Nepal-India relations need new beginning
Yuba Nath Lamsal
As goes an old but apt maxim: One can choose a friend but not a neighbor. Thus one has to adjust relations with neighbor and deal accordingly—be it with individual relationship or ties between the two neighboring countries. Neighbor is always there in the next door and one cannot ignore it.
So far as Nepal's relationship with its neighbors is concerned, the Himalayan republic is always in dilemma in dealing with its neighbors. Nepal has two giant neighbors—China to the north and India to the south. Nepal has absolutely no problem with its northern neighbor—China after both the countries entered into diplomatic relation. But Kathmandu is faced with multitude frictions and irritants with India, which has surrounded Nepal from three sides.
Ever since Nepal was created as an independent political entity, it has been finding a tough time in defending its territory and safeguarding national independence. There were some minor frictions with the northern neighbor which triggered Nepal-Tibet war on a couple occasions. But those conflicts were resolved to the best interest of both countries, in which Beijing had demonstrated magnanimity towards smaller neighbor. As a result, the relationship with northern neighbor had no problem. Nepal and China have always enjoyed friendly and cooperative relations from the time immemorial. The relations between these two nations have been perfectly exemplary in the modern time especially after the establishment of the diplomatic relationship more than 55 years ago. China attaches greater importance to the relationship with Nepal whereas Nepal considers China as its true friend and development partner.
Nepal has problem only with its southern neighbor—India. Be it under the colonial rule or after independence, India's policy has caused irritation in neighboring Nepal. Most Nepali people believe that India is the main stumbling block of Nepal political transformation and economic development. When Nepal was in the unification spree, the British India came as the roadblock to Nepal's mission of its expansion. War broke out between Nepal and British colonial rulers in India. The war ended with signing of the Sugauli Treaty, which resulted in the loss of a significant size of its territory by Nepal. The Sugauli Treaty has determined the border between Nepal and India even today.
Despite losing sizable territory, Nepal, somehow, maintained its independence posture—sometimes by coaxing British colonial power and sometimes by confronting and intriguing. As a result, we can proudly claim to be the citizen of the ancient and independent country which had never been under the foreigners' rule. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India were British colonies and were one country—British India. After British left the Indian sub-continent, three countries emerged immediately. They are Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. These countries were born in 1947. Out of Pakistan, Bangladesh was created in 1971. These are new countries only about 63 years old. Bangladesh is even younger country even less than 40 years old. But Nepal was created 240 years ago as an independent and a unified country and has remained independent throughout its history. Nepal is, thus, one of the oldest countries in Asia. Nepal is, thus, not a part of Indian sub-continent but an ancient country of Asia that has its own language, history, culture and tradition.
But India has always ignored this historic reality. Even some historians and analysts tend to subscribe to Indian school of thought which claims that the culture in the entire South Asia is an offshoot of Indian civilization. How can the culture of a young country be a mainstream culture of the entire region when there are quite old and ancient civilizations and cultures continue to exist from the ancient time?
Compared to Nepal, India is a young nation which was created in 1947. India has been dominating its neighbors because of its geographic, economic and military size. India has been trying to manipulate in the internal affairs of smaller neighbors, which is quite aversion to the universally accepted international laws, diplomatic norms and values. As a result, India is the most hated country in South Asia. In all South Asia countries, anti-Indian sentiment is very strong, which is New Delhi's own making. All South Asian countries have problem with India and these problems are getting complicated every day which are the prime reason for anti-Indian sentiment in South Asian countries. The problem with its neighbors has impacted in creating bad image of India in the international arena.
Since India has border with all South Asian countries except Afghanistan, these countries have to adjust their policy with India. None of the neighbors , in fact, have any ill-will against India and its people but are against New Delhi's hegemonic policy. Nepal is a case in point that gives the overall picture of India's policy towards its neighbors and opinion of the neighbors about India and its policy. India has always tried to bully Nepal and create problem. If surveyed scientifically, more than 80 per cent Nepalese would perhaps disapprove India's Nepal policy. The recent case of open interference in Nepal's internal politics has further annoyed Nepalese people. It is the direct interference of Nepal that has blocked the process of election for the prime minister. The largest political party of Nepal—the UCPN-Maoist— has more openly and candidly opposed India's interference and vowed to fight Indian hegemony. But New Delhi has done everything possible to prevent the Maoists from leading the government. Now India has also realized that the reason behind the growing anti-Indian sentiment in Nepal is because of its own policy and its wrong handling. New Delhi is mulling to make some changes in its Nepal policy. The current ambassador Rakesh Sood is being made a scapegoat and all blame is being put on Sood for creating rift and misunderstanding between Nepal's Maoist party—the largest political force of Nepal— and New Delhi. It is learnt that India is making preparation to call back ambassador Sood to mend relationship with Maoists. It is true that Ambassador Sood's attitude and style are part of the problem in fuelling anti-Indian sentiment in Nepal. But the ambassador is not the root of the entire problem. The fundamental problem is the overall policy of New Delhi, which must be rectified and reoriented.
Now New Delhi seems to have begun to realize the problem. The realization is also a good indication to begin for change which shows that New Delhi is trying to change its policy towards its Nepal in general and Nepal in particular. Nepal and India are two sovereign countries and active members of the United Nations and other global and regional forums including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Nepal wants to nurture its relations with India on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. If India, at all, changes its hegemonic policy and genuinely wants to develop relations with Nepal on the basis of five-principle of peaceful co-existence, both the countries would benefit. India has to accept the reality that its Nepal policies have miserably failed, which has created friction with its neighbor. India's current Nepal policy would ultimately harm New Delhi more than Nepal because Nepali people who have once fought with British imperial power to keep its independence intact, would never accept India's hegemony and domination. Thus, these two countries now need to begin a fresh to make bilateral relations friendlier, more cooperative and cordial that would be able to face the newer challenges in the present changed international context.
The initiative should first come from New Delhi. To begin with, all unequal treaties and agreements Between the two countries including the 1950 Treaty must be scrapped and replaced by accords made on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. This would be beneficial for both Nepal and India. The ball is, now, in the court of New Delhi and if it genuinely comes up with good intention and with changed policy, Nepal-India relations would be exemplary for the world. Nepal and India are neighbors and they cannot change their geographic location. As the close neighbors, they must cope with one another. If relations continue to get sour, that would not be in the interest of both the countries. If something goes wrong in Nepal, India will also face its fallout because of closeness and open border. New Delhi must realize the fact that the coercive policy that India has adopted so far in Nepal has totally failed and instead created more problem.
As goes an old but apt maxim: One can choose a friend but not a neighbor. Thus one has to adjust relations with neighbor and deal accordingly—be it with individual relationship or ties between the two neighboring countries. Neighbor is always there in the next door and one cannot ignore it.
So far as Nepal's relationship with its neighbors is concerned, the Himalayan republic is always in dilemma in dealing with its neighbors. Nepal has two giant neighbors—China to the north and India to the south. Nepal has absolutely no problem with its northern neighbor—China after both the countries entered into diplomatic relation. But Kathmandu is faced with multitude frictions and irritants with India, which has surrounded Nepal from three sides.
Ever since Nepal was created as an independent political entity, it has been finding a tough time in defending its territory and safeguarding national independence. There were some minor frictions with the northern neighbor which triggered Nepal-Tibet war on a couple occasions. But those conflicts were resolved to the best interest of both countries, in which Beijing had demonstrated magnanimity towards smaller neighbor. As a result, the relationship with northern neighbor had no problem. Nepal and China have always enjoyed friendly and cooperative relations from the time immemorial. The relations between these two nations have been perfectly exemplary in the modern time especially after the establishment of the diplomatic relationship more than 55 years ago. China attaches greater importance to the relationship with Nepal whereas Nepal considers China as its true friend and development partner.
Nepal has problem only with its southern neighbor—India. Be it under the colonial rule or after independence, India's policy has caused irritation in neighboring Nepal. Most Nepali people believe that India is the main stumbling block of Nepal political transformation and economic development. When Nepal was in the unification spree, the British India came as the roadblock to Nepal's mission of its expansion. War broke out between Nepal and British colonial rulers in India. The war ended with signing of the Sugauli Treaty, which resulted in the loss of a significant size of its territory by Nepal. The Sugauli Treaty has determined the border between Nepal and India even today.
Despite losing sizable territory, Nepal, somehow, maintained its independence posture—sometimes by coaxing British colonial power and sometimes by confronting and intriguing. As a result, we can proudly claim to be the citizen of the ancient and independent country which had never been under the foreigners' rule. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India were British colonies and were one country—British India. After British left the Indian sub-continent, three countries emerged immediately. They are Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. These countries were born in 1947. Out of Pakistan, Bangladesh was created in 1971. These are new countries only about 63 years old. Bangladesh is even younger country even less than 40 years old. But Nepal was created 240 years ago as an independent and a unified country and has remained independent throughout its history. Nepal is, thus, one of the oldest countries in Asia. Nepal is, thus, not a part of Indian sub-continent but an ancient country of Asia that has its own language, history, culture and tradition.
But India has always ignored this historic reality. Even some historians and analysts tend to subscribe to Indian school of thought which claims that the culture in the entire South Asia is an offshoot of Indian civilization. How can the culture of a young country be a mainstream culture of the entire region when there are quite old and ancient civilizations and cultures continue to exist from the ancient time?
Compared to Nepal, India is a young nation which was created in 1947. India has been dominating its neighbors because of its geographic, economic and military size. India has been trying to manipulate in the internal affairs of smaller neighbors, which is quite aversion to the universally accepted international laws, diplomatic norms and values. As a result, India is the most hated country in South Asia. In all South Asia countries, anti-Indian sentiment is very strong, which is New Delhi's own making. All South Asian countries have problem with India and these problems are getting complicated every day which are the prime reason for anti-Indian sentiment in South Asian countries. The problem with its neighbors has impacted in creating bad image of India in the international arena.
Since India has border with all South Asian countries except Afghanistan, these countries have to adjust their policy with India. None of the neighbors , in fact, have any ill-will against India and its people but are against New Delhi's hegemonic policy. Nepal is a case in point that gives the overall picture of India's policy towards its neighbors and opinion of the neighbors about India and its policy. India has always tried to bully Nepal and create problem. If surveyed scientifically, more than 80 per cent Nepalese would perhaps disapprove India's Nepal policy. The recent case of open interference in Nepal's internal politics has further annoyed Nepalese people. It is the direct interference of Nepal that has blocked the process of election for the prime minister. The largest political party of Nepal—the UCPN-Maoist— has more openly and candidly opposed India's interference and vowed to fight Indian hegemony. But New Delhi has done everything possible to prevent the Maoists from leading the government. Now India has also realized that the reason behind the growing anti-Indian sentiment in Nepal is because of its own policy and its wrong handling. New Delhi is mulling to make some changes in its Nepal policy. The current ambassador Rakesh Sood is being made a scapegoat and all blame is being put on Sood for creating rift and misunderstanding between Nepal's Maoist party—the largest political force of Nepal— and New Delhi. It is learnt that India is making preparation to call back ambassador Sood to mend relationship with Maoists. It is true that Ambassador Sood's attitude and style are part of the problem in fuelling anti-Indian sentiment in Nepal. But the ambassador is not the root of the entire problem. The fundamental problem is the overall policy of New Delhi, which must be rectified and reoriented.
Now New Delhi seems to have begun to realize the problem. The realization is also a good indication to begin for change which shows that New Delhi is trying to change its policy towards its Nepal in general and Nepal in particular. Nepal and India are two sovereign countries and active members of the United Nations and other global and regional forums including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Nepal wants to nurture its relations with India on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. If India, at all, changes its hegemonic policy and genuinely wants to develop relations with Nepal on the basis of five-principle of peaceful co-existence, both the countries would benefit. India has to accept the reality that its Nepal policies have miserably failed, which has created friction with its neighbor. India's current Nepal policy would ultimately harm New Delhi more than Nepal because Nepali people who have once fought with British imperial power to keep its independence intact, would never accept India's hegemony and domination. Thus, these two countries now need to begin a fresh to make bilateral relations friendlier, more cooperative and cordial that would be able to face the newer challenges in the present changed international context.
The initiative should first come from New Delhi. To begin with, all unequal treaties and agreements Between the two countries including the 1950 Treaty must be scrapped and replaced by accords made on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. This would be beneficial for both Nepal and India. The ball is, now, in the court of New Delhi and if it genuinely comes up with good intention and with changed policy, Nepal-India relations would be exemplary for the world. Nepal and India are neighbors and they cannot change their geographic location. As the close neighbors, they must cope with one another. If relations continue to get sour, that would not be in the interest of both the countries. If something goes wrong in Nepal, India will also face its fallout because of closeness and open border. New Delhi must realize the fact that the coercive policy that India has adopted so far in Nepal has totally failed and instead created more problem.
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