SOUTH ASIA constitutes a very densely populated region of the world with about 25% of the world’s population but only about 4% of its land area.
While a small part of the region could avoid colonial rule (although not colonial wars or its impacts), the greater part of the region suffered hugely under colonial rule and plunder for about two centuries before achieving independence about 78 years back. This very adversely affected its development prospects at a critical time of history, and from being in the forefront of development in pre-colonial times, the region was pushed back badly as it was made to serve the interests of colonial rulers for nearly 200 years, neglecting or repressing the needs of its own people, leading to very frequent famines in the colonial period which have been by and large avoided in the post-independence period with perhaps a very few exceptions in much smaller parts of the region. Some significant improvements in several human development indicators have been recorded, although much remains to be achieved.
The overall sustainable development prospects of the region face increasing challenges in times of climate change as this region is highly vulnerable to this phenomenon, related disasters and extreme weather situations, posing new and sometimes unprecedented risks for living, working and survival conditions. In terms of the combined impacts of climate change and a range of about a dozen other serious environmental problems, the situation can be even more difficult and a considerable part of the vulnerable population of the region can face serious survival issues in the coming decades, particularly if their needs do not receive adequate attention and conditions of peace and stability cannot be maintained.
Unfortunately, the region has also been prone to conflicts and civil strife at various levels. Having bled the region in many ways for two centuries, in their parting years also the colonial rulers inflicted further harm by promoting discord and divisions among people, leading to partition, mass displacement and deaths. The artificial boundary lines drawn up hurriedly and arbitrarily by colonial rulers left behind permanent scars and problems.
This region could never really recover from this, leading to one crisis and conflict after another, aggravated by new forms of big power interventions and manipulations (including assassinations, coups and regime changes, completed or attempted).
All this has become more dangerous in times of weapons becoming more destructive and their supplies reaching the region from big powers in increasing quantities, apart from the increased domestic availability. Two countries of the region with a long history of mutual hostility have nuclear weapons.
Combining together all these factors, this region can face unprecedented challenges in the coming decades. The worst possible scenario can be truly frightening. Without fear mongering, it needs to be humbly stated that the worst possibilities, even though considered unlikely by many, cannot be ignored.
It is in this wider context that the concerned and responsible people of the region should increasingly consider the possibility that the entire region should be united in the not too a distant future as the United Countries of South Asia (UCSA), with one union government that will ensure that there are no wars and the people of the entire region can progress in conditions of peace and stability. At the same time very high levels of decentralisation (and decentralised governance units at various levels of provinces, districts, villages, cities and towns, with adequate budgetary support) at the local level will be ensured for carrying forward development tasks and for protecting local cultures. This unity should be achieved on the basis of the principles of equality, justice and peace for all people.
Apart from the eight countries generally recognised to constitute South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives), Myanmar should also be given an offer of joining if it wishes to.
The united country should establish very friendly relations with all neighbours, particularly China, and should adopt a foreign policy based on peace and non-alignment. Peace within and peace outside should be its guiding principle.
This entity should be committed to democracy, decentralisation, transparency and honesty. This united country will be much more a natural unit for taking forward urgent tasks of development and environment protection based on cooperation of all. People of present-day landlocked countries like Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan will have access to a vast coastal area in the new creation. People of the island countries as well as other islands of the region will have wider protective options in times of sea level rise. The wide internal market of about 2 billion people will boost economic prospects in many ways.
Inter-faith harmony should be promoted in a big way by the government as well as by spiritual leaders and organisations. As the land of some of the greatest spiritual leaders like Gautam Buddha, Guru Nanak, Mahavir Jain, Khwaja Gharib Nawaz and Sant Kabir and of apostles of peace and non-violence like Mahatma Gandhi and Badshah Khan, South Asia should emerge as a living example of their teachings.
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Bharat Dogra writes extensively on environment, development and welfare issues. The views expressed here are the writer’s own, and Clarion India does not necessarily subscribe to them. He can be reached at: bharatdogra1956@gmail.com
