Book
Review - ' The India Doctrine'
By Isha Khan
10 October, 2007
Countercurrents.org
Adorned in a saffron red jacket
and embellished with a detailed map of South Asia the concept of an
India Doctrine has been introduced to the readers in Bangladesh recently.
The book 'The India Doctrine' has been published by the Bangladesh Research
Forum and edited by Barrister M.B.I. Munshi and is priced at Tk. 300.
Munshi's contribution to the book constitutes the largest section with
several other writers from Bangladesh , Nepal and Sri Lanka providing
some useful and informative chapters.
The book comes complete with
a foreword written by esteemed scholar, Professor Ataur Rahman of Dhaka
University who sets the theme of the book. We are reminded by Prof.
Rahman that while India might have its own rationale for framing its
regional policy compatible with its national interests, the fact remains
that constant apprehensions, mistrust and tensions between India and
the smaller neighbors including Bangladesh had its negative effects
on any meaningful cooperation and security in the region.
This introduction neatly
moves us into the chapters written by Munshi which are a series of discussions
that covers the relations between India and East Pakistan/Bangladesh
from 1947 to the present. It attempts a historical and geo-strategic
appraisal of relations between the two countries but also offers a more
wide ranging analysis involving the Indian external intelligence operations
in Bangladesh and outside. The central idea of the
chapters when taken as a whole appears to be that the India Doctrine
as implemented by successive administrations in India is not limited
to simply harming the economic interests of its neighbours but also
has a historical and intellectual underpinning that comes from the thoughts
and writings of Jawaharlal Nehru and Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar amongst
others. The idea of a United India (or an 'Akhand Bharat') according
to the author is still a goal of Indian policy making in South Asia
.
Prof. Rahman is forced in
his foreword to contend that this thesis may seem implausible and 'far-fetched'
but also points out that Munshi supplements his ideas with an exhaustive
and elaborate set of references and notes to back up his argument. However,
a defect in this intricate framework of references is that the chapters
lack a bibliography which would have made it easier to verify the arguments
advanced by the author. The chapters also seems to be hampered by the
fact that they were written originally as a 3 part article and the author
clearly has had some difficulty in framing his arguments within this
constriction. However, as we all know Francis Fukuyama and Samuel Huntington
both started their seminal works in a similar manner with articles in
prominent journals before they were rendered into book form and this
does not seem to have affected the stream of their discussion and thoughts.
As this may be, the principle
cause of disquiet will certainly be Munshi's interpretation of significant
historical events and his commentary on the motivations of characters
such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ayub
Khan who are all now long dead. I was certainly surprised by some of
his findings but it was difficult to find fault here as most of his
views are backed-up with thorough research and investigation. His chapters
on the 1971 war and the insurgency in the CHT are probably the most
tantalizing in terms of historical data and comparisons.
Some of Munshi's arguments
are further buttressed by a short chapter by Khodeza Begum who makes
reference to events that occurred during the 1990's related to clandestine
meetings held in Dhaka concerning the reunification of the subcontinent.
In her chapter, there is an extensive discussion on the policies being
pursued by the Indian government that according to her is detrimental
to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bangladesh. She analyses
the concept of a United Bengal that has featured in some of the Indian
political literature in recent years. She has also summarized the tactics
and strategies adopted by the Indian government and its intelligence
agency to undermine the unity of Bangladesh and to inculcate the population
of the country with a perspective adverse to the nations integrity.
Although solidly written
there is a problem with the length of the chapter as well as the dated
materials used by the author. A more contemporary approach may have
served better but the evidence seems irrefutable and the author should
update her research before a second edition is considered.
In a sudden change of location
Brig. Gen. M. Sakhawat Hossain inexplicably takes us all the way to
the Indian Ocean and the emerging strategic scenarios being played out
in the area. One may legitimately question the relevance to the overall
context and theme of the book but the author makes this abundantly clear
when he remarks that rivalries in the South Asian region are primarily
based on events in 1971 and India's intent on dominating the region
has had to appreciate the ground realities that this cannot be achieved
alone. Hossain expertly explains the intricate alliances being forged
in the region and the importance of the Indian Ocean in the strategic
thinking of India , China , the USA and Pakistan . His comments on the
North-East insurgency and the recent uprising in Nepal are highly commendable
and very insightful especially in the latter case where he had visited
prior to writing the chapter.
Following the chapters by
the Bangladeshi authors mentioned above come the section written by
the Nepali writers. In the case of Madan Prasad Khanal, Nishchal Basnyat
and Sanjay Upadhya their contributions to the book are highly articulate,
elegant and almost near impeccable. Each author discusses differing
aspects of Indian interference and intervention in Nepali internal affairs
and in some cases provides possible solutions to these problems. But
with a clear conception of the implications of Indian domination on
Nepal Dr. Shastra Dutta Pant appeared a little confused in his expressions.
The final chapters of the
book are by two Sri Lankan writers Dr Rohan Gunaratna and Arbinda Acharya.
Both writers collaborated to produce a single chapter on the Sri Lankan
attitude to Indian interference or as the authors themselves put it,
"India's involvement in Sri Lankan ethnic imbroglio has been one
of the most controversial, ironic as well as tragic aspects of New Delhi's
foreign policy." While concentrating on the Sri Lankan situation
the writers also manage to draw in examples from Bangladesh, Pakistan
, Nepal and Bhutan to back up their case on Indian aspirations in South
Asia . Of significance is the Indian involvement in the protracted and
apparently insoluble conflict with the Tamils. The chapter also involves
a geostrategic appraisal of Sri Lanka and its growing relationship with
China and Pakistan . It is unfortunate therefore that the authors were
not as forceful about Indian interventions in Sri Lanka especially during
the time of the premiership of Rajiv Gandhi. The chapter seems somewhat
apologetic about Indian intervention rather than condemnatory which
would have been an appropriate response from Sri Lankan nationals.
The India Doctrine
Edited by MBI Munshi ( [email protected] )
Published by Bangladesh Research Forum
Dhaka July 2006
Pages: 288
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