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Modi Effect on SAARC



By Rishi Dhamala : Kathmandu’s barometer is chilling down, but the Modi effect is heating up its politics, economics and diplomacy. SAARC summit belongs to the eight member nations of South Asian region, but Modi effect’s influence is dominating the whole summit. Modi is the talk of town in Kathmandu. From an ordinary coffee café to the President’s office, the effect is resonating everywhere. Kathmanduitians are busy discussing Modi’s Janakpur visit, cancellation, its rescheduling and again cancellation. This effect has increased the glamour of the Summit itself. They say a dog has its day, and for the SAARC Summit and its host, the day is here, after such a long time.

Nepalese were delighted with the Indian premier Modi’s plan to visit three of their major Hindu pilgrimages but its cancellation has left them dejected than ever. Being one of the three most influential leaders across the globe, after American President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netyanhau, Nepalese were excited to see and listen to more of Modi mantras during his visit to those three pilgrimages – Janakpur, Lumbini and Muktinath. The dejection among Nepalese because of this cancellation is another part of the Modi mania in Nepal. It reflects the level of admiration, respect and love that Modi has been able to garner during his earlier visit to Nepal and his address to Nepali parliament.

Lord Ram’s wedding procession from India is on its way to Janakpur and if Modi, as scheduled, had been a part of this procession, it would definitely have added a new dimension in the existing religious, historic and cultural relationship between both of our nations. If he had visited Lumbini, Buddha’s message of compassion and peace would have reached to more of the global citizens and his mere presence in Muktinath would have gained wider attention as the place for peace and salvation. In this era of publicity, these core pilgrimage tourist destination of Nepal would have received unprecedented exposure and publicity to a global audience, had the visit would have been not cancelled.

We lost this great opportunity due to our inability to brush aside our personal and partisan interest in favour of national interest.  We repeated our erstwhile tendencies of sabotaging our own dreams. And this realization among Nepalese is evident when it comes to our knowledge that President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, and Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey have been in touch with Modi’s office and requesting for not cancelling his erstwhile schedule.

Modi was able to establish himself as a loved persona among Nepalese in his address to Nepali parliament. His candid and impartial speech was able to modify Indian behavior towards Nepal that was in place since the days of Jawarharlal Nehru. Nepal was in his priority list well before he was elected as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Following his victory, he thanked Prime Minister Koirala and UCPN Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai on his Twitter channel and visited Nepal thereafter.

In his oath ceremony, that for the first time had participation of the head of the state of SAARC member states, Modi had outlined his neighbor- friendly doctrine. “I want to work ahead with our neighbouring states by looking into their eyes, not by giving them looks,” he had said in an interview with the Indian news channel NDTV.  “ It is the era of having rationality based practical relationships. The age of might to forge relationship is long gone.”

Not only neighbourhood, the Modi effect has been equally influential across the globe and has been spreading the message of brotherhood and prosperity. In our immediate past world leaders collided with each other for national and sometimes personal interest. Take for instance the cold war between Russian President Mikhail Gorbochov and US President Ronald Reagan, between Palestinian leader Yaseer Araafat and Israel’s Simon Perej,  be it between Nehru and Mao or be it Rajiv Gandhi and King Birendra. All these clashes of personality, symbolized the lack of willingness to come forward for a better future together. But days today have changed for the good.

American immigration had denied visa to Gujarat’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi but his persona and his thrust on development forced the US to review its ban on Modi and paved way for the Americans to witness the magnamity of Modi’s popularity in their Times Square. He enticed the whole American and world by his Hindi speech. In Australia he used cricket diplomacy to further bilateral relationship between the two states. In Myanmar, he preached the message for peace and coexistence. Wherever he has gone, he has ensured that his message and plans reflect the aspirations of the host nation and his own countrymen back home.

He popularity is sky rocketing as all his efforts are tailored and worked out to meet the objective of having prosperous nation, neighbourhood and world. US President Barack Obama himself has been captivated with Modi’s persona and it is for this reason that he has accepted India’s invitation to be join the Indians on their Republic Day this year as chief guest. This will be a history as none of the American President have ever been a part of the celebrations so far. These developments signify the building of mutually beneficial and co-existence relationships. India definitely can play a constructive and balancing role in the fight for superiority between China and the USA. India’s role in between these nations could be termed as middle-path ideologue, if Buddhism is to be sourced here. It is the middle-path that is basis for balance and that has the potential to avert this world from war.

Rise of Modi, and his focus on development and production seems to be eroding the basis for the presence of greater power, which would exert economic superiority over other world countries and creating basis for creating a balanced world. And due to its unique strategic position, Nepal definitely can play a constructive role in becoming a friendly bridge for bringing them together while their struggle for establishing themselves as economic powerhouse continues. This ground reality is also one of the factors that India has been giving priority to develop friendly bilateral relationship with its neighbours. The impact is evident. In his first visit by elaborating on how Nepal could come over its poverty and secure a good future for its young generation, Modi elaborated many formulas and won over Nepalese heart.

Prior to this, the Indian establishment had limited itself to the changing of governments in Nepal, in transferring and promoting bureaucrats or in building personal relationship with political leaders. But Modi changed the trend. He focused his attention of Nepal’s development and this was acknowledged by Nepalese as a statement from a neighbour who was equally serious about securing a good future of Nepalese.  With Modi coming back to Kathmandu, not only Nepalese but the whole SAARC member states are excited about the plans that Modi would be putting forward for improving bilateral cooperation among member states and the possibilities that this Summit would create for developing the whole of South Asia. This Summit definitely will be different than the previous ones.

Differences between Pakistan and India have always been a setback in the activism of SAARC and in the development of the member states. This time around also on the borders of these nations both armies continue to bombard each other. Despite these existing ground realities, the Modi effect has given new hope for cooperative relationship between both nations. If this 18th Summit brings these two nations together, it will be one of the greatest achievements for the whole region. Responding to a query in this regard, FM Pandey has claimed that, “ we are putting efforts to arrange a meeting between Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaj Shareef. We are acting as mediator and facilitator to organize this dialogue between the two head of the states.”

Nepal is hosting the Summit after 12 years and it has been doing everything possible for bringing these two nations together. Both Modi and Sharef will be staying at Hotel Soaltee and Minister Pandey said that efforts are being made for the two have informal interactions, if not formal. If India-Pakistan enmity does not flares up, Modi effect will surely rule the roost at the Summit. The Kathmandu declaration will start a new era of peace, development and mutual cooperation among member states of the region. The Summit will completely focus on the common issues of the member states and pave way for South Asia region to establish it as a power centre that would lead the world in the days ahead.

It is a fortunate coincidence for Nepal to have Modi as India’s PM and to host the 18th SAARC Summit. The impact of the summit is visible in Kathmandu’s transformation into a metropolitan. Modi effect does not solely belong to India; it has spread far and wide across the world. If we can use the Modi effect, by liberating ourselves from myopic political and personal convictions, we can transform the Nepal’s condition just like has been the case of Kathmandu city.

Mr. Dhamala is the President of the Reporters’ Club Nepal.

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