself denied visas to Indians and repatriated
scientists, in protest against our nuclear tests. The Khobragade incident was
also deplorable to the extent that an Indian diplomat was arrested and
humiliated with State Department connivance. Our concern about the possible
implications of the present Government policies shall remain unexpressed as
this cannot be proved either way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F1F3F2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #4c4e4d; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are reports that
fewer Indians are travelling to the US, even fewer are going for education
there and alternate destinations are being explored. But, hopefully, normalcy
will be restored, once the current period of uncertainty in US policies is
over. The American dream will outlive the present dispensation for
civilizational reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-6006588981373310382017-03-14T22:31:00.002-07:002017-03-14T22:33:32.649-07:00Science, Technology and Diplomacy A NIAS Talk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Science,
Technology and Diplomacy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">By
T.P.Sreenivasan <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
bewildering developments in the recent past have brought international affairs
to a standstill at a cross roads of history. A definite shift towards the
right, increasing xenophobia, nativism, irrational antipathy towards
established norms, readiness to leap into the unknown and reliance on
post-truth for judgments are clearly identifiable as the trends of the times.
Democratically elected leaders tend to remain loyal to their voters and not to
the entire electorate, thus casting aspersions on democracy itself. An
uncertain and volatile world is paralyzed by some ill-conceived policies of
some leaders. Indications of impending withdrawal of the US inwards and its
inattention to world affairs have already encouraged Chinese expansionism. The
world is waiting breathlessly to see what turns and twists the new US
Administration will take.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">I
speculate that the disruptive tendencies in political life of the world may
have their roots in the disruptive innovations in science and technology.
Innovate or perish is the call of the times. The unprecedented technological
upheaval without an owners’ manual or restraining radars may transform the way
the society is organized. Immanuel Kant had observed in 1784, “Enlightenment is
man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability
to use one’s understanding without guidance from another.” The question today
is whether democracy will survive big data and artificial intelligence, as
automated societies will acquire totalitarian features. It appears that the
genie of innovation may have to be put back into the bottle to give its growth
some guidance. China is already considering “institutional surveillance” and
“persuasive computing” to apply restraints on technology. For China, such
controls are instinctive, but the rest of the world too has to think of
preserving social cohesion and protecting the basic rights of citizens.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Long ago,
when I was on my first posting in Tokyo, I was told that a time would come when
we would print our newspapers at home, a prospect which could not even be
imagined. Today, we can print the New Yok Times before the New Yorkers wake up
to see their print edition stacked up at the door. Today, we are close to
replacing manufacturing by 3-D printing. Children born in 2017 will never hold
a steering wheel or own a driving license as driverless cars will be in use by
the time they grow up. The fourth industrial revolution is upon us. We need
more diplomats with scientific training, but we also need rational scientists to
preserve and protect human values.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The most
sensational development in war, the event that changed the course of history,
the dropping of nuclear bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki was proclaimed by
Robert Oppenheimer, a scientist, not a politician. He quoted from the Bhagavad
Gita:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">“If the
radiance of a thousand suns<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Were to
burst at once into the sky<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">That
would be like the splendor of the Mighty One..<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">I am
become Death,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
shatterer of worlds.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Such is
the grip of science and technology on politics and diplomacy. In fact, every
twist and turn in global affairs can be attributed to a particular scientific
advancement. Maritime development brought colonialism in its wake, the
invention of the steam engine engendered the industrial revolution, the
transportation revolution created the global village, the atom transformed war
and peace and the internet changed everything. Like all other professions,
diplomacy, caught in the world wide web. has changed beyond recognition.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Science
and technology have become key drivers in international relations and knowledge
of trends in advancement in various fields is an essential prerequisite to
effective international negotiations. Increasingly specialized expertise has
become essential as negotiations today deal with specialization and
integration. Major powers have realized that promotion of values and foreign
aid will not generate gratitude and that their strength lies in the global
acceptance of their contribution to science. Nixon’s visit to China and the
Chinese embrace of American technology set off bilateral cooperation between
the two countries and established bilateral mechanisms, which have grown ever
since. Soviet influence in India stemmed from the scientific training received
in the Soviet Union by generations of Indian students. It is the dominance of
its fundamental research that will ensure US dominance in the world for a long
time to come.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The United
Nations was created to rid the succeeding generations of the scourge of war,
but on its seventieth anniversary, the Secretary General of the UN claimed that
the greatest accomplishment of the UN was that it had immunized the world’s
children against infectious diseases. Most of the present preoccupations of the
UN were not anticipated in 1945. Infectious diseases, environmental
degradation, electronic crimes and weapons of mass destruction and HIV/AIDS
cannot be eliminated without international cooperation in science and
technology. Tapping into the growing science base beyond a nation’s borders has
become imperative for the pursuit of the truth and promotion of trust among
nations. Diplomats cannot lie abroad for the good of their country any more as
science is the business of establishing truth. Bertrand Russell and Albert
Einstein had exhorted the scientists, not diplomats to address the threat posed
by nuclear weapons.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">According
to the Royal Society of London for improving Natural Knowledge, science
diplomacy has emerged as the use of scientific interactions among nations to
address the common problems facing humanity and to build constructive and
knowledge based international partnership. In Joseph Nye’s concept of soft
power, science and technology is a primary ingredient. The concept of science
diplomacy is gaining increasing currency in the US, UK, Japan and elsewhere. It
is still a fluid concept, but can usefully be applied to the role of science,
technology and innovation in three related areas: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">informing foreign
policy objectives with scientific advice (<i>science in diplomacy</i>); <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">facilitating
international science cooperation (<i>diplomacy for science</i>); <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">using science
cooperation to improve international relations between countries (<i>science
for diplomacy</i>). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Scientific
values of rationality, transparency and universality are the same the world
over. They can help to underpin good governance and build trust between
nations. Science provides a non-ideological environment for the participation
and free exchange of ideas between people, regardless of cultural, national or
religious backgrounds. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Science
diplomacy seeks to strengthen the symbiosis between the interests and
motivations of the scientific and foreign policy communities. For the former,
international cooperation is often driven by a desire to access the best
people, research facilities or new sources of funding. For the latter, science
offers useful networks and channels of communication that can be used to
support wider policy goals. Foreign ministries should place greater emphasis on
science within their strategies, and draw more extensively on scientific advice
in the formation and delivery of policy objectives. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
constraints to science diplomacy include regulatory barriers, such as visa restrictions
and security controls. Immediately after September 11 2001, more stringent
travel and visa regimes in countries like the US and the UK severely limited
the opportunities for visiting scientists and scholars, particularly from
Islamic countries. Although efforts have been made to relax some of these
strict controls, there are still significant problems with the free mobility of
scientists from certain countries. Such policies shut out talented scientists
and hinder opportunities. Security controls can also prevent collaboration on
certain scientific subjects, such as nuclear physics and microbiology. Although
these policies are based on legitimate concerns over the dual use potential of
some scientific knowledge, they should also take into consideration the
diplomatic value of scientific partnerships in sensitive areas to help rebuild
trust between nations. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Coincidentally,
the trend today is for engineers, doctors and scientists to join the diplomatic
service. This has changed the character of the service from a generalist
dominated service to a technologist oriented service. The emphasis is shifting
from political and trade issues to technological issues. Many problems of the
global commons such as climate change, epidemics and disasters need a combination
of management of resources and technical understanding. More than any time
before, science, technology and diplomacy combine to find solutions to global
problems.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial rounded mt bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Thank
you.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-22312097295493710922017-01-26T08:24:00.001-08:002017-01-26T08:24:40.447-08:00TEDx Choice School Talk January 25, 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">TEDx
Talk by T.P.Sreenivasan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Diplomacy
in Uncharted Realms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
whole world is an uncharted realm today. On January 20, 2017, the world changed
beyond recognition, on account of Donald Trump, the new President of the United
States. The world was already volatile, but there was predictability about
friends and foes. Global issues were also well defined, even if there were no
agreed solutions. But today, many uncharted realms have emerged in the
diplomatic world. US and Russia seem to be moving towards a cordial
relationship. The value and relevance of the UN are being challenged. The whole
concept of climate change is considered a Chinese hoax. A new war has been
declared on “Islamic terrorism”. A 2000-mile wall is going up between the US
and Mexico. These constitute a fundamental disruption of the comfort zones of
diplomats around the globe. But this is not the first time that diplomacy is
required to operate in uncharted realms. The end of the second World War, the
collapse of the Berlin Wall and the advent of the Internet and Wikileaks had
posed such challenges. Diplomacy has proved itself capable of not only
adjusting itself to the changes, but also of helping to establish the new norm
and dealing with post-truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Diplomacy
is the oldest profession. Doctors may contest this by saying that their
profession is as old as the surgery done on Adam to remove one of his ribs to
create Eve. Engineers may say that God had used his engineering skills to
create the universe out of the chaos. But surely, diplomats were needed to
create the chaos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Many
have tried to define diplomacy. A diplomat is an honest person sent abroad to
lie for his country. Diplomacy is meant to tell someone to go to hell in such a
way to make him look forward to the trip. Diplomacy is walking on thin ice
without getting into deep water. The difference between a diplomat and a lady
is that when a diplomat says yes, he means may be, when he says may be he means
no, if he says no, he is not a diplomat. When a lady says no, she means maybe,
when she says may be she means no and if she says yes, she is no lady!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Like
everything else in the world, diplomats find a mention in the Indian epics, Hanuman
in Ramayana and Krishna in Mahabnarata. It was only their superhuman qualities
and fighting capability that saved them from disaster. Hanuman flew into Lanka
with a message of peace. But shooting the messenger was in vogue then as now.
His tail, which was set ablaze by the enemy became a potent weapon, which
destroyed the whole capital and Hanuman returned home triumphant and war began
when diplomacy ended. Lord Krishna had a similar experience when he tried to
negotiate a fair deal for the Pandavas. He retreated and the Kurukshetra war
ensued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">More
recently, with the emergence of sovereign states, the days of the
plenipotentiaries began. Heads of states dispatched their eminent citizens
across the seas to make war and peace at will and occasionally reported their
exploits by diplomatic bags. They had the power to sign treaties, threaten use
of force or declare war to secure their needs. A diplomatic assignment to a
cannibal country was risky, particularly if the head of state characterized your
predecessor as delicious! Some returned triumphant, others wounded or dead. But
they were the golden days of diplomacy. Diplomats were men and women of
leisure, who spent time on golf courses or at bridge tables. Many worked only
on days when the diplomatic bags arrived with good or bad tidings. Odd phone
hotlines with some countries gave access to political leaders to their
counterparts, but they were cumbersome to use and not very reliable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Then
came faster transportation, which made travel easier, better communications
like telex and fax. Diplomatic bags became less important and the pace of
diplomacy picked up speed. But the work consisted of reporting on the host
country and projecting the image of your country. A bit of imagination and language
skills were helpful in diplomacy. We gave up trying to reach the news home
ahead of the wires and began more analytical reporting. Mere news was of no
value. Diplomats were relieved of the responsibility to report news, but began conveying
more insights and analyses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
advent of CNN in the eighties was a big blow to traditional diplomacy. Actual
scenes from around the globe began to stream into the foreign office and
questions began to come from there for local analysis. The pace of work became
faster and without cell phones, it was difficult to stay away from office. But
the bigger blow was the realization that CNN images were often doctored to
influence public opinion. The eyes and ears of the diplomats became crucial to
find out the truth. If anything, the role of the diplomats became more crucial.
There was a demand for a counter channel to tell the truth. Till then, it was
all the more necessary for diplomats to go in search of the truth. Correcting
the impressions by cable channels became a major preoccupation of diplomacy and
the diplomats rose to the occasion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
internet, with its multiple sources of information at lightning speed turned
the diplomatic world upside down. At one point it appeared that diplomacy had
become redundant. But the internet came, as observed by writer Pico Iyer, without
an owner’s manual. Consequently, the internet is different things to different
people. Diplomacy did not end, but the internet became a tool of diplomacy. The
Wikipedia and other open sources of information, subject to correction from
outside, provided basic authentic information. But the opportunity the internet
offered to manipulate the truth also dawned on us. The emergence of post-truth
in 2016, impressions rather than facts determining public opinion owes its
origin to the internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
Internet, however, undermined confidentiality, a fundamental ingredient of
diplomacy for centuries. Of course, spying went on side by side with diplomacy
even before, but today, diplomats have to presume that all that they say or do
will be public sooner or later. Julian Assange founded Wikileaks in 2006 with
the purpose of hacking confidential diplomatic documents and managed to release
10 million documents by 2015. The consequence was the loss of credibility of
many Governments, particularly the US. Today, for every diplomat, the elephant
in the room is the hacker, who is likely to reveal all that is said and done in
the world of diplomacy. In the case of Snowden, who was an employee of the CIA,
he deliberately leaked documents to show that the US had global surveillance
programmes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
revelations by Assange and Snowden embarrassed many, but they also showed that
many countries, particularly India, were principled and transparent in their diplomatic
pursuits. Not a single Indian diplomat had said anything in private, which he
would not have done in public. It is possible that Assange and Snowden disciplined
US diplomats into being truthful in their diplomatic discourse. So while the
internet has weakened the confidentiality of diplomacy, it has strengthened the
integrity of diplomacy. Diplomats have to compete with hackers like Assange and
Snowden to establish credibility. The channels provided by monitored cables and
services of Wikileaks give governments an advantage, but diplomats still hold
sway over international relations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">As
a diplomatic tool, the internet has been very beneficial. Heads of states and
Governments today can speak to each other at will, but the limitations and
pitfalls of such direct communications are only too evident. They would rather
have their ideas conveyed through professional diplomats, rather than risk
misunderstanding. They communicate their views on twitter and a time may come
when they befriend each other on facebook!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Public
diplomacy is a product of the communications revolution. The involvement of the
citizens in formulating and implementing foreign policy is a gift from the
internet. Many Governments around the globe have begun to inform their public
about diplomatic alternatives, decisions and initiatives. Technology has
brought diplomacy, which was confined to the elite, to the people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Diplomacy
is a conservative profession, which does not embrace change very easily. But it
has been transformed beyond recognition in a relatively short period. Though it
has remained elitist and its sartorial elegance is still preserved, its
methodology has adjusted itself to the needs and dictates of the times.
Diplomacy has proved itself capable of operating in uncharted realms. It began
with a sedate and plenipotentiary track, picked up speed to match the
communications revolution, exposed inaccuracies of cable channels, used the
internet as a tool of diplomacy. It survived the machinations of Assange and
Snowden. Diplomacy remains relevant and indispensable as no machine can replace
the human brain and ingenuity. Diplomats have learnt to use technology for
their advantage rather than retreat in the face of the onslaught of technology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
question today is whether professional diplomacy will outlast the doings of an
individual, however powerful he may be. History shows that diplomacy will prove
its relevance in any uncharted realm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Thank
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-21747167961525932222016-12-31T18:32:00.002-08:002016-12-31T18:32:25.414-08:00Foreign Policy: The Third Act The Hindu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Modi’s Foreign Policy: The Third Act</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">By T.P.Sreenivasan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Any contemporary situation appears to follow a pattern described by Shakespeare years ago. The third act of his plays is the “climax”, which is characterized by acute complications in the story, with no clear indication of future events. Having introduced the dramatis personae in the first act and revealed their concerns and intentions in the second, the Bard is at his creative best in the third act. The situation gets from good to bad and from bad to worse and the spectators breathlessly watch things go wrong in a bewildering manner. They have to wait for the fourth and the fifth acts to witness the denouement, whether it is wedding bells or funerals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy in the middle of his term is very much like the third act of a Shakespearean play. The entry was dramatic, full of surprises and even exciting. He strode like a colossus on the world stage with his freshness, energy, decisiveness and oratorical skills. India became visible, active and even assertive. His optimism was contagious and the whole country began anticipating the good times he promised. India would not be a mere spectator on the seashore of world affairs, but a participant, claiming its legitimate place on the tables, round, square, rectangular and even horse-shoe shaped. He took the bull by the horns, whether it was Pakistan, China or the United States. Lack of diplomatic experience appeared to be an asset rather than a liability as he let loose his legendary ‘yagaswam’ or the ritualistic horse to conquer the world. The first act was perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">But in the second act, when Mr. Modi began encountering complex issues, rivals and adversaries, things appeared complicated. Hesitations of history loomed large and quick fixes were not available. There were too many boxes crying out for standard solutions as he searched for out of the box outcomes. All the charms he tried on Pakistan and China went unrequited. He faced the same ghosts of the past, which had confronted Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Rao, Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. All the perfumes of Arabia could not sweeten the air around. High expectations resulted in deep disappointments. But there was joy in the progress made in certain countries, where he followed the path laid by his predecessors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">In today’s third act, Mr. Modi is sadder, but wiser. The confusion of the Shakespearean climax has gripped him. On the one hand, he is receiving dubious praise from the world that he is the one who set off the trend towards the right in 2014, leading to Brexit and Trump. On the other, the advent of Mr. Trump has brought the whole world to a standstill, jeopardizing even the new symphony he had painstakingly choreographed with Barack Obama. An evergreen friend, Vladimir Putin, appeared not just sulking, but also flirting with China and Pakistan to spite him. He had to be pacified with huge military contracts and an assurance that old friends are better than new ones. But, even at the recent Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar, the Russian envoy stated that the allegations against Pakistan by India and Afghanistan were totally baseless. It is clear that the fissure in India-Russia relations remains serious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">With Pakistan, neither the charm offensive nor the surgical strikes have made any difference. The situation is worse than what it was in 2014, when the ceasefire was in force and the terror attacks were not frequent. The policy of the previous Government that no comprehensive dialogue was possible without ending terrorism, often violated by India itself off and on, was completely disregarded by Modi when he invited Nawaz Sharif to India, proposed foreign secretary level talks, held NSA level talks and sent the External Affairs Minister to Islamabad to propose a comprehensive dialogue. The surge in terror attacks prompted the surgical strikes, which Pakistan refused to even acknowledge. Intermittent shooting on the border, expulsion of diplomats, suspected of spying and India’s open support to Baluchistan and boycott of the SAARC summit have brought the two countries to the brink of war. The lesson learnt was that seventy years of animosity and conflict cannot be wished away without major concessions on either side. Constitutional, legal and emotional issues rule out such concessions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The whole castle in the air that Mr. Modi built in his first address from the ramparts of the red fort about the progress to be achieved by the combined efforts of SAARC countries lies shattered as the future of SAARC itself is uncertain. India invited BIMSTEC to interact with BRICS and not SAARC precisely to encourage a regional group without Pakistan in it. Another latent issue in SAARC was the possible admission of China. A majority of the members of the Association were in favour of China’s admission, though China is not part of the region. But the argument used by them was that since India and Pakistan were made full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a similar courtesy should be extended to China. If the Islamabad summit was held, India would have been alone in opposing China’s admission. Such a situation was averted by the cancellation of the summit. It should be noted that the absence of the other member countries in Islamabad did not necessarily mean support to the Indian position. It is the height of irony that regional cooperation in South Asia has come to such a pass as Mr. Modi reaches the midpoint of his Government.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The China scene looks less troublesome, but nothing has changed for the better in India-China relations in the last thirty months. No progress has been made on the border and none of the other issues between the two countries has been addressed. The China-Pakistan collusion continues and the long term measures being taken by China like One Belt One Road are designed to dominate the whole of Asia. Mr. Modi, on his part, has made no secret of his inclination towards the US, Japan and Australia and his concerns about the South China Sea. But happily, there have been very few incidents on the border and the economic activities continue, but mostly to suit the Chinese themselves. The balance of trade is heavily in their favour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The situation on the western front should be a matter of satisfaction for Mr.Modi. The designation of India as a major defense partner has taken India-US relations to a higher level, which entitles India to have the same facilities for technology transfer as the allies of the US. Even after the election of Mr. Trump, the US Congress has approved the related legislation. Mr. Trump is unpredictable, but available indications are that, except on migration issues, India-US relations will remain strong in the future. Mr. Modi has his work cut out for him in befriending Mr. Trump in his fourth act.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The mixed picture on foreign policy that we see is an inevitable consequence of extraordinary global developments and the bold initiatives taken by Mr. Modi. The final judgment on his foreign policy shall have to await the correctives he will apply in the remaining part of his first term. The complications resulting from demonetization has affected Mr. Modi’s image, but his reputation as a man of decisive action has remained intact. The reports that Mr. Modi had secured the largest number of votes for the Time Man of the Year award were not surprising, even though Mr. Trump became the clear winner on account of his game changing victory and its global impact. Like a Shakespearean hero, Mr. Modi appears entangled in a web of intricate issues in the third act, but the remaining acts will determine his impact on the global scene.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">(The writer is a former ambassador, who currently heads the Kerala International Centre.)</span></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-48726655068450931402016-12-31T18:25:00.000-08:002016-12-31T18:25:03.232-08:00New Year Wishes and Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">New Year Wishes and Thoughts 2017</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Gone are the days when, at the dawn of the New Year, we had colorful cards with well scripted lines to decorate our homes and carefully crafted letters to share news and thoughts to strengthen the bonds of friendship and love. Now inboxes are flooded with mass produced pictures and videos, effortlessly forwarded over different platforms. I am sticking to the old method of wishing you the very best for 2017 with some random news and views. My hope is that all your dreams will come true in the New Year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Humanity has come to terms with technological innovations disturbing our comfort zones to cause game changing disruptions. But 2016 showed that disruptive changes will be brought about as much by politics, philosophy and practices as by technology. We have realized that the genie of technology cannot be put back in the bottle to confine it to some spaces. Its all-encompassing reach has changed every narrative, political, social, cultural, literary and philosophical.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Establishments have crumbled everywhere as the storm of protests over failed expectations rage. People have begun to leap into the dark in the hope of securing better days. Democracy itself has lost its sheen, though it is through democratic means that regimes are changing. As globalization recedes, nativism and ultra-nationalism have begun to assert themselves. The world may eventually become a better place, but the pangs of a rebirth will take its toll. We should be prepared for a period of uncertainty and adjustment ahead before new establishments take shape. Trying to stem the tide of history will be futile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">On the family front, we have been fortunate enough to have glad tidings throughout from all, except for some mobility issues for Lekha, which have not dampened her spirit or altered her dedication to charity. Both Sree and Roopa went through the turmoil of professional changes, but both of them settled in well in their new surroundings, without disrupting the hectic routines of Durga and Krishna, which includes classical dance for Durga and soccer for Krishna. Sree’s move from the Metropolitan Museum to the City of New York as the Chief Digital Officer has become a case study in courage and use of social media to search for new horizons. Shree and Sharu have also been happy, particularly with the growth and development of Shivaay in Dubai. At three years and six months, Shivaay’s future profession is not yet determined as his choice has moved so far from chef to musician to police chief to fire chief!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">I completed my assignment with the Kerala Government, but I am still engaged in teaching and international studies, with even less spare time than before as my written and spoken words are still in demand at home and abroad. My policy is to answer the phone when it rings, not knowing when it will stop ringing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Friends walk in and walk out of our lives, particularly when we change countries and continents frequently. But the few that remain and the new ones that get added are a blessing. The year 2016 also had its losses and gains. Amazing game changing friendships also came my way. The way of preserving relationships is to build bridges across different levels without expecting absolute reciprocity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">An untoward incident of January 29, 2016 when I learnt the value of turning the other cheek to those who do not know what they do has made me better, not bitter. I was taking on the sins of others as some of the controversial issues such as involving a business group at an exorbitant cost in the Global Education Meet and proposals for Academic Cities and Higher Education Zones were not mine. But I was disheartened by the resistance to change, disloyalty and lethargy in the Government, which inhibit the full realization of Kerala’s potential. Every negative action turns the clock back for us. Educational reform will come to Kerala, like computers, too little too late. Happily, many ideas of reform, rejected in Kerala, find place in the national agenda. My idea of a totally liberal education without constraints tallies with the thinking in Delhi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The Kerala International Centre (KIC) is not just my second home, but a part of my home itself. It has created a small group of people, not only diplomats, journalists and Generals, but also others, who have a sustained interest in foreign policy. We meet, we argue and differ, but even consensus breaks out occasionally. A new KIC initiative to launch a Literary Forum was much appreciated. Several poets, some established and some making their debut, made an impact. We expect a healthy competition between strategic thinking and literature in the KIC in future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The NSS Academy of Civil Services (NACS), which I now direct, has made a mark by sending several of its alumni to the Civil Services. Some Districts in Kerala are administered by our alumni and some missions abroad are manned by them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Many of you have sent messages of goodwill and good wishes in various forms. This is by way of acknowledging and reciprocating all of them. Let us hope that our paths will cross in the New Year, at least in cyber space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Lekha joins me in wishing you a happy New Year and beyond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Warmly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial rounded mt bold'; font-size: 18pt;">January 1, 2017</span></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-43577552484364016372016-10-23T17:12:00.002-07:002016-10-23T17:12:30.083-07:00Stuck in the Terrorism Groove<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Stuck in the terrorism groove</h1>
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“It ill behoves a country like India with a long record of using its UN membership for the common good to fall in one groove, however important that issue may be.” PM Narendra Modi with Brazilian President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and South African President Jacob Zuma at the BRICS Summit in Goa.</div>
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Instead of isolating Pakistan at every forum, India must broad-base its diplomatic outreach </h2>
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For India, a country that has worked in multilateral fora for nearly 70 years on a global agenda, subsuming its interests in pursuit of the global good, the recent tendency to focus on a single issue like terrorism does not seem appropriate. Such an approach only confirms the suspicion that it is using terrorism as a convenient weapon to battle Pakistan diplomatically. Like Queen Gertrude says in <i style="outline: 0px;">Hamlet</i>, people have begun to say: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”</div>
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<b style="outline: 0px;">The way to India’s heart</b><br style="outline: 0px;" /><br style="outline: 0px;" />One point on which the world ridiculed Pakistan in the past was that it could not think beyond Kashmir, whatever the forum and the topic for discussion. India is today on its way to opening itself to similar criticism — that it is stuck in the terrorism groove. India’s warnings about terrorism in and around South Asia fell on deaf ears for more than 20 years, but the revelation that the 9/11 attacks were the handiwork of terrorists with similar affiliation to those who were attacking India changed the whole situation. Now there is no doubt that the “mother ship of terrorism” is Pakistan. No one disputes the attributes we have given to Pakistan in this context. But for India to pursue isolation of Pakistan on this count at every forum and to make it a litmus test of every country’s friendship to India does more harm than good. Every speech of the Prime Minister, regardless of the venue and the topic of discussion, is a ringing denunciation of cross-border terrorism.</div>
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The BRICS Goa summit was turned into a battle of wits between India and its guests as to how far the group could go in identifying itself with India in isolating Pakistan. Moreover, India made no secret of its motivation and made it clear to its guests that the way to India’s heart was by targeting Pakistan. Given the fact that no one wants to create enemies in such diplomatic conclaves, many of them, particularly the Chinese, may have felt uncomfortable to be caught in an awkward situation. Eventually, China acted as Pakistan’s proxy in the discussions in Goa.</div>
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The outcome of the Goa meetings could have been projected as a diplomatic victory for India if the expectations were not pitched so high by the Prime Minister himself. What we have is a condemnation of terrorism in all its manifestations, a consensus position of the UN itself, without a definition of terrorism, which has eluded the international community even after 9/11. The global concern over the growth of the Islamic State (IS) appeared to take precedence over the special situation in South Asia as the IS is now “spread over” more than 30 countries and others dread its expansion. India should take the opportunity to speak strongly against the IS and project cross-border terrorism as another manifestation of the same problem. Building a broader constituency against terrorism is more beneficial than focussing on its own specific situation. By narrowing down exclusively to the action India expects from the international community to meet its concerns, such as declaring Pakistan as a terrorist state, may not have the desired effect. It will also not persuade China to lift its veto over including Masood Azhar on the UN list of terrorists.</div>
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A single dignified and forceful presentation by India to multilateral fora, leaving it to the member countries to tackle the issue effectively, would be more appropriate. Anticipating the possible outcome and calibrating India’s requests accordingly should have been the strategy to be adopted. Otherwise, the wide gap between India’s assertions and the language of the outcome will be visible to all. Together with India’s application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and aspiration to permanent membership of the UN Security Council, the country appears to be knocking at too many doors instead of offering global solutions to global problems. India recently modified its position of “eligibility” for permanent membership to its “right”. Such assertions will have no impact on others unless its demand is projected as part of the need to correct the imbalance in a crucial world body.</div>
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<b style="outline: 0px;">A new course of action</b><br style="outline: 0px;" /><br style="outline: 0px;" />India confining itself to the terrorism groove shows lack of direction when it has altered the dynamics of its relations with Pakistan by carrying out surgical strikes. Having taken precipitate action, India should move in a predetermined course of action. The old pattern of terrorist attack by Pakistan, angry verbal reaction by India and resumption of dialogue does not make sense anymore. If such a course has not been prepared, this is the time to frame such a course of action. This could consist of informing the international community of the state of play, combatting terrorism on the ground with measured use of force, and dealing with the internal situation in Jammu and Kashmir with a view to eliminating internal support to cross-border terrorism. Other options available to India such as amendment of the Indus Waters Treaty, trade sanctions, and so on should also be considered. Efforts to isolate Pakistan as part of the strategy contradicts India’s established position against internationalising the Kashmir issue.</div>
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The clear lesson to be learnt from recent experience is that the world at large does not see terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as part of the global terrorism which threatens international peace and security. The recognition by the UN that Kashmir is a disputed territory influences the policy of most nations, including those who are friendly with India. A broader framework for the terrorism debate shows a way out for those who support India without wanting to get embroiled in a dispute.</div>
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India’s pursuit of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that was tabled in the UN General Assembly in 1996 has very little chance of success. It was seen at that time as an anti-Pakistan measure. The convention received some attention by the legal committee of the UN in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, but it got stuck in the old argument that one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter.</div>
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India’s advocacy of nuclear disarmament is an excellent example of the country subsuming its interest in the desire of the global community for a nuclear weapon-free world. It was only when the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regime became discriminatory that India stepped out of it and took a firm decision not to sign the treaty. On the question of fissionable material, India stands ready to join the negotiations on the Fissionable Material Cut-off Treaty rather than plough a lonely furrow. India harmonised its position with that of the developing countries in environmental negotiations to protect its interests and succeeded up to the point of formulating the Kyoto Protocol.</div>
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It ill behoves a country like India with a long record of using its membership of the UN for the common good to fall in one groove, however important that issue may be. Multilateralism accepts constant reiterations of national positions, but to forge a consensus, the positions should be integrated with common concerns to the extent possible.</div>
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<i style="outline: 0px;">T.P. Sreenivasan is a former Ambassador of India and Director General of the Kerala International Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.</i></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-43384534586727495452016-07-21T17:14:00.001-07:002016-07-21T17:14:44.714-07:00Indian Foreign Service| Videsha Vicharam 20 July 2016<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QodoUOgkbEw" width="459"></iframe>T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-22727324372551112002016-06-07T08:38:00.000-07:002016-06-07T08:38:12.750-07:00My article in the Special Issue of India Abroad on Modi's fourth visit to the US<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Modi Woos the Congress --- in the US.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">By T.P.Sreenivasan</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Narendra Modi has come a long way since the days in 1999, when he walked the long corridors of the Capitol Hill with a white cotton bag on his shoulder to lobby Congressmen and Senators to ensure that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund did not impose sanctions against India, following the nuclear tests. He was credited with a letter signed by some Congressmen, urging the World Bank and the IMF not to heed the US advice to impose sanctions. He also held consultations with senior officials of the Bretton Woods institutions, whom I invited to meet him at the residence of the Deputy Chief of Mission in Bethesda in Maryland.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Modi's fourth visit in two years to Washington as the Indian Prime Minister, a record in itself, is primarily to address the US Congress. His trend-setting clothes and familiar oratorical skills will be on display at the US Congress for the first time. The Indian community had lobbied hard to get him invited to address the Congress in 2014. But it could not be arranged because of the schedules of the House of Representatives and the Senate could not be adjusted to arrange a Joint Session of the Congress.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">The invitation this time is indeed a gesture on the part of the US Congress, though it is also the result of the persistent efforts of the powerful Indian community through the India Caucus in the House of Representatives and the Friends of India in the Senate, once led by Hillary Clinton. Modi’s reputation has reached the shores of the United States and he is now considered one of the world leaders and, therefore, there is great curiosity about him. President Obama is particularly keen to introduce Modi to the Congress as he sees the Indian Prime Minister as a partner in the US initiatives in the Asia Pacific. The invitation to Modi is the final initiative he will be taking with regard to India during his Presidency. Apart from the address, Modi will be called upon to deal with the unfinished agenda in India-US relations.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Judging from the experience at the time of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s address to the Congress in 2000, such addresses by foreign dignitaries do not cause much excitement among the Congressmen and Senators. At best, they make a brief appearance at the beginning or the end as they continue to have other legislative business to attend to. The hall is filled generally by the invitees, mostly from the Indian community. If there are vacant seats still, they are filled by the staff of the Congress, including the pages or messengers. The significance of the address is basically symbolic, though the text of the address will be analyzed as the visiting dignitaries speak with a sense of history.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: medium;">The Congressmen and Senators in the United States are more important than their counterparts in India, because they are not expected to toe the line of the President even if they belong to the same party as the President. They have elaborate offices with a number of staff members, who follow internal and external developments for them and also remain in touch with their constituents. They have the authority to initiate legislation and thus give directives to the President. Lobbying of the Congressmen and Senators, therefore, is a highly developed industry, in which people, including former legislators, engage in. Apart from various industrial and business interests, foreign governments also hire lobbyists to wield influence on the Capitol Hill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">India began hiring lobbyists at the time of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and Ambassador Siddharth Shankar Ray, basically to counter Pakistan sponsored lobbying for Kashmir and Khalistan. The lobbying by Pakistan and India was so effective that many Congressmen used to say that they were prevented from moving an inch in favor of either of them. Our lobbying became more intense at the time of the nuclear deal and even industrial interests and the Indian community helped the process. Although there are rigid ethical regulations with regard to hospitality and other gifts that the legislators can receive, the lobbyists find ways and means to cultivate them for one foreign government or another. The creation of an India Caucus in the Congress was the direct result of lobbying by the professionals and the Indian community leaders. The Caucus, in turn, lobbied their colleagues to support Indian causes in the Congress. The attendance at the joint session will depend on the extent of the lobbying done by us to get important Congressmen to attend.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">India-US relations have certainly improved since Modi became Prime Minister on account of the mutuality of interests, which have developed. Modi sees the US as the main source of investment and defense equipment. He is counting on the US for his initiatives such as Make in India and Digital India, for which the US has been enthusiastic. The co-designing and co-production of defense equipment,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">together with the agreement on logistics, have taken defense cooperation to a higher level. Nuclear trade has not begun yet, despite the claim that the nuclear liability law was out of the way. A senior official of the Indian nuclear establishment suspected that the US was using the liability law as a smokescreen for their reluctance to engage in nuclear trade with India.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">On political issues, the greatest gain has been the understanding reached during the visit of President Obama to India that India would be inclined towards the US in the ongoing rivalry with China in the Asia Pacific region. India has not, however, taken any concrete steps to formalize the strategic partnership by joining any of the US-sponsored groupings. On the part of the US, there is no progress on the horizon in India’s permanent membership of the Security Council, India’s joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and even the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC). India has concerns about immigration rules and the US has even greater concerns about the pace of liberalization of the Indian economy. Modi will have an opportunity to discuss these issues during his visit, but not much progress can be achieved in them. But given Modi's record of creating surprises, we may expect him to produce a rabbit or two from his magician's hat. His visits to Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE may be of immense interest to President Obama. China will, of course figure in many ways, particularly after the visit of President Mukherjee to China. On Pakistan and Afghanistan, Obama may not be helpful as he has developed new interest in Pakistan and Taliban is not a bête noir for him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: medium;">The visit is taking place under the shadow of the forthcoming elections in the US and the dramatic emergence of Donald Trump as the Republican candidate. Indians generally are comfortable with Hillary Clinton, but she has not done anything to deserve their trust. Trump, on the other hand, may be helpful to India because of his distrust of China and Pakistan. Anti-terrorism measures might also become more effective under Trump. Modi should do well to meet both Hillary and Trump during his visit. Vajpayee was in a similar situation in 2000 and he requested for meetings with Al Gore and George Bush. He met Al Gore, but all that Bush could do was to put in a call, while he was on the campaign trail. Modi may well have better luck with Trump. Modi and Trump may hit along well because of their basic business instincts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold;">Modi’s foreign policy in the second year of his tenure has lost some of its dazzle. Like in the second act of a Shakespearean play, nothing spectacular is happening on the stage. His dreams about a cooperative neighborhood has been shattered. But his visit to Iran has already rejuvenated him to a certain extent The visit to the US, with a splendid performance on the Hill, may well be the ultimate aphrodisiac Modi is looking for. </span></span></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-6283090833582832512016-04-29T08:35:00.001-07:002016-04-29T08:35:11.040-07:00World of Reading<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">(Remarks by former Ambassador T.P.Sreenivasan at the International Book Fair, Abu Dhabi on April 29, 2016)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">I am grateful to the Siraj newspaper of Kerala for inviting me to be part of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. As a passionate lover of the written word and a writer of sorts, I enjoy being in the company of books and book lovers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold; font-size: large;">The world of words, of knowledge, is as ancient as the universe itself. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and Word was God", says the Bible. In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism "Om" is a cosmic sound, a spiritual icon and a mystical syllable, a mantra, which preceded creation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold; font-size: large;">"A good book is the purest essence of a human soul", said Thomas Carlyle. It ignites the imagination. In so many different ways, the world of books and reading have shaped the human civilization. Writers, intellectuals, poets, scientists, musicians and thinkers down the centuries have acknowledged their indebtedness to reading and books for what they accomplished in their lives. Reading is to the intellect what food is to the body. It makes us what we are. The world of reading entices, mesmerizes, enriches and transforms us. It distinguishes the human race from the rest of the animal kingdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive,” said James Baldwin. Reading links us to the past, prepares us for the present and makes us visualize the future. “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends, they are the most accessible and the most patient of teachers,” said Charles William Eliot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Speaking of teachers, the story of the legendary Dronacharya comes to mind. The teacher of teachers, the guru of the Pandavas equipped his disciples for peace and war. But he inspired not only those who were fortunate enough to be his disciples, but also those, who were not qualified to learn at his feet. He turned away Ekalavya, a lowly untouchable, but he installed an image of Dronacharya as his guru and acquired the same skills as Arjuna, the guru's favourite disciple. Books are anonymous teachers to millions of people of different generations. Authors assume the role of teachers without being aware of it and disciples grow more and more, with the passage of time. But, unlike Dronacharya, the authors of books do not claim their thumbs as gurudakshina. They bequeath their learning to future generations without expecting anything in return.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The gifted author, Orhan Pamuk describes what all of us have experienced, “I read a book one day and my whole life was changed.” Books influence not only individuals, but history itself, they create revolutions, they can be traced to war and peace. Much in the world may have been ignited by books and everything in the world happens in order to end up in a book. They chronicle events for posterity and continue to inspire changes many centuries later. It is a miracle that books unfold different worlds to different readers. Books enable us not only to understand history, but also help us understand who we are and how we must behave, how to live and die. They break the shackles of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold; font-size: large;">The world of reading has no barriers. Shakespeare belongs as much to India as to the United Kingdom. In fact, it was discovered during his 400</span><sup style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold; font-size: large;"> anniversary that he is more popular in India than in any other country. Hamlet, when he is asked what he is reading, he answers, “Words, words, words” and my book on diplomacy has the same title as diplomacy is all about words, written, spoken and unspoken. Many authors have lost their national identities because of their acceptability outside their national frontiers. Henrik Ibsen,Haruki Murakami, Garcia Marquez and Paulo Coelho are stacked among English authors though they wrote in other languages. Translations are taken as authentic even if their diction and nuances may have been lost in the hands of the translators. Nobel prizes have been awarded on the basis of translated works, except in the case of people like Rabindranath Tagore, who rendered their works into English themselves with ease and felicity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold; font-size: large;">Indian writers in English have made a mark on the English literary firmament. R.K.Narayan, V.S.Naipaul and Neerad Chaudhary are no less English than some British authors. This is a genre that is growing fast as more and more Indian immigrants in the UK and the US are taking to writing. It is believed that their experience of leaving the mother country has given them a special creative energy, which stand them in good stead as authors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold; font-size: large;">I recently watched a TED talk in which the speaker narrates the excitement of reading a book from every country on the planet in just one year. Books came to her from around the globe in English from Tokyo to Timbuktu The time has come for an International Book Fair with a book in English from the 193 member countries of the United Nations. Such a world of reading may bring greater peace and international understanding than what the United Nations has been able to accomplish in seventy years. Such a collection will reveal that a person in Papua New Guinea has a thought, a feeling and a way of looking at things, which he thought was intensely personal to him, had already been recorded by a person in Burkina Faso, perhaps a century ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">The height of absurdity in such a world of reading is the arrogance of banning or censoring books or even eliminating authors for propagating an idea, the time of which had not come. I was in Moscow at a time when Dr. Zhivago was still kept out of Soviet book shelves and members of the Communist Party were expected to say that the book was not in good taste even if they had not read a word of it. The greatest service that the Internet has done to the world of reading is that books need not be smuggled through unsuspecting customs officials. They can be read by the present generation, just as they were read by old generations without any feeling of guilt. Bloggers are unencumbered by puritanical censorship or messianic zeal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">All readers may not become writers, but there is no writer who has not read. To be a great writer, one needs to be an avid reader. But readers react to writing in many ways. Dr.Johnson felt that reading of Milton’s 'Paradise Lost' was a duty rather than a pleasure. Mark Twain defined a classic as a work that people praised, but did not read. Using the image of eating, Francis Bacon said, “Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only some should be chewed and digested thoroughly.” In many cases, a book gets better when you read it several times as if something were left between the pages every time you read it. But leaving a book unfinished is like leaving a half finished love affair only to find that a bride in hand is worth two in the bush. Books of poems occupy a special place in the world of reading. "Poems are the songs that capture the summers and the winters of hearts", says a budding poetic genius poetically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">Mercenary and ghost writing are commonplace today and people,who have something to say, but cannot express it in suitable words and style resort to these methods. But those who sacrifice truth and sincerity in order to build colossuses with clay feet are no better than purveyors of paid news and views. On the other hand, books on other people should not either be idolatry or iconoclastic. My own effort to write on another person with objectivity ended in losing him as a friend, but retaining my integrity as an author, who has a responsibility to the reader. Writing, like lending and borrowing, should not lose itself and friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold; font-size: large;">The world of editors and publishers cannot be left out of the world of reading. The internet and the acceptance of raw language as legitimate means of communication have minimized their role, but a good editor and a good publisher can transform books beyond recognition. My first editing venture, a book called, ‘Venkat Forever’ was harder to do than my earlier ones, which I wrote myself. But Konark Publishers of K.P.R.Nair gave it a good form and shape. My own selected writings, ‘Applied Diplomacy Through The Prism of Mythology’ edited by Dr.Divya Iyer and published by Shobit Arya of 'Wisdom Tree' is likely to be remembered for their immense contributions as editor and publisher respectively. An eminent writer left the project, thinking that diplomacy and mythology would not mix, but later called it an exceptional work. The book went beyond the familiar ground of diplomacy to the eternal world of seven immortals. Myths and legends of centuries ago provided models for 21</span><sup style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">st</sup><span style="font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold; font-size: large;"> century diplomatic challenges. Hanuman became the perfect diplomat, Ashvathama depicted the United States and Kripacharya became the symbol of the United Nations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 18pt;">No one can cover the world of reading with any finality in a talk or a book. The vast expanse of the world of reading cannot be easily fathomed. We can only touch the tip of the iceberg and wonder what immortal hand or eye could grasp its fearful symmetry. Books will live forever, whether in print, with their intoxicating aroma or as images on Kindle and other electronic devices and reading will continue to make the world worth living. The word preceded humanity and it will outlast it.</span></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-68407778723001722242016-02-25T08:20:00.000-08:002016-02-25T08:20:21.002-08:00A Talk on Multilateralism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 20.0pt;">Centre for Southeast Asian
and Pacific Studies, Sri. Venkateswara University</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 20.0pt;">International Conference on Multilateral
Cooperation: Emerging Global Scenario.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">(Keynote
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Prof.
M.Bhaskar, Rector of the University,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Shri.
Ajaneesh Kumar, ICWA,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Prof.
Ngo Xuan Binh,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Prof.
G.J.Reddy,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Distinguished
Delegates,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">A
few days ago, I received three unexpected offers from the Sri.Venkateswara
University. The first was a captive audience for a lecture on multilateralism. For
a person, who has spent several years at the United Nations and its agencies,
an invitation to speak on multilateralism was attractive enough. The second was
an offer of an ISAPS Lifetime Achievement Award for International
Understanding, an exceptional honour. The third was a special darshan of Lord
Venkateswara, the most irresistible offer of all. No wonder I accepted the
offers wholeheartedly. I am grateful to the Sri Venkateswara University,
particularly Prof. G.J Reddy, for the opportunity. My time at the UN between
1980 and 2004 witnessed several shifts and turns in the fortunes of the United
Nations, not to speak of the periods before and after in the seventy years of
its existence. But multilateralism is alive and well, unchanged in form, but
altered in substance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
pyrrhic victory of the allies in the Second World War inevitably led to a
collective security system to rid the succeeding generations of the scourge of
war. Care was taken to include economic, social and human rights concerns in
the Charter of the United Nations. But the victors of the war shaped the world
body in the belief that they would be the arbiters of global security forever and
gave themselves the veto, which diluted the principle of sovereign equality and
democracy. In the last seventy years, however, every independent nation
subscribed to the Charter and made the UN the only universal international
organization. It survived the game changing developments in the world and
proved itself resilient enough even though the rigidity of the Charter
perpetuated some anachronisms. The success of the UN was on account of its
ability to change with the times on substance, though not in structures and
procedures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Multilateralism
assumed new forms and roles in the crucible of the cold war. The unanimity of
the permanent members, envisaged in the Charter, collapsed earlier than
expected and the big powers did not surrender even a fraction of their
sovereignty for the sake of the global good. Instead, they began to use
multilateral organizations like the UN, the World Bank and the IMF as instruments
to influence global affairs. For the rest, they pursued bilateralism to secure
their core interests. Multilateralism became the privilege of the weak, first
to protect their sovereignty and then for collective bargaining. But the global
situation was such that the UN was able to harvest the low-hanging fruits in
the areas of decolonization, development and disarmament and thus proved worthy
of the faith placed in it by the international community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
cold war, however, did not allow multilateralism to succeed in its primary
purpose of safeguarding international peace and security and while “mutually
assured destruction” prevented a nuclear confrontation, many wars were fought
in the developing world as the Security Council chose to be a mere witness. The
growth of the Nonaligned Movement into a virtual third force in international
relations was the most significant development in this period. Though it was
only a movement and not an organization, it developed organizational structures
like a Coordinating Bureau, Ministerial Meetings and Summits. Given its
composition with Singapore at one end of the ideological spectrum and Cuba at
the other, its pronouncements were balanced except on fundamental issues like
imperialism, colonialism, apartheid and Palestine. The western world dismissed
it as extremist and irrelevant, while the easterners claimed to be its natural
allies as their views coincided with the views of the Movement. As leaders of
the Movement, countries like India, Yougoslavia, Algeria and Cuba gained some
bilateral advantages because of their multilateral influence. The Soviet Union
cultivated these countries bilaterally to gain multilateral support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war transformed
multilateralism beyond recognition. Multilateralism became the corner stone of
international relations. There was a spring in the air at the UN, which
encouraged the Secretary General, Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali to bring about thorough
changes in the role of the UN in maintaining international peace and security. In
his ‘Agenda for Peace’, he called for a stronger UN and a stronger Secretary
General to deal with threats to international peace and security by emphasizing
the need for every member nation to surrender some of its sovereignty to the
UN. He brought disarmament into the purview of the Security Council by holding
a Council Meeting at the level of heads of state on the subject. He also called
for a standing army for the UN to speed up peace operations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">None
of the proposals of the Secretary General gained traction in a yearlong
discussion, though the General Assembly was polite to him by taking back with
the left hand, what it gave him with the right. He was accused of acting like a
Pharaoh and harboring ambitions to be a General, not a Secretary General. Some
marginal changes were made, but nothing major to alter the role of the UN. The
Secretary General was also asked to present an ‘Agenda for Development’,
essentially to balance the security role of the United Nations with its
developmental agenda.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Multilateral
diplomacy, however, kept evolving in the post cold war era in multiple ways.
The Nonaligned Movement lost its cutting edge and the concerned countries
professed strategic autonomy, but sought cooperation with the remaining Super
Power. Dr.Manmohan Singh characterized the new trend in multilateralism as
“Cooperative Pluralism”. The dimensions of international security multiplied
after the attacks of 9/11, when the world’s most powerful nation was brought to
its knees without guns and bombs. Counter terrorism, nuclear security and
safety, human rights and environmental protection became the focus of
multilateral attention. Confrontation gave way to cooperation, though the
powerful nations continued to force their way in each of these issues as
collective bargaining became increasingly ineffective. A Comprehensive
Convention on Terrorism demanded by India and others did not become a reality,
despite the horror of 9/11. Nonproliferation concerns are still considered more
important than nuclear security and safety, human rights remain politicized and
common but differentiated responsibility has been turned into common
responsibility in matters of the </span></div>
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Bilateral pressures are brought to bear upon multilateral cooperation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Regional
arrangements were envisaged in the Charter, but multilateralism has become more
pronounced regionally in recent years. Apart from geographic regions,
similarities in history and state of development began to play a role in
forging multilateral bodies as in the case of BRICS and IBSA. An American
economist invented BRICS as countries with common characteristics, but it
turned into a grouping to counter western economic domination. The BRICS bank
has assumed extraordinary importance in reordering the world order, though
Chinese domination is inescapable in the present dispensation. Regional
groupings have their own dynamics as bilateral relations among neighbours
impinge on multilateral cooperation as seen in the case of SAARC. Even the
established regional organisations like the European Union fear ‘Brixit’ and
‘Grexit’ occasionally despite the imperatives of cooperation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">China
has invented an altogether new form of multilateral cooperation through its
multi-billion dollar One Belt One Road initiative, which will link nations in
an unprecedented manner. Needless to say, the motivation is Chinese domination
and control of pathways and waterways across continents, but its advantages
will lure many countries to embrace it. Rival multilateral structures are also
emerging in the Asia Pacific as the power centre shifts from the Atlantic to
the Pacific.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Reform
of multilateral organizations is essential for their very existence even if
they have managed differences by innovative approaches. Voices began to be
heard to abolish the veto in the UN Security Council right from the beginning.
The World Bank and the IMF fought reform proposals tooth and nail. Then came
the demand for an expansion of the Security Council, first in 1979 to maintain
the proportion between the membership of the General Assembly and the Security
Council. After the end of the cold war, demand arose also to increase the
number of permanent members to reflect the reality of the global situation.
Many proposals for expansion of the Security Council have been advanced and
discussed over the years, but there is no proposal today, which can command two
thirds majority of the General Assembly and the positive votes of the five
permanent members, though the idea of an expansion of the Security Council has
been widely accepted. The credibility of the Security Council as representing
the entire membership of the UN has eroded and unless an expansion takes place,
the UN itself will be marginalized and other multilateral organizations will
fill the void. G-8, G-20 and NATO are dealing with multiple issues, which
should fall legitimately in the lap of the United Nations. A day may come when “Coalitions
of the Willing” will take over many multilateral responsibilities. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">India
has been an unflinching champion of multilateralism, particularly the UN. In
the initial years of independence, India had a high profile role in
disarmament, decolonization and development, but it diminished as we took on
the “Third World” leadership through the Nonaligned Movement during the cold
war. India took the Jammu and Kashmir issue to the UN on the principle that the
world body should settle disputes by peaceful means, even though it had the
capability to repel the aggressor from the part of Kashmir that Pakistan had
occupied by force. But it was frustrated by the play of international intrigues
in the Security Council and realized its mistake. India learnt the hard way
that multilateral bodies tended to complicate issues rather than resolve them
on the basis of justice.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">India’s
approach to multilateralism has been to contribute to the common good rather
than to seek for itself any advantages from the UN and other bodies. India
became nervous about the internationalization of the Kashmir issue and
refrained from taking any issue to the Security Council on the plea that
neighbours should deal with issues bilaterally rather than multilaterally.
India resisted the formation of SAARC for the same reasons and insisted that
bilateral disputes should not be taken up in multilateral forums. Plagued by
the problems between India and Pakistan, SAARC remains ineffective as a
multilateral regional forum. Bilateral issues inhibit its growth as an
instrument of multilateral cooperation.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">India
has begun to modernize its multilateralism in recent years. Having consolidated
bilateral relations with the important countries of the world, India has begun
to demand its due share in multilateralism such as permanent membership of the
Security Council and membership of APEC. India has also ceased to be a deal
breaker in many negotiations and become a partner in multilateral decision-making
in areas such as climate change, WTO, internet governance, challenges to
sustainable development and reforming peace keeping. It was through a bilateral
deal with the US that India returned to the mainstream nuclear group even
without signing the NPT. India is now more pro-active in multilateral arenas
because of the new confidence it has acquired. India has begun to demand permanent
membership of the UN Security Council as a matter of right rather than a mere
entitlement.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Today,
every nation juggles with the bilateral and multilateral options to safeguard
its interests. Multilateralism serves the global commons, but bilateralism is
pursued to increase trade, investment and security. They are not mutually
exclusive and, in fact, reinforce each other. In the current global scenario,
success lies in forging bilateral and regional ties, which, in turn, will equip
nations to meet the multilateral challenges.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Thank
you. </span></div>
</div>
T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-12506446751976237812016-02-01T16:24:00.002-08:002016-02-01T16:24:38.958-08:00Kovalam Declaration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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--</style><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Global Education Meet (GEM) Kerala 2016</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <u>Kovalam
Declaration on Making Kerala a Hub of International Education</u></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Government of Kerala and the Kerala State Higher Education
Council organized, with the support of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, a Global Education Meet at Kovalam, Kerala, on 29-30
January, 2016, which brought together over a hundred academicians, academic
administrators and education providers from around the world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Meet, having debated various aspects relating to enhancing
the international collaboration of Higher Education Institutions in Kerala, for
establishing an Academic City and International Higher Academic Zones, in five
sessions over 2 days, has agreed to issue the following Declaration as the
consolidated outcome of the Global Education Meet 2016.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Global Education Meet
2016</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noting</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> that there is a considerable increase in the number of
students going abroad from India and other developing countries to developed
countries in pursuit of higher education,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Acknowledging </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that international education has immense
potential to enhance employability of students, improve their economic
situation and help them to become world-class entrepreneurs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taking into consideration</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the high cost of
international education, which allows only stake holders from affluent families
to afford the same,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Considering that</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> a large proportion of the students who
go abroad do not return to India and are thus unable to contribute to our
growing economy with their skills,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Understanding</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i>that </i>the Make in India,
Digital India and other campaigns of the Government of India will benefit from
an internationally trained workforce, which is able to establish and work
in state-of-the-art-facilities,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Expressing concern that</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> there is no support
system for economically and socially backward students to benefit from the
opportunities for international education,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Acknowledging that</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> India itself could
be an attractive destination for higher education for students from many
developing countries, particularly in Asia and Africa,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taking into account </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
fact that<i> </i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the private sector has played a big role
in expanding educational facilities in Kerala within the
existing policy framework,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noting that </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the Government of India is
reported to have proposed to establish ten private universities with
substantial institutional freedom to design curriculum and implement academic
innovations,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Addressing the need to
strengthen interdisciplinary learning and research skills into the curriculum</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Considering that</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Universities and
educational institutions in Kerala have already established a number of
international collaboration programmes for student exchange, faculty exchange
and research with universities abroad,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Noting that</i> the Government of Kerala, in
its budget for the year 2015-16 announced its intention to establish an
Academic City and International Higher Academic Zones in Kerala,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taking note</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of the success made
by Academic cities in the Middle East and South East Asia to attract
international universities to establish their campuses in those countries,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Appreciating that</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> a number of individuals
and institutions from Kerala have expressed interest in investing in
International Higher Academic Zones,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recalling </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that the UN Sustainable
Development Goals calls for greater efforts for international co-operation on
education,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taking into account</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> that
KSHEC has identified infrastructure, use of technology, teachers' training,
research, autonomy and internationalization as areas for immediate attention in
shaping a "Higher Education 2.0" for the twenty-first century and has
submitted 17 reports to the Government with appropriate recommendations,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noting</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> that
the Government of Kerala has constituted an International Relations Group (IRG)
to promote cooperation between the Universities in Kerala and foreign
Universities,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i>Acknowledging</i> that
KSHEC has framed an IT@Colleges Programme to improve connectivity in colleges,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i>Noting</i> that the Kerala
State Higher Education Council has submitted a report, recommending that
private universities should be established,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taking note</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of
the Thiruvananthapuram Declaration (</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/www\.kshec\.gov\.in\/\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022 ";"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1155cc; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.kshec.gov.in</span></u></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">) of the Meet on Transnational Education 2014, which contains
valuable recommendations for promoting internationalization of higher
education,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Noting </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">with
appreciation</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the initiative taken by the Government of Kerala to
continue with its effort to promote internationalization of education by
calling a Global Education Meet, which provided a platform for all participants
to understand and deliberate on the opportunities and challenges posed by
technology-enabled transnational education,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noting </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that
the present procedure for academic travel is cumbersome and not conducive to
faculty and student exchanges,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taking note</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of the fact that
China has the third largest foreign student population in the world and it is
the country that sends out the largest number students abroad,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Requests</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Government of India </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to finalize the Higher
Education Bill so that a long term legislative framework for international
co-operation on education is available for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>educational providers <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to make
long term financial commitments needed for international academic co-operation;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Government of India </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to facilitate
international student exchanges by increasing the number of fellowships
available for cultural exchange programmes as well as rationalizing legislation
to make students entry procedures easier;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Government of India </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to relax legislation regarding short term
employment of faculty and researchers from other countries in India which is
urgently needed for the smooth functioning of the International Higher Academic
Zones and other academic collaboration;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 3.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Government of India</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to ensure massification
of education with equity;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 3.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Government of India</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to liberalize its visa
regime to facilitate academic mobility;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Government of India</i> to liberalize academic travel and to eliminate red tapism
in dealing with request for travel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acknowledges</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the pioneer efforts of International
Institute for Scientific and Academic Collaboration to facilitate two batches
of American students for a semester each in the University of Kerala and
encourages the institute and the University of Kerala to expand and strengthen
the programme. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Government of Kerala</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to set up an Academic
City Authority as a facilitator-cum-regulator for the bodies proposed to be
established to promote internationalization of higher education in Kerala;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To transform the research landscape in
the state, including </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">through partnerships with industries
and maximize the benefits of research by advancing fundamental knowledge to
contribute much to the society at large;</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
harness and align different knowledge domains</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
thus create Centres of Excellence which combine inquiry and investigation;</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The University Grants Commission</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to urgently
streamline procedures and support for facilitating international collaboration
so that all institutions desirous of establishing such co-operation can do that
within the shortest possible time;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 3.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The All India Council for Technical
Education </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and other apex bodies on higher education in India to establish
procedures for international recognition of Indian degrees and vice versa so as
to promote internationalization of higher education India;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Requests to create an
environment for blended learning</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> which will integrate online materials,
traditional classroom teaching and online virtual classrooms;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 3.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Government of Kerala</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to finalize
legislation on establishment of an Academic City and International Higher
Academic Zones so as to give a boost to internationalization of education in
the state; </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 3.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Government of Kerala </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to initiate work to
identify locations for an Academic City and to approve the locations for
International Higher Academic Zones as identified by academic providers so that
individuals and institutions desirous of partnering can start to prepare their
plans;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Government of Kerala </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to make available
procedures and incentives for faculty and students in the Academic City and
International Higher Academic Zones;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 40.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Government of Kerala</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to implement <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the report of the KSHEC on establishing
private universities in Kerala at the earliest;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Government of Kerala</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to ensure that
economically and socially weaker sections of the society have access to the new
institutions, courses and opportunities created in the Academic City and
International Higher Academic Zones;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Government of Kerala</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to establish
procedures which will ensure gender equality in access to the new institutions,
courses and opportunities created in the Academic City and International Higher
Academic Zones;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Kerala State Higher Education Council</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to arrange training
programmes for managers of higher educational institutions in Kerala on legal
and practical aspects of establishing international collaboration, including
student and faculty exchange;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">21)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Department of Higher Education, Government
of Kerala, </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to support educational institutions in the state to establish hundred
percent high speed connectivity with data network in every academic institution
so that students can benefit from technologically enhanced learning on the
basis of the report on IT@Colleges;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">22)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Universities in the state to </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">revise their rules and
regulations to facilitate exchange of faculty, student and researchers locally,
nationally and internationally in a seamless manner;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">23)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Universities in the state to </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">urgently establish easy
and transparent procedures for international academic credit recognition to
support student exchange programmes;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">24)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Universities in the state </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to take full advantage of
technologically enhanced learning by promoting Massive Open Online Courses,
flipped classrooms and blended learning in their universities;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">25)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Academic institutions in the state, both
in public sector and private sector</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, to start to work on international
collaborations for teaching, research, student and faculty exchange so as
to get familiarized with international co-operation which will be greatly
expanded in the coming years;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">26)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Public and Private Sector Companies in
Kerala</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to consider contributing in higher education including
research as part of their corporate social responsibility to contribute to a
sustainable state;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">27)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Individuals and companies owned and
promoted by Indians abroad</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to invest in the Academic City and
International Higher Academic Zones in Kerala;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">28)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The faculty </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">members in academic
institutions in the state to proactively engage international academic
community for collaborative research, teaching and student exchange to maximize
internationalization of curriculum and educational experience;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">29)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The student community in the state </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to see the
internationalization of higher education as a huge opportunity to be exposed to
higher education of global standards, which will improve their ability to
pursue higher education and research;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">30)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The student community to </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">take advantage of
internationalization of education as a way to maximize their employability
locally and globally;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">31)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The educational providers in Kerala</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to leverage
Kerala’s reputation as a family friendly and economical global tourist
destination to market their capacity to deliver quality higher education at
affordable costs across the developing world in order to attract more
international students to come to Kerala and increase diversity in classrooms;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Black";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">32)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Considers that good governance of educational institutions is
required to ensure quality, efficiency and transparency.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The participants of the Global Education Meet further
resolve</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To continue</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the discussions individually in coming
days in their respective countries, academic forums and educational
institutions they represent, to harness the potential of internationalization
of education;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To promote,</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> in their respective countries and
spheres of influence, the relevant conclusions from the Thiruvananthapuram
Declaration(</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://www.kshec.gov.in/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.kshec.gov.in</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">) on Transnational
Education 2014 and the Kovalam Declaration of the Global Education Meet 2016.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The participants of the Global Education Meet further
request</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Kerala State Higher Education Council to widely
publicize the Kovalam Declaration on International Education so that students,
teachers, academic policy makers, education providers and other stakeholders of
higher education can use it as a basic document to advocate and promote
transnational education<i>.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The participants noted with concern the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>undue anxieties in certain sections about
internationalization of Higher Education because of a lack of understanding of
the concept and expressed the hope that dissent will not degenerate in to
violence. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The participants of the Global Education Meet </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">express appreciation for
the Government of Kerala for the excellent arrangements for the Meet and for
its generous hospitality.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; tab-stops: 153.75pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; tab-stops: 153.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Issued in Kovalam, on
30th January 2016</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-11317558791104769222015-12-31T18:53:00.000-08:002015-12-31T18:53:13.851-08:00New Year 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Friends,<br /></div>
As
the New Year 2016 dawns, my family joins me in wishing you the very
best. May your dreams come true and may you have a peaceful, healthy and
prosperous life in the year ahead. Let me also thank all of you, who
remembered to send us greetings in so many innovative ways.<br /></div>
Optimism
should be the right note at this time, whether the past year was an
unmixed blessing or not. As a family, we have had a generally pleasant
2015, with glad tidings from the different locations. Though we have not
had an opportunity to get everyone together since December 2014, we met
one way or the other and remained constantly in touch through the
multiplying platforms available for virtual togetherness. Our children
and grandchildren, the extended family, friends and colleagues gave us
reasons to be proud of them.<br /></div>
I divided my time in 2015
between following international affairs, writing on them and trying to
reform the higher education scene in Kerala. I devoted time also to my
role as an evangelist of the IFS, interacting with many aspirants to the
Civil Services. I have begun to see some of them doing extremely well
in our missions abroad. My weekly television programme on foreign
affairs has completed ten years. I traveled throughout the year, giving
talks to diverse audiences on a variety of themes. Lekha spent her time
in charity work, particularly running a short stay home for the sick and
the poor.<br /></div>
The overwhelming sense in the year for India was
that it was in the cusp of change in every area of activity, primarily
because of a dynamic Prime Minister, who announced programmes and
projects virtually every day. The unprecedented activism in foreign
affairs has given India great visibility around the globe. Continuity,
dictated by geopolitics, is a salient feature, but some bold initiatives
may eventually lead to significant changes. The New Year may bring new
surprises and it is hoped that they will be pleasant.<br /></div>
Kerala
is gearing up for elections early in the New Year. The latest events
and new coalitions make it difficult to predict the outcome. The record
of the present Government is likely to prevail in the end.<br /></div>
Technology
continued to grow dramatically in 2015, with new opportunities and
challenges to the world. The New Year will usher in new products and
processes, making digital literacy important for people of all ages.<br /></div>
We
hear of revolutions everywhere and we can only hope that these will be
peaceful and beneficial to mankind. Let us hope for a peaceful,
non-violent world in the years to come.<br /></div>
<div>
We may not
have kept all the New Year resolutions of last year, but now is the time
to make new ones. One resolution we must make is to remain in touch as
often as possible.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Warmly,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
TPS <br clear="all" /><br />-- <div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
</div>
T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-36679966101102488542015-12-26T05:30:00.001-08:002015-12-26T05:30:28.490-08:00Paris Climate Summit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 class="arti_heading" itemprop="headline">
A requiem for Rio in Paris</h1>
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<span class="black bold">Text size: </span> <u class="curhand" id="ft_1">A</u> <u class="f14 curhand black" id="ft_2">A</u> <u class="f16 curhand" id="ft_3">A</u></div>
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December 14, 2015 12:12 IST</div>
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<strong>The
net effect of the Paris agreement for India is a sense of resignation
that we cannot gain much from international cooperation either in the
form of technology or funding. Without any mandatory cuts, India could
keep its own pace of mitigation of climate change by moving away from
fossil fuels in the long term. </strong><br />
<strong>We lost the gains of Rio and Kyoto in Copenhagen and Paris,
but it would have been worse if any mandatory restraints were imposed on
our green house gas emissions, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.</strong><br />
<strong><img alt="" class="imgwidth" src="http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/dec/14laurent-fabius.jpg" style="max-width: 670px; width: 670px;" width="99%" /></strong><br />
<div style="border: 1px solid #dfdfdf; clear: both; max-width: 670px; padding: 5px; width: 95%;">
<strong>Image:
French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius (centre),
president-designate of COP21, and Christiana Figueres (left), executive
secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, react during
the final plenary session at the World Climate Change Conference 2015
(COP21) at Le Bourget, near Paris, France, December 12, 2015.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters.</strong></div>
<span style="font-size: 36px;">I</span>f Copenhagen rang the death knell of the accomplishments of Rio de Janeiro, Paris chanted its requiem.<br />
Concepts like “common, but differentiated responsibilities”,
“incremental costs”, “equity”, “justice” and “polluter must pay
principle” have been either buried or resurrected in new incarnations.<br />
The rich nations of the world, which had realised the mistake of
accepting mandatory cuts to their green house gas emissions and agreeing
to pay for the pollution they have caused, have wriggled out of their
commitments by threatening to impose mandatory cuts on the poor and
extracted an agreement in which none has mandatory cuts.<br />
An agreement in Paris, which is known to have no significant impact
on climate change, is being hailed as historic, leaving the world to
fend for itself.<br />
Unless a new technology emerges to defang the green house gases or a carbon tax is imposed, God alone can save the earth.<br />
The terrorist attacks in Paris turned out to be a blessing in
disguise to the hosts and their allies because they were able to impose
severe restraints on the participation of NGOs and popular movements in
the Paris conference.<br />
It has been a tradition for the public to hold several side events
and maintain constant pressure on the negotiators. In the Berlin
conference in 1995, for instance, it was a draft circulated by the World
Wildlife Fund, which formed the basis of the Berlin Mandate which, in
turn, led to the Kyoto Protocol.<br />
Without such pressure and monitoring, the word that went out was that
the outcome of the conference was a decisive contribution to the
mitigation of climate change. Many delegations, including India, had
hired public relations agencies to present their positions in the most
positive manner. A small demonstration was held in Paris only a day
later to proclaim that the whole Paris Agreement was a hoax.<br />
James Hansen, formerly the chief climatologist of NASA, was
forthright in his assessment. “It is a fraud, really a fake,” he said.
“It is just bullshit for them to say, ‘we will have a 2 degree Celsius
warming target and try to do a little better every five years’. It is
just worthless words. There is no action, just promises. As long as
fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuel out there, they will
continue to be burnt.”<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">T</span>hat the Paris deal will have
no immediate effect on climate change is evident in the wording of the
heart of the document. The “strong agreement” is to hold the increase in
the global average temperature to well below 2 degree Celsius above
pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature
increase to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels, recognising
that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate
change.<br />
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But the “Nationally Determined Contributions” submitted so far and
the indications given by others make it clear that they will not be able
to hold the increase below 3 degree Celsius.<br />
Such a patently unrealistic expectation from the Paris agreement will
be proved false sooner than later. The pious hope that the future cuts
every five years will strengthen the agreement has no basis either.<br />
Those who have supported the agreement, including India, claim that
all countries, rich or poor, have undertaken the obligation to reduce
green house gases. But given the fact that the industrialised countries
did not reduce their emissions even after accepting mandatory cuts to
1990 levels, there is no reason to believe that they will do so
voluntarily.<br />
In fact, the US ensured that the agreement is not a treaty under the
US law to obviate the need for President Obama to secure Congressional
approval to sign the agreement. Since any financial commitment would
require such approval, the offer of USD 100 billion after 2020 has been
relegated to the preambular part of the final document.<br />
All these precautions are proof, if proof were needed, of lack of any
commitment on the part of the United States and the other developed
nations. On its part, OPEC, particularly Saudi Arabia, insisted that
there should be no green house gas emissions neutrality even in the
distant future.<br />
India’s support to the agreement may have arisen from a desire to
avoid mandatory cuts of green house gas emissions for itself, which were
a possibility till the Copenhagen consensus, which India joined
reluctantly. India’s subsequent efforts to resuscitate the Kyoto
Protocol and the spirit of Rio were futile, particularly after the US
and China reached an agreement on the Paris outcome earlier in the year.<br />
It was only after India disowned the Kyoto Protocol by saying that we
had to go beyond the failed agreements of the past that India’s status
changed from “a challenge” to a “partner” in the eyes of the United
States. <em>The New York Times</em>’s cartoon showing India as the
elephant stopping the Paris train in its tracks was not an exaggeration
of the Indian position at the time of the beginning of the Paris
conference. Subsequently, it was after some high level persuasion that
India agreed to go along with the Paris agreement.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">T</span>he net effect of the Paris
agreement for India is a sense of resignation that we cannot gain much
from international cooperation either in the form of technology or
funding. Without any mandatory cuts, India could keep its own pace of
mitigation of climate change by moving away from fossil fuels in the
long term.<br />
We have already made a beginning by imposing a tax on the use of
coal, a measure that has not been taken by any of those who advocate
cuts on coal use.<br />
We lost the gains of Rio and Kyoto in Copenhagen and Paris, but it
would have been worse, if any mandatory restraints were imposed on our
green house gas emissions. That explains Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
comment that there are no winners or losers in Paris.<br />
We embraced the lesser evil of voluntary cuts for everyone rather than mandatory cuts for the main emitters, including India.<br />
<strong>T P Sreenivasan, <strong>a former Ambassador of India and Governor for India at the IAEA,</strong> was the lead negotiator of India on climate change and the Vice-Chairman of the COP between 1992 and 1995.</strong></div>
<span class="ht5 clear"></span><span class="grey1">T P Sreenivasan </span></div>
T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-23248316832675769802015-12-26T05:26:00.001-08:002015-12-26T05:26:20.810-08:00Paris Climate Summit 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 class="arti_heading" itemprop="headline">
</h1>
<h1 class="arti_heading" itemprop="headline">
A requiem for Rio in Paris</h1>
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<span class="black bold">Text size: </span> <u class="curhand" id="ft_1">A</u> <u class="f14 curhand black" id="ft_2">A</u> <u class="f16 curhand" id="ft_3">A</u></div>
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December 14, 2015 12:12 IST</div>
<div class="arti_contentbig" id="arti_content_n" itemprop="articleBody">
<strong>The
net effect of the Paris agreement for India is a sense of resignation
that we cannot gain much from international cooperation either in the
form of technology or funding. Without any mandatory cuts, India could
keep its own pace of mitigation of climate change by moving away from
fossil fuels in the long term. </strong><br />
<strong>We lost the gains of Rio and Kyoto in Copenhagen and Paris,
but it would have been worse if any mandatory restraints were imposed on
our green house gas emissions, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.</strong><br />
<strong><img alt="" class="imgwidth" src="http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/dec/14laurent-fabius.jpg" style="max-width: 670px; width: 670px;" width="99%" /></strong><br />
<div style="border: 1px solid #dfdfdf; clear: both; max-width: 670px; padding: 5px; width: 95%;">
<strong>Image:
French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius (centre),
president-designate of COP21, and Christiana Figueres (left), executive
secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, react during
the final plenary session at the World Climate Change Conference 2015
(COP21) at Le Bourget, near Paris, France, December 12, 2015.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters.</strong></div>
<span style="font-size: 36px;">I</span>f Copenhagen rang the death knell of the accomplishments of Rio de Janeiro, Paris chanted its requiem.<br />
Concepts like “common, but differentiated responsibilities”,
“incremental costs”, “equity”, “justice” and “polluter must pay
principle” have been either buried or resurrected in new incarnations.<br />
The rich nations of the world, which had realised the mistake of
accepting mandatory cuts to their green house gas emissions and agreeing
to pay for the pollution they have caused, have wriggled out of their
commitments by threatening to impose mandatory cuts on the poor and
extracted an agreement in which none has mandatory cuts.<br />
An agreement in Paris, which is known to have no significant impact
on climate change, is being hailed as historic, leaving the world to
fend for itself.<br />
Unless a new technology emerges to defang the green house gases or a carbon tax is imposed, God alone can save the earth.<br />
The terrorist attacks in Paris turned out to be a blessing in
disguise to the hosts and their allies because they were able to impose
severe restraints on the participation of NGOs and popular movements in
the Paris conference.<br />
It has been a tradition for the public to hold several side events
and maintain constant pressure on the negotiators. In the Berlin
conference in 1995, for instance, it was a draft circulated by the World
Wildlife Fund, which formed the basis of the Berlin Mandate which, in
turn, led to the Kyoto Protocol.<br />
Without such pressure and monitoring, the word that went out was that
the outcome of the conference was a decisive contribution to the
mitigation of climate change. Many delegations, including India, had
hired public relations agencies to present their positions in the most
positive manner. A small demonstration was held in Paris only a day
later to proclaim that the whole Paris Agreement was a hoax.<br />
James Hansen, formerly the chief climatologist of NASA, was
forthright in his assessment. “It is a fraud, really a fake,” he said.
“It is just bullshit for them to say, ‘we will have a 2 degree Celsius
warming target and try to do a little better every five years’. It is
just worthless words. There is no action, just promises. As long as
fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuel out there, they will
continue to be burnt.”<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">T</span>hat the Paris deal will have
no immediate effect on climate change is evident in the wording of the
heart of the document. The “strong agreement” is to hold the increase in
the global average temperature to well below 2 degree Celsius above
pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature
increase to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels, recognising
that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate
change.<br />
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But the “Nationally Determined Contributions” submitted so far and
the indications given by others make it clear that they will not be able
to hold the increase below 3 degree Celsius.<br />
Such a patently unrealistic expectation from the Paris agreement will
be proved false sooner than later. The pious hope that the future cuts
every five years will strengthen the agreement has no basis either.<br />
Those who have supported the agreement, including India, claim that
all countries, rich or poor, have undertaken the obligation to reduce
green house gases. But given the fact that the industrialised countries
did not reduce their emissions even after accepting mandatory cuts to
1990 levels, there is no reason to believe that they will do so
voluntarily.<br />
In fact, the US ensured that the agreement is not a treaty under the
US law to obviate the need for President Obama to secure Congressional
approval to sign the agreement. Since any financial commitment would
require such approval, the offer of USD 100 billion after 2020 has been
relegated to the preambular part of the final document.<br />
All these precautions are proof, if proof were needed, of lack of any
commitment on the part of the United States and the other developed
nations. On its part, OPEC, particularly Saudi Arabia, insisted that
there should be no green house gas emissions neutrality even in the
distant future.<br />
India’s support to the agreement may have arisen from a desire to
avoid mandatory cuts of green house gas emissions for itself, which were
a possibility till the Copenhagen consensus, which India joined
reluctantly. India’s subsequent efforts to resuscitate the Kyoto
Protocol and the spirit of Rio were futile, particularly after the US
and China reached an agreement on the Paris outcome earlier in the year.<br />
It was only after India disowned the Kyoto Protocol by saying that we
had to go beyond the failed agreements of the past that India’s status
changed from “a challenge” to a “partner” in the eyes of the United
States. <em>The New York Times</em>’s cartoon showing India as the
elephant stopping the Paris train in its tracks was not an exaggeration
of the Indian position at the time of the beginning of the Paris
conference. Subsequently, it was after some high level persuasion that
India agreed to go along with the Paris agreement.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">T</span>he net effect of the Paris
agreement for India is a sense of resignation that we cannot gain much
from international cooperation either in the form of technology or
funding. Without any mandatory cuts, India could keep its own pace of
mitigation of climate change by moving away from fossil fuels in the
long term.<br />
We have already made a beginning by imposing a tax on the use of
coal, a measure that has not been taken by any of those who advocate
cuts on coal use.<br />
We lost the gains of Rio and Kyoto in Copenhagen and Paris, but it
would have been worse, if any mandatory restraints were imposed on our
green house gas emissions. That explains Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
comment that there are no winners or losers in Paris.<br />
We embraced the lesser evil of voluntary cuts for everyone rather than mandatory cuts for the main emitters, including India.<br />
<strong>T P Sreenivasan, <strong>a former Ambassador of India and Governor for India at the IAEA,</strong> was the lead negotiator of India on climate change and the Vice-Chairman of the COP between 1992 and 1995.</strong></div>
<span class="ht5 clear"></span><span class="grey1">T P Sreenivasan </span></div>
T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-90046618293856273362015-12-26T05:20:00.003-08:002015-12-26T05:20:50.002-08:00Thoughts on PM Modi's Surprise Visit to Lahore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Creating history for its own sake</h1>
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<div>
December 26, 2015 09:56 IST</div>
<div>
<b>'In
a relationship that does not permit cricket, how can the prime
ministers embrace and send a false message,' asks Ambassador T P
Sreenivasan.</b><br />
<img alt="Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, December 25, 2015." class="CToWUd a6T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj01lS89BKVODiZ24wNXqa_AIYNqaCeIldPlF_RTl34eeI8Mlr8puPmnn5Nbl163SiG40DXISDDn4znXz7DG8rS2pJhulFklaWqpefuONIoLW5rerTuilac4bFFcZJDQ6pQ1GFdOyB_hrPhFGjAvNI=s0-d-e1-ft" style="max-width: 670px;" tabindex="0" width="99%" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 300%;">B</span>reakfast in Moscow, lunch in
Kabul, evening tea in Lahore and dinner in Delhi are 'such stuff as
dreams are made on' for any statesman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
literally accomplished this feat. But his history making stop over in
Lahore, which had the least substance, dominated the news, robbing the
glow of Moscow and Kabul.<br />
Instead of celebrating the 16 pacts signed in Moscow, covering
defence, security, energy and trade and the pathbreaking address to the
Afghan parliament, the world went agog with birthday diplomacy with
Pakistan that created an unreal image of goodwill, camaraderie and
trust.<br />
A facade of friendship where it does not exist may do more harm than
good. A calibrated approach, reflecting the reality of the relationship
is the need of the times towards Pakistan. History has been created
without doing justice to the history of nearly seventy years.<br />
<span style="font-size: 300%;">E</span>ven the short public memory
will recall that the last time an Indian prime minister went to Lahore
on a goodwill mission to meet the same prime minister of Pakistan to
usher in peace ended in the Kargil conflict, causing fears of a nuclear
war.<br />
It was India's decision not to cross the Line of Control in
retaliation and the parleys by President Clinton on July 4, 1999 with
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Washington that prevented a
conflagration. Past history should be a guide even when efforts are made
to create history. George Santayana's warning that 'those who do not
learn history are doomed to repeat it' should not be forgotten.<br />
<span style="font-size: 300%;">I</span>ndia has already made
substantial concessions to Pakistan by agreeing to a 'comprehensive
dialogue' without insisting on progress on the trials of the planners
and perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.<br />
India and Pakistan have embarked on a dialogue process after the two
prime ministers famously whispered in Paris, the national security
advisers met on neutral grounds to avoid the sensitive issue of the
Hurriyat and a visit by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the
guise of attending a multilateral meeting on Afghanistan in Islamabad.
The foreign secretaries are set to meet in January 2016.<br />
Evidently, a meeting between the two prime ministers at this stage
may not have served any purpose. The prime minister's decision to drop
by in Lahore for a birthday bash was, therefore, prompted by a desire to
go down in history as an innovative statesman. The fact that he chose
the birthday of Jesus Christ, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Atal Bihari Vajpayee
and Nawaz Sharif in itself has earned him a place in history.<br />
<span style="font-size: 300%;">N</span>o effort has been made so far
to make out that the visit had any substance. It is the symbol that has
been stressed in official pronouncements. 'That's like a statesman. <i>Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen (This is how it should be with neighbours)</i>,'
the external affairs minister tweeted. She has forgotten that she
herself did not agree to the resumption of cricket between India and
Pakistan when she was in Islamabad.<br />
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In a relationship that does not permit cricket, how can the prime ministers embrace and send a false message?<br />
In fact, it is the message to the world that the two prime ministers
shaped by their Lahore meeting. Both of them are under pressure from the
US, the UK, France and now Russia to remain engaged, as they fear that
India and Pakistan have embarked on a nuclear arms race.<br />
Recent reports in the Western press have been highlighting the
nuclear danger on the sub-continent, with Pakistan developing tactical
nuclear weapons and India building thermonuclear weapons 'in secret.'<br />
A recurring theme in these stories is the lack of safeguards against
accidental use of nuclear weapons and the danger of their reaching the
wrong hands. With such existential threat in mind, they have been
weighing heavily on India and Pakistan to pursue peace.<br />
The Lahore embrace may have gladdened their hearts and made them feel
comfortable about arms sale and assistance to Pakistan. Prime Minister
Modi also had the compulsions of an image makeover in the context of the
most recent developments in India.<br />
<span style="font-size: 300%;">T</span>he reassertion of the
importance of Russia in India's development and the hazardous visit to
Afghanistan with the highly symbolic act of dedicating a temple of
democracy in that volatile country were more than enough to make his
most recent voyage memorable and meaningful. His speech in the Afghan
parliament was a masterpiece in itself.<br />
'Eight centuries ago, a famous son of Balkh province, one of the
greatest poets in human history, Jalaluddin Rumi, wrote, "Raise your
words, not your voice. It is rain that gives flowers, not thunder",'
Prime Minister Modi said in an unusually poetic speech without raising
his voice.<br />
It captured the long, heroic history of the Afghan people and the
bonds between India and Afghanistan. He had a gentle dig at Pakistan for
questioning India's presence in Afghanistan, including the mysterious
Indian consulates, which never existed. But it was soon followed by a
prediction that 'Pakistan will become a bridge between South Asia and
Afghanistan and beyond.' Many will find that ominous prediction fearful.<br />
<span style="font-size: 300%;">T</span>he Lahore visit has, if
anything, only detracted from the importance of Prime Minister Modi's
successes in Moscow and Kabul. If he had returned to India without a
detour to Lahore, the analysts today would have sung his praises as a
statesman and ace diplomat rather than speculate on his motivations for a
risky adventure.<br />
It is unimportant whether the visit was undertaken on the spur of the
moment or whether it was pre-planned. But diplomatic surprises are
often well choreographed.<br />
It is also not unusual for leaders to keep matters confidential for
reasons of security till the mission is accomplished. But since India
has a stake in Prime Minister Modi's success, we shall await with bated
breath the outcome of the birthday bash.<br />
<b>T P Sreenivasan -- (IFS 1967 a former Ambassador of India and
Governor for India of the IAEA -- is the Executive Vice-Chairman,
Kerala State Higher Education Council, Director General, Kerala
International Centre.</b></div>
<span></span><span>T P Sreenivasan</span></div>
T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-26124243191627327352015-12-11T08:17:00.000-08:002015-12-11T08:17:06.165-08:00This round goes to Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 class="arti_heading" itemprop="headline">
This round is for Pakistan</h1>
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December 11, 2015 11:33 IST</div>
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<strong>'One cannot escape the conclusion that Pakistan has won the Paris-Bangkok-Islamabad round.'</strong><br />
<strong>'To be able to resume the composite dialogue even by another
name without making any progress on the Mumbai attack trials is a dream
come true for Pakistan,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.</strong><br />
<strong><img alt="Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif" class="imgwidth" src="http://im.rediff.com/news/2014/nov/27modishake1.jpg" style="max-width: 670px; width: 670px;" width="99%" /></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">I</span>n the long and arduous
struggle with Pakistan, it is transient victories that matter, not the
final result, because no one knows what the ultimate result would be.<br />
Considered from such a perspective, one cannot escape the conclusion
that Pakistan has won the Paris-Bangkok-Islamabad round. To be able to
resume the 'composite dialogue' even by another name, 'Comprehensive
Bilateral Dialogue' without making any progress on the Mumbai attack
trials, except a pious assurance of an 'early completion of the Mumbai
trial' is a dream come true for Pakistan.<br />
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was under international pressure in
Paris to relent on his position that terrorism would be the only topic
of conversation with Pakistan till the conspirators and perpetrators of
the Mumbai attack were brought to book.<br />
The talk of disproportionate use of force from the Indian side and
the threat of using tactical nuclear weapons by Pakistan had alarmed the
US, the UK and France, who got together to nudge the Indian and
Pakistani prime ministers to resume the dialogue and that was possible
only if India did not insist that the talks would not include Kashmir.<br />
With that concession by India, Pakistan has succeeded in winning the
approbation of its Western patrons by appearing to be eminently
reasonable.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">R</span>esumption of the dialogue
without any concession on terrorism was their objective. Though it was a
sad commentary that the two neighbours had to go to Bangkok to hold the
talks, Pakistan promptly seized the opportunity.<br />
India's motives in making this concession are far from clear.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj could have visited Islamabad for
the Heart of Asia Conference without having to make any concession to
Pakistan.<br />
Enemies of the United States like Fidel Castro and Yasser Arafat
visited New York for UN conferences without budging on their policies to
the United States. As for the visit of the prime minister for the SAARC
conference, this was already announced.<br />
<span style="font-size: 300%;">W</span>hat was then the compulsion for India to rush to comprehensive talks?<br />
No one expects that Pakistan will abandon the 'core issue' of Kashmir
and agree on other matters, just as India cannot be expected to make
concessions on Kashmir. The logic of the dialogue is only that even
adversaries should remain in contact so that no nuclear weapons are
launched on any misunderstanding.<br />
Creating a facade of normalcy while firing continues on the border
and terrorists keep infiltrating into India will only hurt India. But it
helps Pakistan to get massive assistance from the West in the name of
resolving the Afghan situation.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">I</span>t is not insignificant that
there was no decision in Islamabad to hold a Pakistan-India cricket
match in Sri Lanka. Some partners of the ruling party are adamant that
sporting contacts are undesirable as long as terrorism goes unabated.<br />
But how will they accept a comprehensive dialogue, without any
concession from Pakistan? Is the cancellation of the cricket match
sufficient compensation for them to accept the dialogue?<br />
The fact that the two sides 'condemned terrorism and resolved to
cooperate to eliminate it' only blunts our pointed accusation that
Pakistan is engaged in terrorism across the border, while the terrorism
in Pakistan is home grown. The two cannot be equated, as was done in
Sharm el Sheikh to the consternation of Indian public opinion.<br />
Trade and commerce are said to be the underlying motive, now that the
prime ministers on both sides have an inborn trading instinct. But
Pakistan has used trade as a weapon in the past and will continue to do
so even if it hurts their interests.<br />
The compulsions of economic benefits have never been a factor in the
India-Pakistan narrative. It can become a factor only if powerful vested
interests get into the act. To expect trade to flourish in anticipation
of a political dialogue is to allow hope to triumph over experience.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">T</span>he second announcement of the
prime minister's participation at the SAARC meeting in Islamabad is also
fraught with danger, as I pointed out when the first announcement was
made.<br />
The future of SAARC is under a cloud, with the deterioration of our
relations with Nepal. If the problems with Nepal are not resolved by the
time of the SAARC summit, they will dominate the summit to the prime
minister's embarrassment.<br />
Moreover, Pakistan will push for China's admission to SAARC as the
host. This was a difficult issue during the Kathmandu summit as all
members, except India, were in favour of China's admission.<br />
The prime minister will face a Hobson's Choice of either acquiescing
in China's admission or facing the opprobrium of blocking it.<br />
Pakistan must guarantee the avoidance of such a situation before the
prime minister boards the plane for the Islamabad SAARC summit.<br />
<span style="font-size: 300%;">T</span>he headline that the ice has
been broken between India and Pakistan is a joke like the claim by a
smoker that he has stopped smoking several times. Why do we need to
break the ice again and again?<br />
If history is any guide, time will not be far before we would need to break the ice again.<br />
The resumption of the dialogue will only lead to further
recriminations and another freeze, followed by another melting of the
ice. A senior Indian negotiator told me in all seriousness once that the
good thing about resumption of the dialogue is that we can suspend them
when Pakistan launches another terrorist attack!<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/column/better-ties-with-pak-depends-on-this-sharif-not-the-other-one/20151210.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Better ties with Pak depends on this Sharif, not the other one</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/column/for-the-first-time-after-kargil-india-has-the-better-of-pakistan/20151208.htm" target="_blank"><strong>For the first time after Kargil, India has the better of Pakistan</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/column/pakistan-will-test-modis-sincerity/20151210.htm" target="new"><strong>Pakistan will test Modi's sincerity</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/column/the-burden-of-expectation-on-mrs-swaraj/20151209.htm" target="_blank"><strong>The burden of expectation on Mrs Swaraj</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/column/why-modi-government-engaged-pakistan-in-secrecy/20151207.htm"><strong>Why Modi government engaged Pakistan in secrecy</strong></a></strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>T P Sreenivasan is a former Ambassador of India and Governor
for India at the IAEA; Executive Vice-Chairman, Kerala State Higher
Education Council and Director General, Kerala International Centre.</strong></div>
<span class="ht5 clear"></span><span class="grey1">T P Sreenivasan </span>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-25914198190497025482015-12-07T20:39:00.002-08:002015-12-07T20:39:53.243-08:00Myanmar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h1 class="arti_heading" itemprop="headline">
A mysterious country that has baffled the world</h1>
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November 28, 2015 10:07 IST</div>
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<strong>'Ne Win kept good relations with the Nehru family even though he did nothing to do business with India.'</strong><br />
<strong>'When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Ne Win took off to an
undisclosed destination, leading to rumours that he had gone to India.'</strong><br />
<strong>'But we had no knowledge of his visit and days later, we were
told that he was so struck with grief that he went into meditation on
an island.'</strong><br />
<strong>Ambassador T P Sreenivasan on mysterious Myanmar.</strong><br />
<img alt="Myanmar" class="imgwidth" src="http://im.rediff.com/news/2015/nov/27pagoda.jpg" style="max-width: 670px; width: 670px;" width="99%" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">T</span>he designs in a kaleidoscope
change at every turn in most unpredictable ways. No design is permanent
and no two designs are the same. Such has been the fate of Burma, now
known by its ancient name, Myanmar.<br />
Even in the seventy years of independence, the design has changed
many times beyond recognition. It is again in a cusp of change, as the
world watches with bated breath.<br />
Aung San Su Kyi has already won a convincing victory and she believes
that she will lead the country, even if she cannot be president till a
constitutional amendment is made. One never knows whether another design
will unravel and throw the country into uncertainty again.<br />
If anyone wishes to gaze into the crystal ball and predict the
future, there is a pathfinder in the scholarly tome by Rajiv Bhatia, <em>India-Myanmar Relations. Changing Contours</em>
(Routledge). After years of living in Myanmar, studying it and
researching on it, he has attempted to decipher the several designs in
the kaleidoscope.<br />
His travels in Myanmar were not just on planes, but 'in the company
of a variety of thinkers, travellers, scholars, authors and leaders, who
studied, reflected and wrote about this country.'<br />
No wonder it has twelve pages of bibliography and forty pages of
notes, a testimony to the Herculean task he undertook to write the book.
The result is an authentic study of a mysterious country, which has
baffled the world.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">I</span> remember the shock treatment
that Burma gave to the Nonaligned Movement in Havana in 1979. Some time
in the middle of the night of the general debate, the Burmese foreign
minister was invited to speak after a lengthy speech by an African
leader.<br />
Normally, the rule in the Movement is that the smaller the country,
the longer the speech. Delegates went out for a walk or settled down to a
nap, thinking that Burma would have nothing to say.<br />
As the junior most delegate from India, I was glued to the earphone
not to miss the Burmese wisdom. What shook up everybody was that the
minister finished his speech in precisely three minutes.<br />
When he returned to his seat, everyone in the Indian delegation
turned to me to find out what he said. I told them that Burma had just
left the Movement as it had ceased to be of any value to Burma. He said
that Burma was too nonaligned to be in the Nonaligned Movement!<br />
The Movement took it in its stride and moved on till it came back to a
session in Bali asking for re-entry. Under direct instructions from the
prime minister, we blocked their return on the ground that the elected
leader was denied power.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">B</span>urma was, in 1979, in the
second of the four phases Bhatia has identified, first, the U Nu era,
second, the Ne Win Years, the third, the transition period and the
fourth, Than Shwe rule.<br />
Ne Win was in the same class as Pol Pot and Kim Il Sung in that he
reduced a fairly prosperous Burma into a bankrupt and isolated country
through his Burmese Way to Socialism.<br />
Golf was the only effective diplomatic instrument at that time as the
golf course was the only place where we could speak to the Burmese
officials. It was a good alibi for me to take lessons in golf, which
turned out to be a passion in later years.<br />
Every year, diplomats were invited to the special army golf course,
where Ne Win played. The Burmese repeated their golf jokes and laughed
loudly on the 19th hole, giving an impression of camaraderie, but
without any business being transacted.<br />
'My wife is my handicap!' was the most popular golf joke in Burma!<br />
Ne Win's actions, which led to an exodus of nearly 100,000 people of
Indian origin during 1963-1964, are covered in the book. Since then, it
was an uneasy calm without substance in India-Burma relations during my
time (1983-1986) and all our efforts to give some content was rebuffed.<br />
We imported rice from Burma to please them, the commerce secretary
visited Burma, we flooded Rangoon with cultural programmes to which the
local Indians and Burmese came in large numbers, but the relations
remained static.<br />
The diplomatic community kept itself amused by golf and staging of plays like <em>Charlie's Aunt</em> and <em>The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew</em>
in the British embassy. About forty Burmese families, who were assigned
to enjoy diplomatic hospitality, filled our parties to add the local
touch.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">A</span>s Bhatia has noted, Ne Win
kept good relations with the Nehru family even though he did nothing to
do business with India. When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Ne Win took
off to an undisclosed destination, leading to rumours that he had gone
to India. But we had no knowledge of his visit and days later, we were
told that he was so struck with grief that he went into meditation on an
island.<br />
Then came the indication that he wanted to visit Delhi to express his
condolences to Rajiv Gandhi and family. He was very warm and
affectionate to Rajiv Gandhi and told him that as his 'uncle,' he would
do everything possible to help him and raise the level of India-Burma
relations.<br />
On my return after the Ne Win visit to Delhi, I spoke with optimism
about a new phase in bilateral relations to the diplomatic corps and the
press.<br />
My joy was short lived as the initiatives I took after Ne Win's visit
were rebuffed as before. His policy of dealing only with 'third
countries' (other than big powers and neighbours) continued with the
exception of China, which built up its contacts with generous gifts and
the support of the Burmese Communists.<br />
The military dominated kaleidoscope had remained unchanged when I left Burma in 1986 for a more exciting time in Fiji.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">I</span> remember discussing Burma
with the then prime minister of Fiji, Ratu Mara. He was astonished that
the people of Burma had lived under authoritarianism except for a little
trouble when the body of U Thant, the secretary-general of the United
Nations, was brought to Rangoon.<br />
I thought aloud that it could be because Buddhism might have given
the people a sense of resignation to their fate. Ratu Mara suddenly
perked up and said to me conspiratorially, 'Why don't you take back all
these Hindus from Fiji and send me some Buddhists?' My reaction was a
grim smile.<br />
Bhatia is at his best when he describes the state of affairs in
Burma, Myanmar now, when he was in Rangoon, now Yangon. The years
between 1987 and 1992 have been characterised as transition years, but
they were the years of uncertainty, violence and efforts of the army to
present acceptable faces after Ne Win resigned.<br />
India was totally opposed to the military government, which forced
the military leader to observe, according to Bhatia, that 'India took a
very hard line position against the military government, perhaps the
hardest line anywhere in the world.'<br />
After the advent of Than Shwe rule, the same P V Narasimha Rao, who
blocked Myanmar from re-entering the Nonaligned Movement, decided to
start a constructive engagement policy with Yangon.<br />
The author himself steered the new policy as ambassador and the book
has the details that no one else could have. The book contains a
blow-by-blow account of the events in India-Myanmar relations, leading
to a new understanding with the junta, with the reluctant acceptance of
Aung San Suu Kyi.<br />
Incidentally, her sojourn in Bhutan had coincided with mine and I did
not see any indication of her steely determination at that time.<br />
<span style="font-size: 36px;">T</span>he complex India-Myanmar-China
triangle is adequately covered in the book. Though the general
perception is that it is a zero sum game, the author argues that this
need not be so.<br />
He is over optimistic about Myanmar seeking diversity in relations by
cultivating India and believes that the new Chinese initiatives in the
region will reduce the impact of the China factor and provide new
opportunities for the three countries. Given the adversarial Chinese
position towards India, I would not endorse the author's view.<br />
The state of the remaining people of Indian origin, particularly the
farmers, who were requested to stay back when the others left, is a
matter of shame.<br />
The author speaks of their warmth towards the Indian ambassador, but
not about their grievances. They are virtually State-less and treated as
foreigners. They cannot eat even the rice they themselves produce as it
is taken away. India generally closes its eyes to the problem to avoid
an irritant in bilateral relations.<br />
As was said about Milton's <em>Paradise Lost</em>, Bhatia's scholarly
work has to be read as a duty rather than as a pleasure, because the
ordinary reader has to steer clear of the mountains of information that
come in the way of a smooth passage through the text.<br />
But his admiration for the country is based on his deep understanding
of it, which he shares with the readers. When the Myanmar kaleidoscope
turns again and a new image appears, we will certainly go back to the
book for the insights contained in it to decipher it.<br />
<strong>IMAGE: People walk around the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters</strong><br />
<strong>T P Sreenivasan is a former Ambassador of India and Governor
for India at the IAEA; Executive Vice-Chairman, Kerala State Higher
Education Council and Director General, Kerala International Centre.</strong></div>
<span class="ht5 clear"></span><span class="grey1">T P Sreenivasan </span></div>
T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-49020917687187617042015-11-04T06:58:00.001-08:002015-11-04T06:58:21.632-08:00Salesmanship as Statesmanship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Salesmanship as statesmanship</h1>
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<img alt="A screen displays PM Modi’s speech at Madison Square Garden in New York recently. A close study of the choice of countries Mr. Modi has visited and the speeches he has made would reveal that his strategy is that of a pragmatic businessman who will make deals for his benefit, but the moment the profit dwindles, he will go in search of new clients." src="http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/02599/Modi_FP_2599153g.jpg" title="A screen displays PM Modi’s speech at Madison Square Garden in New York recently. A close study of the choice of countries Mr. Modi has visited and the speeches he has made would reveal that his strategy is that of a pragmatic businessman who will make deals for his benefit, but the moment the profit dwindles, he will go in search of new clients." width="551" />
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A screen displays PM Modi’s speech at Madison Square Garden in New York
recently. A close study of the choice of countries Mr. Modi has visited
and the speeches he has made would reveal that his strategy is that of a
pragmatic businessman who will make deals for his benefit, but the
moment the profit dwindles, he will go in search of new clients.
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<div class="articleLead">
<h2>
From non-alignment, under which India acted without any specific
agenda for itself, we have reached a stage of pragmatic alignment, where
we view relationships through the prism of ‘profits’. Can a foreign
policy solely based on perceived returns, without a global vision, be
beneficial in the long run?</h2>
</div>
<div class="body">
To characterise the foreign policy of the most peripatetic Indian Prime
Minister as ‘nationalist’ may appear contradictory. The popular demand
today is that he should be in India more often, to deal with the crying
needs of the country. He is selective in his eloquence on domestic
issues, but he is opening out his heart to <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/specials/narendra-modis-foreign-trips/article7677038.ece">foreign audiences</a>.
He is seen more in the company of foreign leaders, not only political
leaders, but also leaders in technology, finance and economics. But the
core of his agenda is domestic, not international. His <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/modi-set-to-travel-60000-km-in-30-days/article7766970.ece?ref=relatedNews">arena is international</a>, but his concerns are domestic. </div>
<div class="body">
The transformation of India’s foreign policy from an ‘internationalist’
one to a ‘nationalist’ one may well have begun after Jawaharlal Nehru
and V.K. Krishna Menon. Domestic preoccupations were brought to centre
stage, though the old tradition of engagement in world affairs remained
alive. The torrent of international issues — such as the conflicts in
Indo-China and Korea, the Suez Canal crisis and even the conflict in
Austria — in all of which India played a role without any specific
agenda for itself, became a trickle. </div>
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T. P. Sreenivasan
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<div class="body">
Perhaps our early day interventions happened because of the activism of
the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which pronounced itself on every major
international issue in its declarations. By shaping those
pronouncements, mainly by balancing and moderating them, India found
fulfilment in playing its international role. It did not find it
necessary to take initiatives to resolve disputes or avert conflicts,
except in its own neighbourhood. Our insistence on bilateralism in
resolving issues may also have been an inhibiting factor. </div>
<div class="body">
<b>From international to regional</b><br />
<br />
In the post-Cold War era, India’s internationalism began to be confined
to regional and other groupings, most of them economic. Concerns about
the protection of the global commons, such as the environment, assumed
importance. We began looking at protecting our own interests, taking
positions like ‘no mandatory reduction of green house gases for the
developing countries’. We realised that our interests coincided with
those of the great powers and the large developing countries like Brazil
and even China. Copenhagen was a real turning point in our environment
policy when we virtually disowned the Kyoto Protocol except in name. Our
nuclear tests in 1998 and the subsequent nuclear deal with the United
States left India with no like-minded countries in disarmament. It was
the arm-twisting by the U.S. that made the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
provide us an exemption. </div>
<div class="body">
<b>UNSC membership</b><br />
<br />
We had earlier used the non-aligned position that only non-permanent
membership should be increased until comprehensive reform is
accomplished, just to thwart the U.S. sponsored quick fix solution of
Germany and Japan being made Permanent Members. However, we then moved
on to the G-4 initiative — under which India, Brazil, Japan and Germany
would seek permanent membership — which has very few takers among the
small developing countries. The G-77 virtually disappeared from many
forums because India’s leadership in it withered away. </div>
<div class="body">
India continued to take a <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/g20-endorses-indias-stance/article6606027.ece">global view in G-20 </a>and
the World Trade Organization (WTO), primarily because of the reputation
of Dr. Manmohan Singh as an economic guru, even for Barack Obama. Dr.
Manmohan Singh’s withdrawal from the international arena and his close
relationship with the U.S. in India’s interests changed the Nehruvian
view that India’s dreams coincided with the world’s dreams. During our
last term at the U.N. Security Council, India seemed to be in a dilemma
as to whether we should work with the nonaligned caucus or plough a
lonely furrow; we ended up in flip-flops. Both the Permanent Members and
the nonaligned caucus found our term a mixed blessing. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 30px;">
“</span>A study of Prime Minister Modi’s visits and speeches reveals
that his strategy is that of a businessman, one who makes deals only for
benefits. His neighbourhood policy is an example <span style="font-size: 30px;">”</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="body">
Mr. Modi’s surprise initiatives in foreign policy from day one seemed to
project him as an internationalist. As Raja Mohan summarised in his
book <i>Modi’s World</i>, “he warmed up to America, recast the approach
to China and Pakistan, sustained the old friendship with Russia,
deepened the strategic partnership with Japan and Australia, boosted
India’s neighbourhood policy, wooed international business leaders and
reconnected with the Indian diaspora.” </div>
<div class="body">
We could add to this his championship of the <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/modi-presses-for-unsc-reforms-at-g4-summit/article7692668.ece">reform of the Security Council</a>;
his stress on the environment; and him taking initiatives on getting
closer to France, Germany, Canada, the island states and now Africa. But
the change is not only in style and eloquence, but in turning Indian
foreign policy inward. He has abandoned internationalism, genuine in the
case of some of his predecessors and a cloak in the case of some
others. In any relationship, the litmus test now is: what India can gain
for itself, not what India can contribute to the humanity. </div>
<div class="body">
Focusing on national interests in formulating foreign policy is
fundamental for all countries. But turning statesmanship to salesmanship
is a new phenomenon in Indian foreign policy. Our tradition has been to
provide leadership to the world, not to demand it as our right, as Mr.
Modi did in the case of the permanent membership of the Security
Council. Speaking of our eminent qualifications is one thing, but
claiming it as a right may drive our supporters away. Our case was that
we were willing to serve on the Council to restore the balance there and
to make it more relevant, not to claim membership as a right to protect
our interests. Even the Permanent Members never claim that they have a
right to be there. </div>
<div class="body">
A close study of the choice of countries Mr. Modi has visited and the
speeches he has made would reveal that his strategy is that of a
pragmatic businessman who will make deals for his benefit, but the
moment the profit dwindles, he will go in search of new clients. His
neighbourhood policy is a case in point. He started off with the
ambition to remove poverty in South Asia through a <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/modi-talks-about-closer-south-asian-integrationat-saarc-summit/article6636029.ece">renewed South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation</a>
(SAARC), but soon discovered the perfidy of Pakistan. He persisted for a
while as India had much to gain from a transformation in India-Pakistan
relations. However, SAARC is no longer a priority in his development
agenda. Nepal is another case where his hopes were belied. Remember the
cordiality and the oneness he projected with Nepal in the name of the
eternal values the two countries shared? However, today, he has
virtually imposed an embargo on Nepal for not listening to our advice.
Indira Gandhi did the same once, but she had explained repeatedly to the
international community the rationale for her actions and had restored
normalcy after a while. The world will watch our policies and make
conclusions on our reliability and statesmanship. </div>
<div class="body">
<b>Misplaced notion of grandeur</b><br />
<br />
The common elements in Mr. Modi’s speeches abroad can be clearly
identified. First and foremost, it is the grandeur of India and his own
role as its man of destiny. Second, he claims that things have changed
dramatically since he took over and that India is now ready to receive
investments and recognition as a global player. He feels the world has a
stake in India’s development and security and that it is imperative for
other countries to work with India. </div>
<div class="body">
He does not offer any specific concessions but expects the others to
respond to his initiatives for their own benefit. According to him, ‘<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/opinion-on-make-in-india-campaign/article6736040.ece">Make in India</a>’ and ‘<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/business/budget/modi-moulding-digital-india/article6204247.ece">Digital India</a>’
are opportunities for the world to promote India and derive benefits
for themselves. In other words, the logic is one applied to a honest
business in which every partner makes profit. </div>
<div class="body">
Statesmanship demands every national leader to have a global vision — he
should place his country in the larger context of the well-being of the
mankind. In Mr. Modi’s case, India is at the centre of the world. In
his speeches at the UN, he claims that what the UN does today was
anticipated by India long ago. If India considers the Earth as the
mother and calls the whole world a family, it has nothing to learn from
sustainable goals, so meticulously put together by other nations. </div>
<div class="body">
Mr. Modi raised the reform of the Security Council even in the
sustainable development session, without saying what India would do as a
Permanent Member for the world. His sticking his neck out on this
issue, when there is little hope of progress in the near future, seems
ill-informed at best. Similarly, he did not seem to notice that the
Presidents of the U.S. and China were grappling with the problems of too
much connectivity at the very moment he was<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/modi-charms-silicon-valley-with-oneliners/article7694624.ece"> selling ‘Digital India’ to the Silicon Valley.</a>
Mr. Modi also seems to take the diaspora’s loyalty for granted and
expects the Indian community abroad to extend support to him at all
times. History has taught us that the diaspora can be critical of India
on occasions. The very people who supported the nuclear tests and the
nuclear deal were critical when the deal appeared to fall through.
Recent events in India have already sparked adverse reactions from them.
In Dubai, they were disappointed that their issues were not addressed
directly by the Prime Minister. </div>
<div class="body">
Whether or not a foreign policy which is premised on seeking advantages
for India — without projecting a grand vision for the world —will
benefit India, only time will tell. However, for an India that had once
taken greater pride in giving to the world than taking from it, Mr.
Modi’s foreign policy is strikingly new. </div>
<i>(T.P. Sreenivasan is a former Ambassador of India and a former Permanent Representative at the United Nations)</i></div>
T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-30578583531428133332015-11-04T06:52:00.006-08:002015-11-04T06:52:59.797-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h3 class="cat">
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/tag/education/923/"> education</a> </h3>
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<div class="articleLead">
<h2>
The New Education Policy won’t work unless a completely new system
of education is devised. Only then can India benefit from the
demographic dividend of the 21st century </h2>
</div>
<div class="body">
The Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities, Furqan
Qamar, compared the shibboleths in education to the belief in some sects
that cats should be present at meditation sessions. It turned out that
the practice of keeping cats came into being when a certain guru allowed
a cat he was fond of to stay by his side while he meditated, and his
followers came to believe that the presence of the feline was mandatory.
The practice continued until a guru, allergic to cats, wanted to shoo
it away. But the traditionalists insisted that the cat must stay and no
one could get rid of it. Mr. Qamar, at a session on “Ranking of
Institutions and Accreditation” at the National Assessment and
Accreditation Council (NAAC) consultations on the New Education Policy
(NEP), expressed the hope that the consultations would lead to the
elimination of the many cats which had crept into education.
</div>
<div class="body">
<img src="http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/archive/02590/20th_sreenivasan_j_2590984a.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" width="100px" />
Successive speakers repeated the cat image but at the end of the day, we
found not only that the cats stayed on, but that another litter was on
its way. The conservative educationists are extremely reluctant to move
away from fixed ideas and practices. As in other established
enterprises, innovation is hard in education, since it will affect a
whole new generation, and may be expensive and risky. But unless we
eschew shibboleths and move with the times, the NEP will be old wine in
an old bottle.
</div>
<div class="body">
<b>Themes and questions</b><br />
<br />
The NEP is meant to replace the Education Policy, which was formulated
in 1986 and amended in 1992. Twenty themes have been identified for
discussion in higher education: ten of them at the grassroots level and
ten at the State level. In addition, major regulatory organisations and
voluntary bodies have been asked to hold consultations on some of these
themes. But the themes and questions framed do not go beyond the surface
in many cases. From Swami Vivekananda to Amritanandamayi, Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan to Sam Pitroda… they all have pronounced on education and
nothing more can be said. What we need is a new action plan to devise a
new system of education, without which our graduates will not be able to
benefit from the demographic dividend of the 21st century.
</div>
<div class="body">
The Bengaluru meeting dealt with only one theme, Rankings and
Accreditation. Things went back to square one after a day of
deliberations. A methodology for a ranking framework had already been
announced for engineering and management institutions, and the meeting
meekly asked for such a framework for other institutions too. The
methodology of ranking by foreign agencies, which had reluctantly put a
couple of Indian higher education institutions in the list of 200
world-class institutions this year, was criticised, but no formula was
found that would help Indian universities become world class. Nobody
seemed bothered about the state of affairs, though the lament until
recently was that Indian institutions were below 200 in the rankings.
Our ranking framework is expected to create an impact internationally.
</div>
<div class="body">
<b>Status quo in accreditation</b><br />
<br />
Accreditation was another issue on which the meeting decided to stick to
the status quo. Everyone agreed that the backlog of unaccredited
institutions could not be cleared by the NAAC, and that multiple
agencies are needed. But again, there was no inclination to even
experiment with State or private agencies. The fear was that such
agencies would become partial and corrupt, a charge from which the NAAC
itself has not escaped. The recent expansion of NAAC was noted with
satisfaction, and it was decided that statistics about unaccredited
institutions will be collected.
</div>
<div class="body">
In Kerala, even reforms that have been accepted in the rest of India are
facing adamant opposition. Even after the new autonomous colleges have
shown potential, fears and suspicions cloud the horizon. While everyone
concedes that private universities will bring in much-needed investment
and a new range of universities, scepticism prevails about their misuse
even after the draft legislation is riddled with conditionalities.
</div>
<div class="body">
Most States seem to have completed their grass roots consultations on
NEP, and now regional and national consultations are scheduled. But the
indications are that much will remain unchanged, unless the government
takes bold decisions outside the given themes. Many are stressing
secularism, justice and the spirit of enquiry for fear that the purpose
of the current exercise may be the saffronisation of education.
</div>
<div class="body">
The government would do well to pull out some of the bills pending in
Parliament such as the final shape of regulatory bodies and the policy
on operation of foreign universities in India. Talk of
internationalisation sounds hollow without a positive policy on foreign
universities. Many universities are said to be waiting in the wings to
enter India. Unless a policy is laid down immediately on foreign
universities, internationalisation will pass us by.
</div>
<div class="body">
The Rashtriya Uchchatar Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a mission which was
announced with fanfare by the previous government to provide massive
financing to State universities, appears to be in ruins today. One of
the primary purposes of RUSA was to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio.
Innovative proposals, invited on a competitive basis, were discarded in
favour of routine infrastructure improvement. The allocation is a case
of too little too late. The whole process is still in the grip of the
bureaucracy.
</div>
<div class="body">
The expectations raised by the current national consultations on the NEP
will be belied if the shibboleths in the educational system are not
discarded. What we need is a revolution, not tinkering with the existing
system.
</div>
<i>(T.P.Sreenivasan, a former ambassador, is the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council</i></div>
T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-21434189621922198562015-10-17T20:02:00.004-07:002015-10-17T20:02:55.577-07:00Archbishop Mar Gregorios Lecture at the Vatican<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Memorial
Lecture on ‘Archbishop Mar Gregorios: His Vision and Contributions to Social
Development and Secularism in India.’ at the Vatican Oct 17, 2015</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your
Beatitude Mar George Cardinal Alamchery,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your
Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Representative of HH the Pope,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your
Beatitude Mar Baselios Cardinal Cleemis,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your
Excellencies, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brothers
and Sisters,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am here on a pilgrimage to one of the holiest of holy places, as desired by His
Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos. I consider myself doubly
blessed that this pilgrimage is to pay a tribute to Archbishop Benedict Mar
Gregorios, who touched my life in many different ways. I have been a
beneficiary of his vision and his contributions to social development,
particularly education, and secularism in India.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Archbishop
Mar Gregorios gave me my first ever employment in the Mar Ivanios College, of
which he was the Patron, and gave me my first pay check. It was there that I
met my bride and married her with his blessings. When I embarked on my Foreign
Service career, he gifted me a fountain pen “to make peace, not war”, which is
one of my prized possessions even today. My close association with the
Malankara Syrian Catholic Church and the Mar Ivanios Institutions continues
till today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
birth centenary of Archbishop Mar Gregorios has coincided with the period that
His Holiness the Pope has dedicated to the great souls of the Catholic Church
and it is in this context that we remember him today. This commemoration also
coincides with the historic synod at which the church is looking at the kind of
issues that Mar Gregorios grappled with in the past. As a worthy successor to
Archbishop Mar Ivanios, who led a congregation of Christians to return to the
fold of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Mar Gregorios has made a great
contribution to the international Catholic Community. But my topic today is not
his spiritual attainments, but his vision of a prosperous and secular India and
his personal contributions to bring it about. The ultimate objectives of his
prayers, love and sacrifice were for the good of the human kind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secularism
in any individual depends on how strong his faith is in his own religion,
because every religion teaches tolerance, brotherhood and love. Fundamentalism
and obscurantism drive people away from the roots of their religions and
alienate them from the one God that every religion expects us to worship. In
the case of Archbishop Mar Gregorios, secularism was fundamental to his faith
and commitment to Christianity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
Kerala, we take pride in the fact that Indians embraced Christianity long
before Europe did. We welcomed every civilization and every religion, as we
discovered that none of them contradicted the basic concept of “Vasudhaiva
Kudumbakam” (The whole world is a family) The Indian way of life, named
Hinduism, was enriched rather than diluted by the waves of thoughts that came
to our shores.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Archbishop
Mar Gregorios belonged to the “Sannyasin” or ascetic order of the Malankara
Church, which followed in letter and spirit the words of the Bhagavad Gita,
“One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is
obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic: not he
who lights no fire and performs no work.” While many Hindus saw “Sannyas” as
the last of the four age based stages of life, namely, Brahmacharya (student)
Grihasthasrama (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyas (renunciation),
the Bedhany Ashram founded by Mar Ivanios went from “Brahmacharya” to “Sannyas”
and the Mar Gregorian thought transformed “Sannyas” from a period of
introspection and meditation into a period of action in the service of the
Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Steeped
in the history and culture of India, symbolized in the ochre robe he wore, Mar
Gregorios did not consider Christianity to be alien to the land he belonged to.
The land where he was born and chose as his sphere of activity shaped his life
as much as his Christian thought. Secularism, therefore, was an integral part
of the Gregorian way of life. His life was that of a “Karma Yogi” envisaged in
the Gita and the Upanishads. More than tolerance of other religions and faiths,
he integrated them into his own faith and way of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Even
in societies, in which secularism and freedom of expression are guaranteed, it
is possible to have frictions arising out of a sense of offence caused by
different religious beliefs and practices. On occasions, such a feeling of
offence, whether real or imaginary, erupts into conflicts and violence. Mar
Gregorios not only condemned such tendencies, but also stepped in to smoothen
the feathers in his own inimitable manner and restored peace and harmony. It
was not in his nature to tolerate violence and bloodshed. He directly
intervened in some of the communal conflicts in and around Trivandrum and succeeded
in bringing the communities together again. His secular credentials were such
that his opinion was respected by every community. No wonder the former
President of India, Mr.K.R.Narayanan, characterized him as the symbol of
secularism in India. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Secularism
for him was not just a matter of religion. As the salt of the earth and light
of the world, his compassion and love were not confined to any particular
section of the people. He believed that, like Jesus Christ, the Buddha, Gandhi
and Narayana Guru and many others, his mission was to wipe every tear from
every eye. His vision was to eradicate poverty, hunger and disease from the
face of the earth, which led to his sustainable development agenda. He used his
own hands to plough the land and to sow the seeds. Fifty years ago he spoke and
worked like His Holiness Pope Francis does today. He came down to the people,
worked with them in every area of development and introduced a new culture of
service of the poor as the service of the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Education
was a vocation he loved and embellished. Teaching came natural to him. As a
teacher and Principal of Mar Ivanios College, he built a first rate institution
which continues to be a model for private public participation. He built
several new institutions, beginning with kindergartens to higher education,
including technical and vocational programmes. He introduced skills development
in education, which has now become a national priority. He saw education as
integral to the development of the soul and body and as a resource to find
solutions to the problems of the society and to make life meaningful, noble and
purposeful. Like Narayana Guru, he gave attention to the head, the heart and
the hand in his educational endeavors. He stressed the need for education to
change with the times and to use the most modern teaching methodologies and
technology. His contribution to liberate education from political interference,
corruption and indiscipline is of equal significance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
my current efforts to reform higher education in Kerala, I am inspired by the
Gregorian concept of education as the tool for nation building. The beginnings
he made in making education an instrument of social change can be seen in the
educational institutions he built. Many years before the IT revolution, he
introduced technology-based education. He saw skil development as one of the
essential components of education and demonstrated how to build a holistic
education system. When the Oommen Chandy Government created autonomous Colleges
in Kerala for the first time in history, the Mar Ivanios College was one
of the first to be selected as it met all the criteria stipulated by the
University Grants Commission for conferring autonomy. He had introduced many
reforms in higher education, which we see today as the integral part of an
education for the twenty first century.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
a trained economist, his focus was on planning and development of every sector.
He saw the linkage between knowledge and environment when the awareness of the
need for environmental protection was non-existent in education. His attention
turned to farming, not just as a means of providing livelihood to people, but
as restoring ecological balance. His constant quest was for new trees and
plants wherever he went and he brought seedlings of rare trees from as far away
as the United States and popularized them in the villages of Kerala. In his
scheme of sustainable development, education, agriculture, industry and trade
were equally important and he considered them as part of his mission in the
service of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Science
was very much a part of religion for the Archbishop. Nature was his laboratory
and he brought in the most modern scientific techniques In horticulture,
fisheries, sericulture and others. Low cost housing was a passion for him and
he discovered the genius of Laurie Baker, who brought in innovative housing,
which adorns Kerala today. He inspired a new generation of architects who cared
for the environment and maximized the blessings of the Kerala climate in
affordable dwelling units.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
industrial units he set up provided jobs for the poor, particularly women and
opened new frontiers of production and export. He discovered the potential of
the garment industry long before India developed textiles as a major export
under the facilities opened up by the World Trade Organisation. Every activity
for sustainable and holistic development was part of his development agenda,
which enriched the educational, scientific, agricultural, industrial, and
commercial fields in Kerala and provided a model to the rest of India.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
encapsulate the multifaceted genius and the veritable rainbow of
activities of Archbishop Mar Gregorios is no easy task. An enlightened
spiritual leader, an embodiment of secularism and Indian culture, a practical
economist, an outstanding educationist, a modern agriculturist, an innovative
entrepreneur, a compassionate healer, an eminent linguist and a perfect human
being, he defies all definitions. In my view, he should be remembered as a
Karma Yogi, who gave a new meaning to renunciation and priesthood. In his own
words, “Priests are not mere worshippers of God. They are committed to convey
the grandeur of God to all creations and to bring them closer to the Almighty.
A man, who lives a full life in the service of God is a gift from God.”
We should be grateful to God for giving such a gift to us in the person
of Archbishop Mar Gregorios, who gave us his love in abundance and enriched our
lives. We are fortunate to have seen his life and work. Future generations will
scarcely believe that one person has accomplished so much in one lifetime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank
you.</span></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19623153.post-91378255513304152732015-10-11T06:10:00.002-07:002015-10-11T06:10:43.725-07:00Soft Power: India-Gulf Education and Cultural Ties<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Soft Power—India-Gulf Educational and Cultural Ties</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Mr.Chairman, (Ambassador Talmiz Ahmed),</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Chancellor of the University,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Fellow
Panelists,</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Ladies
and Gentlemen,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">I
thank the leaders of Symbiosis International University for inviting me
to this Conference. I suspect that I have been invited because I live
in Kerala, the state, which has been touched most by the Gulf, in
ancient and in modern times. Since I am in education in Kerala, I
linkages with the education scene in the Gulf. Yet another affinity I
have is that my younger brother, T.P.Seetharam, is the Indian Ambassador
to the UAE. Of course, I must add that what I say will be on my own
responsibility and should not be attributed to him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";"></span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Months
after this Conference was planned, much after I accepted your invitation to
make a presentation on the influence of India’s soft power in the Gulf, a game
changing visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place to one of the leading
countries in the Gulf. It transformed not only India’s relations with the UAE,
but also sent waves across the Arab world. It appeared as though the Symbiosis
International University had the wisdom and the foresight to anticipate those
developments. That is how this Conference has become celebratory, rather than
speculative. Today, we can speak with greater confidence about the potential
for India-Gulf partnership. We can assert that age-old cultural ties can
blossom into mutually beneficial links at critical times.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">The
very fact that we characterize India-Gulf relations today as “Link West” tells
the story of the times. The word, “West” so far meant the lands farther west of
West Asia. This is not the first time that we are looking west. The problem was
that both India and the Gulf were looking west and, therefore, we hardly saw
each other. When we began to see each other, we discovered the immense
possibilities of employment for Indians in the Gulf, which transformed the
skyline of the entire region. The inclement weather and other hardships did not
deter the Indians from making flowers bloom in the desert. The Gulf, in turn,
welcomed them with open arms and the wages they earned and their remittances
transformed the Indian economy.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Indian
cultural contacts date back centuries and continue with intensity today. These
will only increase in the future, regardless of the political and economic
future of India and the Gulf. For thirty years or more, the skilled and semi
skilled Indians served the Gulf countries with devotion. They were able to mix
with the local community because of the freedom they enjoyed for cultural
exchanges and worship. Indian habits and customs were familiar in these
countries because of the interactions of the past. Many Indian workers spoke
Arabic even before they went to the Gulf and it was not long after that the
Arabs began speaking in Hindi and Malayalam, which their forefathers had brought
back from their voyages to the east. Indians in the Gulf invited their
employers and friends to India to savor the salubrious weather of the Kerala
coast and to rejuvenate them with Ayurvedic treatment.</span><span style="font-family: Times;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">No wonder that these complementarities made the Gulf home to
7 million Indians and remittances exceeded 35 billion dollars a year. I come
from Kerala, where no one has remained untouched by the two way Gulf wave.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">The
seven Emirates that formed the UAE in 1971 have for long had close
interaction with the west coast of India with Bombay, Pune, Gujarat, Malabar
being main points of interaction. Pearls, dates and salted fish were exported
to India and almost all their needs from food items to textiles and furniture
coming from India. Sheikh Zayed's palace in Al Ain, now a museum is full of
Indian furniture and textiles. Young men would offer "the finest silks of
India" when seeking brides. Indian sword was a priced possession. Families
were sent to Bombay for holiday and shopping when the menfolk were busy at sea
during the pearl diving season. Miraj near Pune was a popular destination for
medical care. Wood and coir to make boats and boats themselves came from the
Malabar Coast. Indian food, spices and oudh (perfumes) became essential
elements of daily life in the Gulf. Indian merchants dominated trade in the
gulf, while teachers, doctors, accountants and professionals from India were
pioneering service providers as lifestyle changed from that of wandering as
Bedouins to a settled urban living.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">With
television came Bollywood dubbed into Arabic with a large fan following every
gossip in the life of actors on and off screen. Urdu, Hindi and Malayalam are
spoken specially by those of the older generation. Cricket infrastructure has
come up in Sharjah, Dubai and even in Abu Dhabi to attract matches between the
teams of the subcontinent. No event attracts more people in these cities than
an India-Pakistan cricket match.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Indian
associations and community organizations flourish and compete with each other
in bringing classical, folk and cinematic events to the Gulf as corporate
sponsorship is easy to mobilize. Pandit Jasraj, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Amjad
Ali Khan, Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Kathak, Mammooty, Mohanlal, all attract huge
audiences. Abu Dhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority is currently hosting the
Indian Symphony Orchestra of Mumbai, Gulzar rendering Rabindra Sangeeth and a
reputed Kathak group for a predominantly Emirati audience at ticketed
events at the prestigious Emirates Palace. Contemporary Indian artists are
featured prominently at art exhibitions. The Abu Dhabi branch of the Louvre has
already acquired an antique Nataraja statue from a museum in Australia and
a large Indian miniature paintings collection that belonged to James Ivory of
the 'Merchant-Ivory' fame. Onam is celebrated on every Friday from August to
November in some part or other of the Gulf with more fanfare and
colour than in Kerala. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Several
Indian newspapers and journals are printed and distributed in the Gulf and
local newspapers have large sections of news from India. In some countries,
Indians outnumber the local populations, but they are not disruptive of the
political or cultural milieu of those countries. Just as Indian restaurants
flourish there, Arab food is much sought after in Kerala today.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">As
the people to people contacts grew, so did trade relations. GCC is the biggest
trading partner of India today and it provides half of India’s oil
requirements. For India, Gulf is a bigger market for its goods than the
European Union today. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">India’s
principled support for Palestine was an anchor of India’s relations with the
Arab world right from the time of India’s independence. Yasser Arafat was
received in India several times as the head of state of Palestine, not just as
a freedom fighter. The sentiments of the OIC on Kashmir and the Muslim
community in India were tempered by the fact that India stood for justice for
the Palestinians throughout. India recognized Palestine as a state far ahead of
many others.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Even
with all these ingredients, India-Gulf relations did not become a strategic
partnership. It had to wait for the right moment when global power shifted from
the west to the east, the United States began disengaging from the region
because of its rapidly reducing dependence on Gulf oil, the menace of terrorism
and piracy demanded cooperation between India and the region and India’s
economic growth and keenness to seek investments impressed the Gulf community. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Prime
Minister Narendra Modi struck gold in the Gulf during his recent visit to the
UAE because of the firm foundations of traditional links and the imperatives of
cooperation, which emerged in recent times. He received a warm welcome by the
Crown Prince and his brothers at the Abu Dhabi airport, held cordial discussions
with them, visited the grand mosque, met Indian workers in a labor camp,
received the gift of a plot of land for a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi and issued
a historic Joint Statement with the Crown Prince. In Dubai, a 50,000 strong
audience heard an electrifying speech about his accomplishments and future
plans. Basking in the glory of a highly successful visit, Prime Minister Modi
wondered why no Indian Prime Minister had visited the UAE for 34 years, even
though there were 700 flights a week from India to the Gulf. He was implying
that the Governments were far behind the people in forging ties in the Gulf.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Modi
spoke at length at his Dubai oration on the implications of the new
understanding on terrorism, making it clear that the UAE had clearly sided with
the Indian view on terrorism as the two had decided to “coordinate efforts to
counter radicalization and misuse of religion by groups and countries for
inciting hatred, perpetrating and justifying terrorism or pursuing political
aims.” Though he did not mention Pakistan by name, he said that terrorism
as an instrument of policy stood condemned. The support to India’s proposed
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism was also significant, he
said. The main reason why the Convention ran into rough weather was the
argument by some Islamic countries that freedom fighters should not be deemed
terrorists by definition. With the new understanding of terrorism, there would
no more be “good Taliban and bad Taliban.” The establishment of a dialogue mechanism
between National Security Advisers and security agencies took anti-terrorism to
the level of defence cooperation, including regular exercises and training of
naval, air, land and Special Forces and in coastal defence. The UAE also
announced support for India’s quest for a permanent seat on the UN Security
Council. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">A
‘Dawn’ editorial remarked that the visit should be nothing less than a wake-up
call for Pakistan. Even more significantly, it said, "Lingering
territorial disputes are no longer the driving force behind foreign policy.
Instead, the foreign interests of states are now, more than ever before, viewed
through an economic lens. States can be rivals in one sphere and partners in
another.” The Indian initiative was noted with admiration as part of the
contemporary trend of playing on different chessboards at the same time.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">The
editorial called for maturity in Pakistan`s foreign policy and said that
"as a thaw with Iran opens up opportunities to the west, and the
possibility of building an economic partnership with India to the east --
however remote it might seem at the moment -- remains a viable foreign policy
goal. It`s time to emerge from the old world, and recognize the changes
happening in our region before it`s too late". The speculation was that
India had stepped into the UAE-Pakistan breach caused by Pakistan’s refusal to
send troops to the Yemen war. Some observers even complained that the UAE had
given a platform in Dubai for anti-Pakistan rhetoric.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Securing
a commitment of increased UAE investment in India was a greater challenge. But
Prime Minister Modi convinced them that India was emerging as the new frontier
of investment opportunities, especially with the new initiatives by the
Government to facilitate trade and investment. The UAE readily agreed to make
an immediate investment of USD 75 billion and to increase trade by 60%. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Prime
minister Modi’s Arab Odyssey was both a culmination of age-old ties and a
beginning of a new era. The ease with which an Islamic country related to a
person of Modi’s background and reputation was striking. The UAE rulers seemed
to care more about India’s future than about Modi’s past. The success of his
visit to the UAE was an instance of brand India having greater appeal than
brand Modi. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">I
dwelt at length on the visit of our Prime Minister to show how the soft power
of India played itself out in forging a strategic partnership in the Gulf. The
cultural and educational cooperation will also grow in the new dispensation.
India already has cultural and educational exchange programmes between India
and the Gulf. India is synonymous with education and a large number of Indian
schools have multiplied educational opportunities. Indian universities of
repute have campuses in the Gulf. Indian cultural centres attract not only the
Indian community, but also the local population. The Gulf has discovered the
vast technology and knowledge resources of India. Joint research projects have
already been launched in several Gulf countries. India’s experience of
pluralism despite its diversity and economic problems should provide
inspiration to the Gulf, which is struggling with sectarian divisions. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">India
and the Gulf have rediscovered each other in the new global context. But what
gives strength to the new partnership are the civilizational links and cultural
affinities. Soft power is at work between India and the Gulf.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Thank
you.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
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T.P.Sreenivasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591253632129845895noreply@blogger.com0