New Delhi: The opening day of the 7th South Asia Conference on India & South Asia:Exploring Regional Perceptions'' at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) brought out perceptions of India in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh by participants from these countries. The participant from Nepal attributed mutual misunderstanding among countries to lack of academic interest in each other.
Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka of Sri Lanka held that perception of India in Sri Lanka was conditioned by the Tamil Nadu factor and there was a view in Sri Lanka that sub-state actors are assuming greater salience in India’s policy towards Sri Lanka. Referring indirectly to the debate in India about Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Colombo to attend the CHOGM meet, he said that India should not do anything in a hurry which will embolden conservative elements in Sri Lanka and strengthen the position of combat-hardened armed forces of Sri Lanka in Sri Lankan politics.
Amb Humayun Kabir of Bangladesh urged India to move from bilateralism to multilateral strategy in the region and further strengthen its policy aimed at regional cooperation. He held that relationship with Bangladesh has improved dramatically during the last few years. However, small patches of good relationship should not be taken for granted. Greater attention needs to be paid to people-to-people contact, enabling links among the media houses and diversification of linkages with different stakeholders of Bangladesh. India has to pay serious attention to fulfilling its commitments and settling all outstanding issues with Bangladesh. Pratyuosh Onta from Nepal argued that the academic community of South Asia can play a role in shaping perceptions of people and countries about one another, only if they pay serious attention to the existing deficits in the system. He said that there was no empirical evidence to suggest that the academics encouraged study of histories and societies in neighbouring countries.
Dr Yaqoob Khan Bangash acquainted the audience with the changing mindset about India in Pakistan. He held that there is a vested interest group in Pakistan which wanted to fuel anti-India sentiments perennially. However, they are fast losing their appeal amongst the people. The media used to play a big role in portraying India as an enemy. History text books projected Hindus in bad light. However, since the liberalization of the media there are diverse views about India. History text books are being corrected. Popular perception of India is also changing. The middle class is disengaging itself from anti-India discourse in a big way. The rallies by Hafiz Saeed are drawing less and less crowd every day. In the recent rallies organized by him people were bussed in from rural areas with the promise that they would be fed well. There is thus a window of opportunity for India to shape perceptions in Pakistan in its favour. It has to communicate well and acquaint Pakistani people with its peace intentions. They have to be assured that India wants to pursue peace and friendship and does not have any intention to absorb Pakistan.
Perception of India Among Neighbouring Nations Highlighted on Opening Day of SAC, 2013