Oped»
Little margin for error
JUL 31 -
In the border city of Birgunj one can see how a more solid foundation of research on India-Nepal relations would better serve the needs and interests of the country. This city, one of 22 official points of entry on the Nepali side of the India-Nepal border, exemplifies the complexities that surround this relationship: how various interests are served, and the impact that this relationship has on peoples’ lives. Standing near the large arched Shankaracharya Gate which marks the points of entry and exit of Nepal, one can watch corruption unfold as border police benefit by collecting unofficial and undocumented fees from people entering the country. Nearby, along the river that acts as a demarcation point between the two countries, 20 homes make up the village of 19 Sarki Tole.
On its southern edge the natural rerouting of the river has caused significant encroachment into the village, to the point where the houses now about the embankment will most likely be washed away within a few more years On the northern side of the village are rice paddies owned by Indians who hire Nepalis to work their fields. For these families, the ability of the Nepali government to manage its relations with India matters for their health and survival. In light of the relevance and interest in the dynamics and impact that this relationship has, the dearth of scholarship and quantifiable data on the subject is surprising to an outsider like me.
The emotionally grounded arguments around India’s role in Nepal are largely a holdover from the times when a royalist regime ran this country. The historic legacy of anti-Indianism that was informally codified into the political and social structure of Nepal during the Panchayat era still manifests itself in Nepali nationalism. Promoting a sense of nationalism that was in some ways defined by its opposition to India may have served the purpose of creating a sense of unity internally. With the introduction of multi-party democracy in Nepal the political milieu has changed and a nationalism that still promotes the notion that to be pro-Nepali one must be anti-Indian is counterproductive.
Instead of developing a cohesive India policy one finds political parties with weak and contradictory approaches that largely seem to play on deeply ingrained perceptions of India as big brother and Nepal as the small yam between two boulders. This use of India as a political tool to boost a sense of nationalism further undermines the ability of Nepal to develop an independent policy that would better serve its interests in the long run. Unfortunately, what one sees is the perpetuation of a fragmented and disjointed approach to India that ironically ends up allowing more space for Indian influence in the politics of Nepal. A much better tactic would be one that involves really working towards understanding the true impact that this relationship has in Nepali society. And this can only happen if more emphasis is put on thorough research and analysis.
The open border is one of the most important dimensions in India-Nepal relations, but limited data has been collected or research done that would provide a complete picture of this unique border regime. The presence of India in Nepal is deeply rooted in Nepali society and this dynamic is particularly apparent when one looks at the longstanding cultural, familial, and economic linkages that impact the daily lives of the people living along the nearly 1800-km open border. With citizens of both countries moving freely back and forth collecting accurate data and assessing the impact of all this activity becomes a challenge. Also important, though, are political interests and agendas, which benefit from using India in their rhetoric or as a resource base. With India being so important, both in regard to real economic and physical security concerns as well as its importance in the national psyche, I struggle to understand why there isn’t greater emphasis put on research and analyses on the subject.
A focus on greater academic inquiry will result in the creation of policies that will benefit Nepal as a state and as a nation. Much of the current debate is grounded in ardent discussions that contribute to a lack of consistency between the Kathmandu-based political establishment that uses the border to advance a political agenda and the realities on the ground for people living near it, people who are regularly impacted by it. It is in this area where these divergent interests play out on a daily basis on issues surrounding the open border.
As times change, so too does the nature of the border. Cross-border linkages remain strong, but with advances in infrastructure, as well as economic and political changes in both countries, security concerns and social dynamics are also in flux. Given the importance of India-Nepal relations in general, and the shared border in particular, the shortage of scholarly research done on the subject has long-term implications for Nepal. However, it must also be acknowledged that there will not be a push for a more solid community of experts on this issue as long as there is no incentive for it, and as long as arguments on the topic are formed in an emotional rather than empirical context. In addition, as long as competing vested interests benefit from using India as a tool to shape public perceptions it may be a long time before Nepal develops an India policy that will actually have long-term benefits for the country.
(Feit is a MA candidate in International Relations at the New School in New York. She is currently in Nepal researching India-Nepal relations focusing on border issues)
Posted on: 2010-08-01 07:52
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