Jammu, February 21 (Scoop News) – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision of Asian identity and cooperation stood to times, stated Governor N. N. Vohra in a seminar organized by the Nehru Studies Centre, University of Jammu. Speaking aptly to the seminar theme "Nehru’s vision of Asia and Contemporary Reality", the Governor said that true appreciation of Nehru’s thought shows how Nehru wanted Asian countries to merge as a cooperative group to achieve comprehensive human development which includes food security, universal education and healthcare and other aspects which are essential for the dignified human life.
Nehru’s vision also shows the path to development of every country without entangled into groups and rivalries. Vohra emphasized how relevant what Pandit Nehru stated in First Asian Countries Conference to the contemporary period. Contrary to the Panditji’s endeavors, the contemporary reality in Asia in general and around India in particular affected with terrorism and proxy war which are creating hurdles for harmonious relations between the states in Asia. He expressed the hope that the deliberations in the next two days of the seminar will throw light on these aspects so that relevance of Nehru’s thought to the contemporary period can be properly analyzed.
In his presidential address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University Professor M. P. Singh Ishar congratulated Nehru Studies Centre for organizing a seminar on a theme which is so relevant to the contemporary period. He stated that Nehru expected cooperative relations between all the countries, particularly among the Asian countries, so that poverty can be eradicated. Unfortunately, the imperialist powers have not allowed this to happen as a result still many of the Asian countries are suffering with lack of human development on the one hand and inter-state rivalry on the other hand. Only way to address contemporary social problems is adhere to Nehru’s vision of peaceful coexistence and cooperation among the nations.
Delivering the Keynote address Professor Madhu Bhalla of Delhi University spoke at length on Nehru’s vision of Asian Identity and its implications for future. She elaborated on how non-alignment, anti-colonialism and opposition to power politics, that guided India’s foreign policy in the initial days of independence, were close to Nehru’s vision of Asian integration and closer relations between Asian countries modeling loose federation. She stated that though Nehru’s vision of Asian integration was sorely tested in the 1950s when China occupied Tibet and the conflict with China in 1962, yet Indian policy makers swore by the core ideas of his foreign policy and kept alive an idea of Asia. In the post-Cold War period, Professor Bhalla pointed out that, principles of Panchasheel became the framework for contemporary regionalism in Asia. Contrary to the Western pessimism of viewing Asian regionalism as uninstitutionalised and non-contractual, in essence, the 1990s Asia has built on the normative framework that was the basis of Nehru’s vision of Asia, Professor Bhalla said concluding her Keynote address.
Earlier, the Seminar Coordinator and Director, Nehru Studies Centre, Professor Baljit Singh, Welcomed the Governor, Vice-Chancellor and other participants of the Seminar. While introducing the theme of the seminar titled "Nehru’s Vision of Asia and Contemporary Reality, he traced the history of the trajectory of the Asian development and its contribution to the human civilization. Though the European imperialism somewhat undermined Asia’s progress for a couple of centuries, Professor Baljit Singh stated that, the end of Cold War and the high economic growth experienced by China and India again brought Asia into the foreground. Now Asia has entered into a phase where the Nehruvian vision of Asia plying a role in shaping the destiny of the entire world has become a reality. While noting these positive aspects, he also mentioned some of the security threats Asia witnessed in recent period and how the insecurities of the various countries in the region are increasing the rivalries among the Asian countries. In the end he emphasized the cooperation between the two Asian giants – India and China – as the key to the sustaining the growth and development in the entire region apart from consolidating Nehru’s idea of Asian identity.
Professor Anurag Gangal, Head, Department of Political Science presented the vote of thanks on behalf of the Nehru Studies Centre.
The technical sessions conducted in the next two days will debate on specific topics such as "Nehru’s views Regarding South Asia", "Contemporary Relevance of Nehru’s Vision of Asia", "Locating India, China, Japan & the US in Contemporary Asia", "Asian Security: Structure, Threats and Challenges" and "Nehruvian Philosophy & Contemporary Asian Economic Reality".
Many eminent persons like Ambassador I. P. Khosla, Professor A. S. Narang ( IGNOU, New Delhi), Professor Gurnam Singh (GNDU, Amritsar), Professor Chintamani Mahapatra (JNU, New Delhi), Professor Surinder Shukla (Panjab University, Chandigarh), Professor R. S. Ghuman (CRRID, Chandigarh), Professor K. S. Sidhu and Dr. Umrao Singh (Punjab University Patiala), Dr. Rajpal Budhania (University of Alahabad) and Dr. Ramesh Chouhan (Himachal University), Dr. Mathew Joseph (Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi) will take part in the deliberations.