Strengthening Relations

The visits of Indian minister of state of external affairs, Rao Indrajit Singh, and senior film star, Dev Ananda, show commonalities in the bilateral relations

By KESHAB POUDEL

When Nepal-India relations was passing through a difficult phase, the visit by India’s two important personalities including Indian minister of state for external affairs Rao Indrajit Singh and senior Bollywood star Dev Ananda helped to highlight close and deep-rooted relations between the two neighbours.

As a leader of world’s largest democracy, State minister Singh tried to understood complex political problems of Nepal by meeting King Gyanendra, senior officials and leaders of agitating political parties. Unlike hawkish Indian bureaucrats, secret service agents and cynical Indian intellectuals, Singh showed a sense of respect to Nepal through his sober comments and expression.

The Indian minister also tried to convey the royal mindset at a time when there seems lack of communication between the Nepalese monarch and his subjects. “King Gyanendra said he is keen to restore multi-party democracy as soon as possible,” Minister Singh told reporters before leaving for Delhi . He is the seniormost Indian political leader to visit Nepal following February 1 move by King Gyanendra when he dismissed a multi-party government led by prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and imposed the state of emergency.

At a time when Nepal ’s political forces are choosing a confrontational course, it may be hoped that the remarks given by Indian minister will encourage political forces to initiate negotiations.

Being a popularly elected politician, State Minister Singh tried to understand complications of political problems of Nepal discussing the situation with various political forces. Reiterating the policy of his government, minister of state stressed that monarchy and multi-party democracy were two pillars of stability in Nepal .

Though a small country, Nepal lies in the northern part of India , which is a very sensitive border for her. This is the reason Indian security experts often express their concern over the security sensitivity vis a vis the Himalayan kingdom.

Although Nepal is yet to back India’s bid for the permanent membership of Security Council of the United Nations—if and when it is expanded-- formally, Nepal does not have many choices either. There is no other close and important candidate to Nepal than India that is bidding for the all important UNSC seat. “ Nepal should back India ’s UN bid,” said former foreign minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhayay. Leaders from various political parties also expressed their support to India ’s bid.

The visit of senior Indian film star Dev Ananda is another milestone to strengthen people to people relations between Nepal and India . Although people of India share the difficulties being faced by Nepalese people over the last many years, there are no messengers like popular Indian film star Dev Ananda to carry the message to the Nepalese people.

For the past many years no one has sincerely tried to explore friendly relations that exist at people to people as well as political level between the two countries as Indian policy towards Nepal is guided by hawkish bureaucrats, secret service and cynical intellectuals and journalists. They often ignore the fact that Nepal , as a good and close friend of India , cannot ignore the security sensitivity of India and overwhelming majority of Nepalese want to see a prosperous and stable India . Strong and democratic India is in the interest of democratic Nepal and democratic and stable Nepal also guarantees genuine security concerns of India .

“I will work to strengthen people to people relations between India and Nepal . I still feel Nepal is like my home and the award given to me in Nepal is higher than Oscar,” said popular film actor Dev Ananda who also shared his feeling with King Gyanendra. “I will shoot a couple of films in Nepal ,” declared Ananda who had shot two popular films in Nepal in the early 1970s.

 The visits by state minister Singh and popular film actor Dev Ananda have shown that there are ways to increase understanding between South Asia ’s two most close friends -- Nepal and India —without provoking their sensitivities.