Agriculture sector is the backbone of Indian economy. Post pandemic Coronavirus the importance of Agriculture is growing in significance. India is now taking a role of Global Leader in Agriculture developments.
Recently, India hosted the Second Agriculture Ministerial-level meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) here today under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar. Agriculture ministers of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated in the meeting.
While addressing the meeting through video conference, Shri Tomar urged the member countries to cooperate in developing a comprehensive regional strategy to strengthen cooperation for the transformation of agriculture. Referring to the importance of millet as a nutritious food and the efforts made by India to promote millet and its products during the International Year of Millets – 2023, he urged the member countries to adopt a conducive agricultural food system and a healthy diet for all. He asked participating countries to actively participate in India’s initiative to promote millet as a food. Shri Tomar said that natural and ecological farming should be promoted to conserve agricultural biodiversity and reduce the use of chemicals.
Shri Tomar said that along with digital farming and precision farming, initiatives under the ‘One Health’ approach are also taking shape in India. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors to ensure food security, nutrition, environmental sustainability and livelihood support, for which it is required to increase technical and economic cooperation to deal with the challenges of climate change, agro-biodiversity, microbial preventive resistance under the ‘One Health’ approach and other programmes.
It is hoped that India would continue to be strengthening its role as Global leader in Agriculture.
Rouble Nagi is an artist of par excellence She is the Founder of Rouble Nagi Art Foundation. She is also the founder of Rouble Nagi Design Studio. She has over 800 murals to her credit and has held over 150 exhibitions. She is a member of the India Design Council (IDC). She has taken up an initiative to start Mumbai beautification with ‘Art Installations’ in and around the city. Her latest initiative named “Misaal Mumbai” is the first slum painting initiative in India, through which she has painted over 165000 houses to date. A project to paint houses in slums in Mumbai to give life to the slum and keep it clean and hygienic. She recently penned Down book Titled The Slum Queen. In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir, She talks to Rameez Makhdoomi and Farzana Mumtaz.
A bit about your early days of life ?
I believe that the environment you’ve grown up is in a way responsible for everything you are today. My childhood was basically living in different Army cantonments across the country always moving in 2 years from one school to another, one city to another, one house to another, you’re used to not getting too comfortable or too attached to anything or anybody. Adapting becomes a way of life before you even know it. You realise early that nothing is really permanent, the selfless attitude of a soldier is impossible to replicate, but it definitely affects your perspective of the people and goals in your life. “Do everything with all your heart, but don’t expect a reward in return” is a common refrain in Army households, we followed the same and I still do.
How was academic life like ? Your academic life is one of the most remarkable and lovable times of an individual’s life, be it school or college. Both school life and college life are the most memorable time of a person’s life, but both of them are quite different from each other. While in School life, we learn everything in a protected environment, College life exposes us to a new environment where we have to learn new things and face new challenges by ourselves. So, in an average army tenure, we manage to change around five to seven schools, or even more. Reading every evening was non-negotiable, mostly we were posted in small cities and villages we never really had the luxury of going to a mall or any other kind of “big city entertainment, books and nature were your best friends. Your take on current situation of women of India?
The situation of women in India has greatly improved overtime and the government has launched programs aimed at advancing human rights, literacy and microfinance are therefore necessary in order to restore Indian women to the place they deserve and open doors to a better future, we could still do better. The problem lies in rural areas, poverty and a lack of information represent real barriers to women’s independence and empowerment.
You are a world famous Mural artist ,something on that ?
Well I don’t know whether I am world famous or not but creativity is in my blood and have done art work in 40 different forms. Murals have been of special Interest for me along with sculptures . I love to create.I am currently making a 25 feet sculpture . To create beautiful things has been my passion .
Your dreams?
India will have a literacy rate of 100%, I would like to see a transition from women development to women led development, women should be reimagined as architects of India’s progress and development. This isn’t a distant dream but India will be a global leader sooner than we think.
In a major step towards ensuring equality in pay between men and women cricketers, the BCCO Secretary Jay Shah confirmed few days back that India’s women cricketers would earn the same match fees as their male counterparts in international matches going forward in a significant move towards equal pay.
The decision was taken in the 15th BCCI Apex Council meeting at which the members unanimously agreed to the resolution.
Legendary Indian cricketer Mithali Raj chose to describe the latest update from BCCI as a “historic decision for women’s cricket in India”. With this policy, India’s women cricketers will earn INR 15 lakh for a Test, 6 lakh for an ODI and 3 lakh for a T20I, the same as the men’s cricketers.
This is a historic decision for women’s cricket in India! The pay equity policy along with the WIPL next year, we are ushering into a new era for women’s cricket in India. Thank you @JayShah Sir & the @BCCI for making this happen. Really happy today.
As a matter of fact, Those in the highest bracket, Grade A, have an annual contract of INR 50 lakh, while Grade B and Grade C earn INR 30 lakh and INR 10 lakh respectively.
“In our Apex Council meeting today, we have made a marquee decision on pay equity for our women cricketers,” newly anointed BCCI President Roger Binny said.
“Our women players will be paid the same match fees as men in international cricket. This decision sets the platform to grow and develop cricket. I believe this is a significant step forward for women’s cricket and the game overall.”
Livestock is an important sector of economy and is backbone for the prosperity of rural areas. Livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. India has vast livestock resources. Livestock sector contributes 4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP.
But since sometime Lumpy Skin disease is emerging as a worrying and major challenge for the livestock of entire country including Jammu and Kashmir. Historically, the diverse diseases have posed great challenges to the livestock growth .
As a matter of fact, Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle and buffalo that causes relatively low mortality. It does not affect humans. The disease can result in animal welfare issues and significant production losses.
It is worth mentioning here that Jammu and Kashmir is one of the wealthiest milk-producing regions in the country. Kashmir reportedly produces an estimated 7.5 lakh litres of milk each day, it is among the world’s largest producers of milk. Thus the Lumpy skin disease is a major challenge.
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), an infectious viral disease among cattle continues to affect more cattle worrying farmers in Kashmir.disease is caused by a virus in the family Poxviridae, genus Capripoxvirus which affects cattle. “Agro-climates, communal grazing, biting-fly, and introduction of new animals are associated with the occurrence of lumpy skin disease,” a paper in Science Direct states.
Quoting farmers news agency KNO reported that though the mortality rate of LSD is not so high, animals infected with the disease are unable to produce enough milk even after they are cured, hitting their economy.
On the other hand, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, few days back reviewed status of vaccination for lumpy skin disease in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
In this regard, ACS had a meeting with Directors of Animal Husbandry Kashmir and Jammu, Chief Animal Husbandry Officers and District Animal Husbandry Officers of J&K besides other senior officers including experts from SKUAST.
Atal Dulloo set deadline of November 5 for completing carpet vaccination of eligible cattle population in all districts of UT.
By mid September, The viral outbreak has so far killed over 57,000 cattle across India.
Punjab was the second state after Himachal to ask the Centre to take action on the deadly infection. The Himachal Pradesh government had urged the Centre to declare Lumpy Skin Disease an epidemic.
ShashiTharoor:A game changer for the future politics of INC.
Owais Ahmad Shah
PG Student at University of Kashmir.
In the tough & tumultuous political climate of today’s India, it has become rather indispensable that a strong, viable & vibrant opposition party emerges that can play a principal role by constructive criticism & healthy debate to help the ruling party to facilitate the strengthening of democracy,pluralism & free speech.India as a plural country has always been a standard-bearer of inclusivity, tolerance & acceptance. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “To other countries I may go as a tourist,but to India I come as a pilgrim”.Such was the reflection of rich diversity of India across the globe.The past few years have been rife with the turmoil & unending political storm.The rising incidents of hate & bigotry has brought India to a pretty pass.There has been a lot of international outrage & India is being debated for such incidents. The question of strong opposition that can constructively help India to revive it’s democratic strengths is much needed. Unfortunately, the democratic process has been only left for spewing venom at each other & debate has been reduced to political commotion that has no positive outcome.The mammoth support generated by BJP is undoubtedly their outreach to the people across the nook & corner of India. They have somewhere left their mark on the public mind leading to their thumping victory in two consecutive elections.The principal opposition party, Indian National Congress has undergone a metamorphosis. They have stepped down to the lowest rung on the ladder.The party has not only been open to criticism for it’s bad performances but also for it’s internal modus operandi. It’s leadership has been under scathing criticism & dynasty politics is being targeted. The party has also witnessed it’s veteran leader’s resigning & joining other parties or establishing their own parties & Gh Nabi Azad can be seen in the recent political developments.
The question of change for better has become an urgency now.There has to be a strong opposition party that maintains it’s check on the activities done by the ruling party.This opposition party needs a strong leadership that will take not only the party but the country to new heights & reclaim the glory of India’s past. In the recent political developments, the Indian National Congress after serious deliberation has finally taken a decision to conduct it’s party presidential elections & it has caught the attention all through India’s political sphere. There has been at the inception Ashok Gehlot, the CM of Rajasthan contesting elections which has now come to an end & Congress veteran leader, Malikarjun Kharge has nominated himself for the elections but the principal actor in this election is ShashiTharoor. He has been hotly debated for his intellectual strengths, mammoth global experience & erudition. Also, he has been subjected to the debate of “Elitism”. The support that ShashiTharoor has generated all across India is massive because people see in him an agent of change who can reinvigorate INC as a strong opposition party & can play a vital role in India’s democracy & plurality.The support that ShashiTharoor generates behind is for a reason & it’s because he has been a strong advocate of India’s plurality & secularism & can help through his statesmanlike gravitas to open doors of great success for Indias political health which has been adversely affected through past years. As some people rightly say that he is the oxygen that INC needs as it is on the ventilator.
It is keenly observed that how the election would be helpful to ShashiTharoor if he is elected as Congress President.His opponent doesn’t seem to get enough support behind & some have started projecting him as backed by the Gandhi family but what’s fascinating is the Tharoor for presidential elections & it has generated speed with every passing day.This has been a long public demand that ShashiTharoor should be pushed forward for taking the charge of the party to resuscitate it from the depths of disarray.Its not yet a foregone conclusion that ShashiTharoor will emerge as winner but the pendulum is swinging more on his side & he is supported not only by a good number of his party colleagues but a large number of people who are not associated with the party. The elections would not only decide who wins but it will also decide the future of the party & this is at a time when the next Lok Sabha election is in proximity. This is an election that would not only help INC to awaken form it’s political slumber but will also help public debate to re emerge & democracy to breathe a fresh air. It would not only be a humongous success if ShashiTharoor wins but also a massive challenge for the ruling party to deal with him.
THE OPENING OF A MULTIPLEX IN KASHMIR :A LANDMARK TOWARDS NORMALCY
Dr. Adil Malik
Art and its appreciation – is a gift that humans embrace in various forms. Cinema has always been a way of expressing oneself for many people – a way of rekindling, making memories and revisiting them, having good times and so on. The picturesque valley of Kashmir has opened its first multiplex for public with regular shows from 30th September 2022 marking a historic moment for the enthusiastic film lovers of Kashmir.
The first multiplex in India was started in New Delhi in 1997, however the valley of Kashmir had been deprived of not only multiplexes for almost 25 years ,but even cinema halls for the last 3 decades. Late 80s and early 90s saw Kashmir captivated by militancy, shutting down all cinema halls, also some of them were even set on fire and eventually calling a ban on theaters. Films were considered “haram” or unislamic by the fundamentalists in the region. There were efforts in 1999 by the government Led by Farooq Abdullah to reopen the cinema halls, but went in vain as a violent attack took place in the course of the first show leading to 1 casualty and 12 people getting wounded. Many years later, when a ban on cinema halls was lifted by Saudi Arabia, there was an attempt to reopen theaters in the valley by BJP and PDP collation government. However, again this move of the government was criticized by some ill in the region.
The youth of Kashmir has not enjoyed the privilege of watching cinema. Since, the only way the people could enjoy movies was with pen drives, DVDs and internet, on small screen, the younger generation has never experienced how it feels to watch movies on big screen with popcorns and snacks during the interval. The pleasure and satisfaction of watching a movie in a cinema hall cannot be substituted by other alternative means. Since the youngsters in the valley have been the biggest sufferers because of the uncertainties and atrocities they have gone through in their lives, cinema would not only provide them relaxation but also reduce their stress levels. It was an irony that “the paradise on earth”, which had been the hot favouritelocation to shoot movies, was itself not able to showcase those movies. People had to travel 300km all the way to Jammu in order to watch a movie in the theatre. It is unbelievable that an entire generation in the region has grown up without ever watching their most liked stars on big screen. Along with providing entertainment, multiplexes would also become a source to organize employment and business opportunities for the local people. It is also expected to add on to the revival of Kashmir’s sluggish economy. The younger lot would be able to relish the same entertainment provided by cinema, which their peers in other parts of the country adore.
With the inauguration of 2 multiplexes in the Pulwama and Shopian districts of Kashmir and inauguration of more in near future Lieutenant Governor of J&k , Mr. Manoj Sinha is very hopeful for a new positive change to take place in the region. It is a very nostalgic and emotional moment for the owner of the multiplex, Mr. Dhar, since his family has shared a special bond with the theatre world, as it owned “Broadway”, one of the oldest cinema halls in Kashmir. This first ever multiplex of the valley has been designed by INOX and will comprise of 3 auditoriums which will flaunt the most advanced Dolby sound systems. It will have a capacity to accommodate 520 people and will also be equipped with provision of recliner seats in addition to other comfortable seating facilities. In addition to the modern touch given to the multiplex by INOX, papier-mache designs, wooden chips and Kashmiri khatamband ceiling given by the local artisans has made it a unique design among all existing cinema halls in the country.
With things getting back in place and normalcy returning, the new generation is hopeful to see a mesmerizing Kashmir which they have read and heard about. The filmmakers across the world are again getting encouraged to choose Kashmir as a preferred location to shoot their movies ever since the Kashmir World Film Festival started in 2015. The open-air floating theatre at Dal lake, which started in 2021 has also opend the world of theatre for the valley. And 2022 saw J&K governmentorganizing the first-ever national film festival in Srinagar in the month of June. Since, there has been an extraordinary relationship between Kashmir and movies for decades, this move to start with multiplex in the union territory would surely strengthen the bond further. Because Cinema and theatre are also means to inspire social and cultural reflection in addition to providing entertainment, its rekindling implies that a new wind of change has started blowing in valley, which will finally help in restoration of what Kashmir already possessed for decades but had lost due to militancy and terrorism.
Author;
Dr Adil Rasool Malik ; Author besides being a Doctor and is very active in positive perception management of various political and social issues. Author can be reached at drmalikadil@gmail.com & twitter @drmalikadil
Whatever you hold in your mind on a consistent basis is exactly what you will experience in your life. This is something that the world’s most successful people realize – and the only difference between them and everyone else is that they are able to harness the power of thoughts to help them achieve. They’ve learned how to stop overthinking and start taking action.
The good news is that you weren’t born an over-thinker. Overthinking is the result of one fact of human existence: we all have patterns to our behaviour. These patterns, good and bad, develop over time based on life experiences. And just as patterns are learned, they can also be unlearned.
Overthinking is simply what its name suggests – thinking too much. Overthinking is going over the same thought again and again, analysing the simplest of situations or events until all sense of proportion has gone. The overthinking brain cannot translate these thoughts into actions or positive outcomes, so therefore creates feelings of stress and anxiety.
Surely we all overthink to some extent? As parents, sons or daughters, employees or business people, worrying about things is linked to caring about our loved ones, and about doing a good job.
However, people who really struggle with overthinking tend to be “ruminators”, going over events that have already happened. Plain old worrying tends to be about the future: can I meet this deadline? Can I find a nice residential flat for my mum? Often, our worries help us move forwards as we are working out how to mitigate them; however overthinking tends to be passive rather than active, dwelling on past events and building up disproportionately negative future results.
Take this scenario. You accidentally call your new boss by the wrong name. What do you think and feel when you realise this later?
The average worrier will feel mildly embarrassed, plan to apologise with some self-deprecating comment the next day, then forget about it and make dinner. The over-thinker will replay this error over and over, while rewriting different outcomes. By four in the morning, he or she will be mentally creating scenarios of being passed over for future promotions, or even chosen for redundancy. The incident has triggered big questions in the overthinking mind, which blow the whole event way out of proportion.
There was a question from a married couple, we think about every little thing and we worry a great deal. This is affecting our worship too; all the time we think about the worries and problems that we are going through. Is there any solution to this?
YES, FOR EVERY PROBLEM THERE IS ALWAYS A SOLUTION.
1 –Thinking about the matters of our daily lives, and our private and public affairs is something that is essential and important, it is necessary in order for us to deal with these matters and benefit from them in the appropriate manner. The Qur’aan – which is the word of Allah swt – urges us to think, in more than one verse, for example:
“…and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose…” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:191]
“And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty.
And also in your ownselves. Will you not then see?” [al-Dhaariyaat 51:20-21]
“Will you not then take thought?” [al-An’aam 6:50]
“Have you then no understanding?”[al-Baqarah 2:76]
And there are other verses which encourage us to think about our affairs and indeed about the life and creation around us.
So thinking in and of itself is not a problem, rather it is required, important and essential, and it is enjoined by our religion and encouraged by our Qur’aan.
2 – This “thinking” may become a psychological or social problem if it prevents a person from playing his natural role that is expected of him in life.
Such as thinking that things are more serious than they really are, or thinking too much about matters where thinking about them will not change anything at all, rather that only causes distress and becomes an obstacle prevents one from taking any initiative, and make him hesitant and confused, and unable to take any decision.
Thinking may become a problem in if it makes a person go beyond his intellectual limits in thinking about matters of the unseen and things that he can never comprehend, which may open many doors for the accursed Shaytaan to influence him.
3 – With regard to thinking a great deal about everything and worrying about every problem, this is to some extent a natural thing, so long as it does not prevent you from living your lives in a natural manner. What I mean here is, is this thinking helping you to come up with solutions to these problems that you are facing? Do these situations deserve all the time that you are spending on thinking about them? If the answer is yes, then there is no problem! But if the answer is no, then you yourself are admitting that they do not warrant that, and then you are halfway to solving the problem, which is to identify the problem and take a decision concerning it. Because when we know what the problem is, it is easy for us to find the right way of dealing with it.
4 – Overcoming these problems needs some discipline and some time. You can make the decision to start and you are able, with the help and support of Allah swt, to do that. You have to trust yourselves in this regard!
5 – Concerns and problems fall into three categories or levels:
1. Concerns and problems that have a direct impact upon your married and social lives in a serious manner that may lead to breakdown in relationships. These must be given their due measure of objective thought and you should try to reach an agreement and settle the matter. They should not be ignored for so long that it becomes too difficult to deal with them.
2. The second level is concerns or problems in which the positive and negative aspects are equal and in which you are involved. In these cases you should pray istikhaarah to Allah swt, and it is o.k. to consult others concerning them and to weigh up alternatives, then decide what you think is the solution, without going to extremes in worrying about it.
3. The third level is concerns and worries that do not concern you at all, because they have to do with other people. It is better not to get involved in them and waste your time with them, because they simply do not concern you and your opinion does not matter.
6 – The concerns and matters of our daily lives inevitably fall into one of three categories:
1. Matters which are in the past and are over and done with. We should not worry about these too much, except to the extent from which we can learn from our mistakes and experiences when dealing with things in the future. The past cannot come back and there is no need to worry about things that are over and done with.
2. Matters which lay ahead in the future. It is more appropriate not to think about these a great deal before they happen, because the future is part of the unseen, and all that we have to do in this case is to examine the choices we have in this matter if it comes to pass. When the time comes, we have to put our trust in Allah swt and take a decision.
3. Matters of day-to-day life. This is where we attempt to weigh up all the available alternatives, and it is o.k. to consult others with regard to these things and to exchange ideas without going to extremes or worrying too much. In the end, things will turn out as we hope, by Allah swt’s leave, so long as we pursue the means of praying istikhaarah and consulting others, and good lies in that which is chosen by Allah swt.
Like many traits of anxiety and depression, overthinking actually comes from one of our primitive preservation instincts. The primitive mind will always see things from the worst possible perspective. This is because the brain is being hyper-vigilant, trying to keep us alive – there’s no sense in being optimistic about those sabre-toothed tigers I’ve mentioned above!
On its own, overthinking isn’t recognized as a mental disorder. However, overthinking symptoms often indicate that another mental disorder is present, such as depression or anxiety. Even then it can become a “which came first?” scenario: Is overthinking a symptom of anxiety, or does anxiety cause overthinking? The important thing to know is that even if overthinking isn’t a mental disorder, it can have negative effects on your life and needs to be addressed.
Soon after its independence in 1947, Indian foreign policy makers had to deal with an ideologically divided world. Western (liberal-capitalist) and Eastern (communist) blocs were led by the United States of America (USA) and former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) respectively. Instead of joining any of the two blocs, India along with many of the then newly independent colonies established the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961, which became a voice of the developing countries at multilateral forums. The Cold War (1947-1991) based World Order crumbled with the disintegration of the former USSR in 1991. The end of the Cold War made many countries, including India, to re-think their foreign policy and adjust their economic structures. In the immediate post-Cold War years, India took political steps to improve its relationship with the USA, Western European countries, and China. In 1991, India also adopted a new economic policy based on liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation.
In the 30 years after India made a major shift in its foreign and economic policy much has changed in global politics. To secure its interests in a changed world India has deliberately, or out of compulsion, made certain adjustments in foreign policy. However, some of the basic tenets of India’s foreign policy remain unchanged, though modified from time to time to achieve the country’s interests.
Personality wise, the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was considered a chief architect of Indian foreign policy in early years of India’s independence, and Nehruvian policies endure. However, successive prime ministers, including those who led coalition governments, have played their part in shaping Indian foreign policy. Highlighting the role of a leader and political leadership, and changes in the Indian foreign policy after Narendra Modi was elected into power in 2014, some scholars started talking about a ‘Modi Doctrine’, and how Modi’s foreign policy is ‘different’.
Ganguly observes that, although Modi has made certain departures from the past, he has not ‘fundamentally altered the orientation of India’s foreign policy’.
As in the past, one of the major concerns and challenges to Indian foreign policy in present times is: how to deal with China? Political tensions between the USA and China, and growing Chinese assertiveness in South Asia have a major impact on India. The Modi years have witnessed serious political and military tensions between India and China. In 2017 Indian and Chinese soldiers were engaged in a military stand-off for 73 days at Doklam in Bhutan. More seriously, in 2020 Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed in Galwan valley in Ladakh when 20 Indian and, as acknowledged by China in 2021, four Chinese personnel lost their lives .
Since then several rounds of talks between Indian and Chinese commanders, and officials have taken place; yet the tension at the border has not subsided. Interestingly, in this period trade between the countries has exponentially increased. In the first nine months of 2021 India’s trade with China touched US $90 billion which is an increase of 49% over the previous year. This trade is, however, balanced in favour of China.
Primarily to deal with the Chinese challenge, India is strongly promoting a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) which also includes Japan, the USA, and Australia. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi termed QUAD a ‘huge security risk’ which has the potential to ‘stir confrontation among different groups … to maintain the dominance and hegemonic system of the US’ .
This section of the special issue analyses various aspects of India’s foreign policy in the past 75 years. In no particular order, it has an article by Amit Ranjan which looks at how the anti-colonial ideology of Nehru shaped India’s foreign policy in the formative years. Those policies guided the successive prime ministers of India. Despite paradigmatic shift in the Indian foreign policy in 1990s, Nehruvian principles have not been entirely given up. Even the most ‘non-Nehruvian’ Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has not been succeeded to steer Indian foreign policy away from shadows of Nehruvian and Nehruvianism.
Another article by Smruti S Pattanaik, recognises that India’s neighbourhood constitutes the core of the country’s foreign policy. It is entwined with the security and stability of India’s periphery which is home to diverse ethnic groups with familial ties and socio-cultural affinities that often criss-cross physical borders. A part of such connections was ruptured by the 1947 partition of the subcontinent. The majoritarian conception of nation-building in the post-colonial states detested shared socio-cultural commonality and emphasised an ‘exclusivity’ of their national identity which only sharpened that rupture. This attitude degenerated into a mindset characterised by mistrust and suspicion preventing co-operation that could have optimised the economic potential of the region. India’s over-emphasis on its security linkages with its neighbours made it extra-vigilant to the domestic politics and foreign policy objectives of its South Asian neighbours. Neighbours felt that such vigilance impeded on their sovereign foreign policy choices and constrained them in shaping their internal politics. As a result neighbours resented India. India’s neighbourhood policy, however, has undergone several shifts – it is slowly moving away from an overtly security-centric approach towards forging development partnerships with its neighbours as a means to ensure security.
Aseema Sinha’s article builds upon a vast literature and rarely used India’s Ministry of External Affairs Annual Reports. Sinha argues that India’s foreign policy actions through its 75 years are not unique or novel by any means but that any assessment of them must include an analysis of changing global structures and how they affect domestic imperatives. Analytically, an ‘inside-outside’ perspective, usually deployed in studies of India with a focus on India’s ideas and actions, must be combined with an ‘outside-in’ analysis. Such an outside-in analysis places India in the context of global structures across four phases of foreign policies [1947–1989; 1999–2000; 2000–2016, 2016–2021]. Global aspects must be analysed by paying attention to interactions between global economic and security structures, ‘multiplex’ features and ‘weaponised interdependence’ that make statecraft urgent and relevant.
Jivanta Schottli’s contribution looks at the idea of the ‘Indian Ocean Zone of Peace’ (IOZOP) that emerged during the 1950s and 60s, formalised in 1972 with the creation of a United Nations Ad Hoc Committee. India’s maritime strategy during the Cold War towards the major powers was refracted through the discourse and institutions of non-alignment such as IOZOP. In recent times, the emergence of the ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ as a strategic construct that is shaping India’s maritime outlook marks a radical change in terms of power projection and political engagement. The article considers both the vectors and agents of change in India’s maritime strategy over time.
Another valuable contribution comes from Rajan Kumar. It talks about India’s multilateralism which, as the article finds, has undergone three distinct phases. A high-decibel universalism based on morality and idealism marked the first phase (1947–1961). India was favourably disposed to the UN during this period. A gradual shift in India’s strategy occurred in the second phase (1961–1991) with attempts at ‘regime shifting’ or what may be referred to as ‘parallel-institutionalisation’. The Non-Alignment Movement (1961) and G-77 (1964) were constituted during this period. The third phase of India’s multilateralism began after the end of the Cold War in 1991. NAM’s relevance became suspect with the cessation of bipolar politics. India embraced all sorts of organisations during this period. In the last two decades, it has joined four notable organisations, viz., the G20, the QUAD, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation or Shanghai Pact. India refers to it as a policy of multi-alignment. India’s intense interactions at the systemic level are in stark contrast to its low engagement at the regional level. It is yet to develop a robust multilateral framework in South Asia.
Reservation has been a serious and sensitive issue in the Independent India, meant for upliftment of backward and marginalized communities.
During the recent historic visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, by Home Minister Amit Shah he historically announced Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Pahari community on Tuesday (4 October).
The announcement was made in his address at a public rally in Rajouri. He said that Justice GD Sharma Commission has recommended reservation for Paharis, Gujjars and Bakerwals and after completion of the administrative process, these communities will get reservation benefits.
However, scores of students belonging to the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities protested when the move to grant ST status to Paharis in Jammu was being speculated.
In
March 2020, the Jammu and Kashmir government had constituted a three-member commission headed by Justice Sharma to look at the issues relating to socially and educationally backward classes, scheduled tribes and scheduled castes.
The other two members of the Commission were Indian Police Service officer Muneer Khan and retired Indian Foreign Service officer Rupa Lal.
However Gujjar Bakerwals community was not happy.
The community has been protesting against the move for the last several months. It fears that the sizeable Pahari-speaking population, if granted the ST status, will eat up their share in government employment and higher education.
As a matter of fact,
The two communities were already benefitting from 10 per cent reservation in jobs for STs in J&K. They feared dilution of their quota on inclusion of Paharis and said ST status should not be granted on the basis of linguistics.
It is worth mentioning here that The plan was unveiled by Home Minister Amit Shah, who said in Jammu in 2021: “Elected members of the Pahari community can now become a minister and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, which was impossible earlier because of dynastic politics.”
“Prime Minister Modi is now going to solve the issues of the Pahari community. Soon BJP will grant ST status to Paharis which is their genuine demand,” BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir Chief, Ravinder Raina said in a meeting with Paharis, later. “The Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis are three sons of the same mother.”
Paharis constitute nearly 10 percent of population of Jammu and Kashmir.
The hope is that Gujjar and Bakerwal,Paharis and all the marginalized communities would get a due share and be part of peaceful and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir. The reservation status should mean empowerment of all these communities.
Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah undertook a marathon visit of Jammu and Kashmir on 4, 5 October 2022.
The Union Home Minister asked security forces and the police to pro-actively conduct coordinated counter-terrorism operations, to fulfill the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a prosperous and peaceful Jammu & Kashmir.
Shri Amit Shah appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and administration of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for keeping the streets free from violence and significantly restoring Rule of Law
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also addressed on 5 October, 2022 mega public rally at Baramulla District in North Kashmir and ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan and asserted that the Narendra Modi government will wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and make it the most peaceful place in the country.
Addressing the rally , Mr Shah asked whether terrorism has ever benefited anyone as it has claimed 42,000 lives in Jammu and Kashmir since the 1990s.
He also blamed the families of the Abdullahs (National Conference), Muftis (PDP) and Nehru-Gandhi (Congress) for the alleged underdevelopment of Jammu and Kashmir as they ruled the erstwhile state most of the time since independence.
He also paused his speech when Azaan was recited from mosque.
Earlier on 4 October addressing rally in Rajouri Pir Panjal ,Union Home Minister Amit Shah today declared at Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir that the Pahari community will soon get reservation in education and jobs as Scheduled Tribe (ST) — a pre-election promise aimed at widening the BJP’s support base. If implemented, this quota will be the first instance of a linguistic group earning reservation in India.
Overall the visit of Union Home Minister saw many developments in Jammu and Kashmir.
Home Minister Amit Shah also visited historic Chhati Padshahi Gurudwara in Rainawari, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Amit Shah along with LG Manoj Sinha attended the prayer there.
