Chair:
Amb A N Ram, Ex-Chairman, Council for Security Cooperation in Asia-Pacific-India

Panelists:
Amb B S Das, A Consultant on Revival of Nalanda University Programme
Dr. Shankari Sundararaman, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Dr. S K Mohanty, Fellow, Research and Information System (RIS)

Introductory Remarks: A N Ram

India and Southeast Asia are poised to reinforce their relations. In light of this, the India-ASEAN FTA negotiations and their enhanced security relations are some of the positive developments to reckon with. East Asia Summit along with other developments has provided a watershed in India's Asia-Pacific policy. The reviving of Nalanda University has added a cultural aspect to their relationship. Over the years, domestic factors have emerged to strengthen India's Look East policy. No solution to the challenges facing India's northeastern states is likely to be possible without the assistance of Southeast Asia.

Rebuilding Nalanda: Reviving India's Historical Heritage: Amb. B S Das

The revival of Nalanda University reflects an attempt to preserve the rich cultural heritage of India and develop strong linkages with the countries of South and East Asia. In its efforts at reviving Nalanda as an institution of international standard, India has received support from countries like Singapore, China and Japan. The new Nalanda University would have access to research, enabled learning, astronomy, observatory centres and a campus covering all its needs.

Nalanda occupies an important place in the ancient canonical legends of Buddhism as a place visited by Buddha himself several times and as an ancient seat of Buddhist learning later on. According to H.D. Sankalia, an archaeologist, Nalanda as a residential university was set up by the Gupta dynasty in 425 A.D. The royal patronage offered by the rulers subsequently enabled the university to emerge as the most prestigious institution of Buddhist learning and Mahayana doctrine between the fifth and seventh century A.D. Students from Java and the Far East received their education at this place, who later on spread Mahayana teachings to other parts of the Buddhist world.

Historically the story of Nalanda can be divided into two phases: first from the sixth to ninth century A.D., which is marked as the development phase, and the second, from the ninth to thirteenth century A.D., constituting the declining phase with the tantric aspects prevailing over Buddhism.

Nalanda had a very well-structured academic curriculum involving both Buddhist as well as non-Buddhist branches of learning. Logic was a necessary system of thought applied to all the schools of knowledge. On Astronomy, it was said that "this is the only temple in which, by imperial order, a water clock is kept to determine the right time". However, tantra was very popular, both with the students and the teachers. In fact, Tibetan accounts contain various references to Nalanda as a centre of Tantric Studies. Another facet of Nalanda University was its contribution to the development of art. From the eighth century onwards, independent stone and bronze images were made on a mass scale. Recently, examples of mural paintings at Nalanda, ascribed to the Pala period, have been brought to light. It seems that Nalanda became an epicenter of the artists in pursuit of knowledge.

However, Nalanda's widespread fame in the country, which had extended beyond its borders into the Far East and Tibet, began to dwindle to a regional or local reputation as Buddhism began to shrink in India and royal patronage began to wane during the eight century. Its reputation received a major blow by the introduction of tantric cults, magical spells and practices. The glory of Nalanda came to an end with the onset of the Muslim invasion during late 12th and early 13th century.

The year 2007 has witnessed various efforts to revive the Nalanda University as the government of Bihar and several national and international institutions are now engaged in re-designing it. The new university will have an astronomy centre, an observatory, a convention centre, and a complete campus with all its needs. The proposed curricula to be taught at the university will include; philosophy, archeology, heritology, anthropology, languages, collection and study of ancient manuscripts, scriptures, peace and conflict resolution studies and oriental philosophies with emphasis on Buddhist and its inter-linkages.

The university will go a long way to strengthen relations between India and Southeast Asia.

India-Singapore Relations: A Gateway to Southeast Asia: Shankari Sundararaman

India's relationship with the Southeast is not confined to the ASEAN region alone but also holds significance for the greater East Asian region. As Southeast Asia is redefining its relationship with East Asia, India too will have to redefine and reconstitute its relations with the region as a whole.

Singapore remains an important factor in India's relations with the ASEAN and the bilateral aspect of India-Singapore relations needs to be seen in the background of India's sustained engagement with Southeast Asia. Singapore's prominence as an important entrepot and as a gateway to the region dates back to pre-colonial times. During the Cold War, India's relation with Singapore was largely "estranged" because of different economic and political paths chosen by the two countries. While Singapore followed a high-intensity export and growth oriented economy, India followed self-sufficiency and import-substitution model. In terms of political ideology, Singapore followed a pro-western foreign policy while India shared a close relationship with the Soviet Union which, in turn, led to further estrangement of their bilateral relationship. As early as the mid-60s, even though Lee Kuan Yew had envisioned a role for India which could have stepped into a vacuum caused by the British withdrawal from the region, the number of missed opportunities far outnumber the positive engagements between the two regions.

Several factors have contributed to the enhanced India-Singapore relations in the post-Cold War era. The most important factor is the environmental shift, as evident from the end of the Cold War and the end of the Cambodian conflict. Second, India's economic transition and the liberalization programme credibly altered the equations between India and Singapore. In fact, it was Singapore which promoted the logic of an 'India fever', projecting India as an important investment opportunity. The multi-million dollar IT theme park in Bangalore, collaboration in the banking sector, pharmaceuticals, bio-technology and telecommunications are some of the areas in which the two countries engaged extensively with each other. The bilateral relationship entered a new phase with the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which is also being seen as a stepping stone for the India-ASEAN FTA.

Similarly, their security ties had also begun to develop since the early 90s. Singapore naval ships have been visiting Andaman and Vishakhapatnam ports, reciprocated in turn by the port visits of Indian naval ships. The two countries also began conducting joint naval exercises, which aim at addressing specific issues within maritime security. The air force and armies of the two countries have also conducted joint exercises. The evolving security debate within the ASEAN locates India at a critical juncture in terms of shifting security priorities involving not only the region but the entire East Asia. The entry of India in the ASEAN Regional Forum and the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation have proved to be important factors in further strengthening India-ASEAN security cooperation. These steps have enabled India to reaffirm its peaceful intent towards the region. India's endorsement of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, the Joint Declaration on International Terrorism between India and ASEAN and India's support to the three nation-maritime security initiatives in the Strait of Malacca have further added substance to India's relationship with the ASEAN.

There are a number of challenges ahead with different patterns of both bilateral and multilateral security arrangements emerging in the region. One of the critical challenge is that the new emerging order in Southeast Asia is vague and this may prove to be critical in influencing the security dynamics of the region. The fear of China turning revisionist has posed a doubt on the peaceful rise of China. India has to look at the smaller or peripheral players in the region. India's capacity to play a role, especially developing a cooperative role with China needs to be examined. Three probable security challenges including Sino-Japanese tensions, Sino-US tussle over Taiwan, and Sino-Indian rivalry in the region may engage the ASEAN and other major players in the coming years. In this context, the level of economic interdependence between the major powers and the ASEAN countries will help in overcoming the vulnerabilities facing the region.

India-Southeast Asia Economic Relations: S K Mohanty

The failure of multilateral processes has led to greater emphasis on regionalism, which the ASEAN has been following steadily through comprehensive reforms and financial liberalization, and through the enlargement of ASEAN+ networks. The Structural rigidity of the ASEAN in terms of expanding its membership has further facilitated the ASEAN+ processes, leading to the formation of the Chiang-Mai Initiative and the East Asian Summit. While the Chiang-Mai initiative paved the way for the integration of ASEAN + 3 economies including China, Japan and South Korea, the East Asian Summit has brought new players such as India, Australia and New Zealand.

The rise of China and India has created enormous economic opportunities for entire East Asia, despite the western notion that their rise will benefit only them. Its growth has imprinted its hold in the ASEAN region. However, the question arises whether India has got any relevance to the ASEAN region or is it simply India's desire to be part of the ASEAN. It can be estimated that the exclusion of India in the East Asian FTA process will cost the region to the extent of US$48 billion. Similarly, the exclusion of India in the East Asian FTA will cost Japan US$26 billion, China US$5.5 billion and the ASEAN US$4.8 billion. Therefore, any design to exclude India from the region's economic engagements will be at the detriment of the region itself.

Though scholars have argued that an FTA can be successful only between the North-South countries such as the NAFTA, but not between south-south countries, such a proposition has been proven false by various empirical evidences. The number of RTAs after 1995 have increased manifold between South-South countries. The real difference between a North-South FTA and a South-South FTA is that many factors have not been taken into account in South-South FTA, resulting into higher morbidity rate in the South. Furthermore, while a North-South FTA such as the European Union and the NAFTA is driven by various institutional mechanisms, such institutions are absent in a South-South FTA. To make an FTA effective, the factors required are that a large RTA, macroeconomic stability, potential for trade expansion, political motivation and the member countries' must be at a given level of economic development.

With respect to trade ties with the important East and South-East Asian countries, India has taken significant steps, and, in the coming years its economic engagement will continue to expand. In conclusion, the region has a strong potential to grow with gains from various initiatives in Southeast and East Asia. It is clear that institutional arrangements would be the precursor for robust economic cooperation between India and Southeast Asia. Therefore, what is required is to formulate goal setting approach for liberalization.

Discussion

US and ASEAN

No study has been done on the US effect over the East Asian Community. This factor should be taken into account and a comprehensive study needs to be done with the main focus on India-ASEAN economic cooperation.

In the post-Cold War period, the US interest in Southeast Asia has been waning. However, with the 9/11 terrorist attack, the US has again begun to focus on the region, particularly in the realm of maritime security. In the East Asia Summit, the US presence is very much visible with its allies' membership in the Summit.

India and Myanmar

Myanmar's increased interaction with China is critical to India. Besides, Myanmar offers an opportunity for India to have land border with the ASEAN region.

India and Vietnam

Trade complementarities between the two countries are very low. Vietnam is also a country with adaptability capacity. Therefore, there are many areas where India and Vietnam can augment their relationship which will require frequent meetings between the two countries.

Visa Regime in the India-ASEAN Relations

India and ASEAN countries have agreed on a liberalized visa regime, now in the pipeline.

Emphasis on Subjects of Contemporary relevance in a revived Nalanda University

The concept of 'Reviving Nalanda' is evolving, although there is still no definite decision on what subjects are to be taught.

Concluding Remarks: A N Ram

Although the venture to revive Nalanda is noble and a significant step forward in the CBM initiatives taken between India and Southeast Asia, we need to be prudent while romanticizing India's past cultural heritage. With regard to China, there is an ongoing debate over whether China and India are doomed for confrontation. But the possibilities are more towards partnership in the ASEAN region. In recent years, the US has radically changed its role. It seems to be more interested in building relations based on convergence of issues such as terrorism. However, India is making progress in broadening its engagement with Southeast Asia. The India-Thailand FTA negotiation is through and pending government's announcement. With these positive outcomes, India and Southeast Asia relations are bound for stronger association in the coming years.