Creating South Asian Culture
Yuba Nath Lamsal
ON May 25-27, 2003, mainstream media persons of South Asia converged in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh to attend the third conference of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA). The first and second conferences had been held in Pakistan and Nepal respectively.
Attended by more than 150 media persons from the region, the conference was fruitful as media persons had an opportunity to share experiences, identify common problems. Besides, media leaders expressed their common resolve to fight against all odds and ills that the nations of South Asia are facing. The theme of the third conference was “ Media and Democracy”, which was so appropriately chosen as democracy has been victims and being used as a tool to grab power and exploit people by politicians and political parties across the region.
Free media and democracy are interlinked. On cannot survive and prosper at the absence of other. It is also the duty of journalists to protect democracy and people’s rights in addition to fight for free media and freedom of expression.
The South Asia is the home to one-fifth of world’s population. That means it has 20 per cent of world’s brain and human resource. It has tremendous natural resources—from mighty Himalayas to the vast expanse of ocean. The Himalayas and Hindkush are the sources of world’s great rivers that have served as lifeblood to billons of people in the region and elsewhere. The world’s best fertile lands lies in the Gangetic plain. This region has the most pleasant climatic conditions; though vary depending upon the altitude, which is rare in other parts of the world.
The South Asia is the cradle of great civilizations. Unlike Europe, this region was never been devastated by great wars that Europe experienced.
But South Asia is world’s poorest region. Perhaps, it is the home to world’s largest number of poor people. More than 50 per cent or more than half a billion people are absolute poor, who have been denied basic human needs like adequate food, housing and clothes. They do not have access to potable drinking water, health care facilities, educational opportunities and, above all, equal and adequate opportunity and share in economic and social sectors. They are secluded and alienated from the mainstream of development.
The number of poor in South Asia is growing every year despite a huge amount of national budgets of all countries being spent for poverty eradication. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established almost 15 years ago with the objective and vision of tapping all potentials, expediting cooperation and ridding the region of massive poverty and backwardness. However, things have not changed in a way they should have been. We, the people of South Asia, continue to be poorest of the poor.
The reasons are manifold. Firstly, we, South Asians, have not been able to change our mindset. We are entangled with lesser important issues. We are divided bitterly on grounds of religions, language, caste and creeds. This has given rise to, distrust, communalism, fundamentalism, which have gobbled up development and sharply divided the societies and people. The entire region has been badly bruised by this menace of communalism and fundamentalism. Development and people’s issues have been left to the backburner. Unless, we change our mindset, we cannot make headway in any sector.
Instead of thinking in isolation, let us think as South Asians in a broader spectrum. Let us not confine ourselves to the narrow national border. Let us call ourselves citizens of South Asia. Our problems are common and destiny is identical. We have common enemies that are poverty, disease and backwardness. We need to fight these enemies collectively. We must dispel the atmosphere of distrust and suspicion. Let us build a broader South Asian culture, in which we can work together comfortably. In this lies prosperity of all people of South Asia.
Leaders and government have failed to create this culture—the culture of amity. Thus, civil society now needs to take the role.
Journalists are the frontline members of the civil society. Their duty and responsibility are greater than that of others in brining the South Asia together, creating amity and mutual understanding and protecting the rights of the people.
The creation of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) is a humble but an important step towards bringing South Asia closer and creating a South Asian culture of amity. SAFMA is a beginning. We have miles to go to achieve the goal of creating a common South Asian culture and agenda. Peace and cooperation are vital to change the lives of the one-fifth of humanity living in South Asia.
ON May 25-27, 2003, mainstream media persons of South Asia converged in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh to attend the third conference of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA). The first and second conferences had been held in Pakistan and Nepal respectively.
Attended by more than 150 media persons from the region, the conference was fruitful as media persons had an opportunity to share experiences, identify common problems. Besides, media leaders expressed their common resolve to fight against all odds and ills that the nations of South Asia are facing. The theme of the third conference was “ Media and Democracy”, which was so appropriately chosen as democracy has been victims and being used as a tool to grab power and exploit people by politicians and political parties across the region.
Free media and democracy are interlinked. On cannot survive and prosper at the absence of other. It is also the duty of journalists to protect democracy and people’s rights in addition to fight for free media and freedom of expression.
The South Asia is the home to one-fifth of world’s population. That means it has 20 per cent of world’s brain and human resource. It has tremendous natural resources—from mighty Himalayas to the vast expanse of ocean. The Himalayas and Hindkush are the sources of world’s great rivers that have served as lifeblood to billons of people in the region and elsewhere. The world’s best fertile lands lies in the Gangetic plain. This region has the most pleasant climatic conditions; though vary depending upon the altitude, which is rare in other parts of the world.
The South Asia is the cradle of great civilizations. Unlike Europe, this region was never been devastated by great wars that Europe experienced.
But South Asia is world’s poorest region. Perhaps, it is the home to world’s largest number of poor people. More than 50 per cent or more than half a billion people are absolute poor, who have been denied basic human needs like adequate food, housing and clothes. They do not have access to potable drinking water, health care facilities, educational opportunities and, above all, equal and adequate opportunity and share in economic and social sectors. They are secluded and alienated from the mainstream of development.
The number of poor in South Asia is growing every year despite a huge amount of national budgets of all countries being spent for poverty eradication. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established almost 15 years ago with the objective and vision of tapping all potentials, expediting cooperation and ridding the region of massive poverty and backwardness. However, things have not changed in a way they should have been. We, the people of South Asia, continue to be poorest of the poor.
The reasons are manifold. Firstly, we, South Asians, have not been able to change our mindset. We are entangled with lesser important issues. We are divided bitterly on grounds of religions, language, caste and creeds. This has given rise to, distrust, communalism, fundamentalism, which have gobbled up development and sharply divided the societies and people. The entire region has been badly bruised by this menace of communalism and fundamentalism. Development and people’s issues have been left to the backburner. Unless, we change our mindset, we cannot make headway in any sector.
Instead of thinking in isolation, let us think as South Asians in a broader spectrum. Let us not confine ourselves to the narrow national border. Let us call ourselves citizens of South Asia. Our problems are common and destiny is identical. We have common enemies that are poverty, disease and backwardness. We need to fight these enemies collectively. We must dispel the atmosphere of distrust and suspicion. Let us build a broader South Asian culture, in which we can work together comfortably. In this lies prosperity of all people of South Asia.
Leaders and government have failed to create this culture—the culture of amity. Thus, civil society now needs to take the role.
Journalists are the frontline members of the civil society. Their duty and responsibility are greater than that of others in brining the South Asia together, creating amity and mutual understanding and protecting the rights of the people.
The creation of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) is a humble but an important step towards bringing South Asia closer and creating a South Asian culture of amity. SAFMA is a beginning. We have miles to go to achieve the goal of creating a common South Asian culture and agenda. Peace and cooperation are vital to change the lives of the one-fifth of humanity living in South Asia.
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