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| South Asia can't afford to relax | | MEN & MATTERS | | B L KAK
South Asia has already emerged as one of the most important regions--yes, politically, strategically, militarily and industrially. In view of a series of changes, some of them highly ominous, in recent times inthe region, South Asia cannot afford to sit back and relax in the belief that the various flashpoints in the region would cool down on their own. The situation calls for concerted efforts on the part of the international community and especially the United Nations, but of course all that would be to no avail if individual countries do not take the initiative themselves.
It is generally felt that with about 1.5 billion people inhabiting the region and the vast majority of them living on less than a dollar a day, a little spark could rapidly turn into a raging wildfire and undo the progress some of the countries have made in the past decade. It is already an open secret that South Asia continues to be a cauldron of volatile politics that threatens to undermine the stability of the region already reeling under a plethora of problems.
And experts have warned, on more than one occasion in recent times, that the rapid growth of population, corruption at all levels, grinding poverty and rampant unemployment are a perfect recipe for disaster that could spiral out of control if the political classes do not clean up their act by reining in their personal ambitions for the general good of their countries. Complicating matters further is an eclectic mix of highly emotional people who can be easily manipulated by self-serving leaders some of whom have acquired cult status and would do everything in their power to keep things that way.
A glaring example in this connection: The flare-up in the Tamil-Sinhala conflict in Sri Lanka, the problems in Afghanistan where the Taliban have re-emerged as a force to reckon with and the tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir put the region on par with the Middle-East as far as potential for large-scale tumult is concerned.
Added to all this is the trouble in Bangladesh where many were killed and scores more injured as the main political entities squabbled over the seemingly simple matter of who should head an interim administration till elections are held. What would happen if something goes wrong when the elections are actually held is anybody’s guess.
The kingdom of Bhutan is, perhaps, the only island of tranquility in a rapidly-swelling sea of strife and disillusionment, thanks mainly to the fact that it has vigorously practiced a policy of isolationism thereby immunising itself to the abrasive effects of unbridled political ambition and outside influence. Unlike other small nations that have fallen victim to the temptation of punching above their weight in order to be seen and heard, Bhutan has restrained itself in its internal and external policies.
Television and the Internet have only recently made inroads into the kingdom and despite the massive tourism potential only a few thousand tourists are allowed into the country each year.
It would hurt the ego of some of the leaders of other countries of the region that they could learn a lot from Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuk who gave up absolute power in 1998 to pave way for the remote country’s first elections in 2008 with the intention of establishing a parliamentary democracy.
Wangchuk, who prefers to work from a modest log cabin, was earlier this year named as one of Time Magazine’s ‘100 People Who Shape Our World’. The fact that he empowered the country’s National Assembly without anyone asking for it by way of street demonstrations and violence is a lesson in magnanimity and humility some other leaders in the region can do well to emulate.
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