National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Strengthening Friendship

Indian envoy Shyam Saran’s visit to different parts of Nepal helps to strengthen people to people contact between the two countries

By A CORRESPONDENT

The role of any foreign envoy is to strengthen the relations between the two countries by removing all kinds of irritants and conveying message of good will to the particular country.

Representing a close neighbor that share such a large commonalities in culture and religion, the role of Indian envoy in Nepal is very important and complicated as well. However, diplomats are assigned to make impossible things possible in strengthening the relations between the two countries.

Saran (center) inaugurating a building : Constructive efforts

Along with working at the government level, the envoy also needs to encourage people-to-people relations. From open borders to cultural and religious affinities, there are also strong relationships existing at the people’s level.

Following his arrival to Nepal more than a year ago, Shyam Saran has been working to promote people-to-people relations between the two countries.

“India-Nepal relations are rooted in history and we share a rich cultural heritage. The relationship is anchored in a rich web of people to people relations, including family and kinship relations,” said Saran in his first press meet at Reporter’s Club a year ago.

Understanding the ground reality, Indian envoy Saran has been promoting the real areas of relations between the two countries since his first public appearance.

Indian Ambassador has already visited many districts in Terai as well as hilly districts supporting efforts of local people to build different kinds of infrastructures. From school buildings to drinking water projects, hostels and library, Saran is providing financial and other kinds of support.

Ignored and neglected for a long time, the relations between the people of two South Asian countries are centuries old. “Without gauging the pulse of the people, it will be very difficult to understand the core issues of relations between any two countries. There are formal as well as informal parts in setting the relations between the two countries. Despite its strong and influential roles, the formal parts always dominate in setting the relations,” said a foreign relations expert.

The role of envoy is not only to work at official level, his role is also to see how unofficial level relations really are. Saran’s efforts to see the situation are remarkable and important in that aspect.

At a time when Nepal’s infrastructures including school buildings and drinking water projects continue to face destructions, Indian support is encouraging. From providing support to build hostel and library in Sarlahi in southern plain to campus building in Panchthar, eastern hilly town, Saran has already visited a number of districts meeting grass root level people and sharing their difficulties.

Be drinking water project in Damak Municipality or school building and library in Sarlahi and Phidim campus, technical school in Biratnagar, Saran is trying to show the local people that neighboring India is seriously concerned about their development. Being a close neighbor, Saran’s receives warm welcome and compliments from people living in the rural areas of Nepal but he has to face criticisms as well in the city.

In the last five decades, Indian government has supported Nepal in builds many large-scale infrastructures in the areas of road, telecommunication, education, agriculture and aviation. From east to west and plains to hill, Indian envoy Saran has been taking the message of friendship to the Nepalese people.