Panel abstract EASAS conference

Convenor: Tatu Vanhanen, Professor Emeritus, Klaukkala, Finland
Co-convenors: Prof. M A Hussain & Dr. B V Muralidhar, Faculty members, Dept. of Political Science & Public Administration, S.V. University, Tirupati, India

Panel Abstract: The purpose of this panel is to study the adaptation of democratic politics, constitutional structures, and party systems to the ethnic heterogeneity of South Asian societies. The panel welcomes papers which discuss, from different perspectives, these problems of democracy in ethnically divided South Asia, or in single South Asian countries, or in particular regions or provinces of these countries.
The maintenance of pluralistic societies is an important condition for containing terrorism. What happens to pluralism in one country has implications for preserving it in other countries. Asian countries in general have a common stake in preserving and strengthening their pluralistic societies. South Asian societies has historically been characteriesed by cultural diversity and religious perspectives rooted in tolerance and humanism. Conscious nurturing of these values and distinctive cultural features can go a long way towards making the region inhospitable for terrorism based on separatism and religious fundamentalism. The panel examines the causes for the growth of terrorism and separatism, measures to be taken by nations to counter the terrorist activities-political, economic and social.
The panel also examines the background of communal tensions in certain societies of Asia, the factors responsible for communal riots, the measures to be taken by nations affected to check these incidents which are threatening the very existence of civilized society.

Papers accepted for presentation in the panel:

Paper Giver 1: M.S. Ahluwalia, Department of History, H.P. University, Simla, India

Paper 1 Title: Problems of Democracy in South Asia: The Sikh Separatist Movement and the Indian State

Paper Abstract: The idea of equality is central to Sikhism. May it be the case of gender equality, casteless society, religious tolerance or quest for freedom. However, the early eighties of the last century saw the Sikhs in conflict with the Indian State over some genuine as well as legendary grouses. Within the Sikh community, a deep current favouring a Sikh State was and has been apparent. This and several other politico-religious factors created a space for the Sikhs to rebel with a view to offer alternatives to what the Government defined as "Constitutional Framework". This ultimately led to a serious conflict with the Indian State resulting in equally serious violation of human rights in so far as the Sikhs are concerned.
The basic approach in this paper is to study the Sikh experience in 'Hindu' India during our own times resulting in several checks imposed on the Sikhs including political, social, economic and judicial. The paper traces how the first major conflict began with the issue of the unilingual states, wherein the Government policy (particularly in case of the Punjabi speaking State with a Sikh majority) was to resist until the circumstances forced it to relent.
The paper also seeks to examine the attempts made by the two major political parties to trade in religious politics to survive at the ballot box or by using the favourite expression – "Mainstream", as in case of the two dominant religious minorities, the Muslims and the Sikhs. The paper, however, is confined only as to how and with what results the politicization of religion and explosion of the ethnic nationalism contributed to the rise of the Sikh 'Separatist Movement' in the Indian Punjab.

Paper 2 Title: The Growing Nuclear Danger in South Asia: Prospects for Cooperative Denuclearisation

Paper Abstract: The Problem. The Indo-Pakistani nuclear arms race raises several questions at two levels. Level One, the Inter-State Level: The 1998 tests were mostly low-yield nukes suggesting battlefield use, thereby lowering threshold. Are the nukes reliable? What arsenal size and type constitute parity? Doubts persist about early-warning systems of both sides. Will India's no-first-use (NFU) work, if hostile, counterforce missiles are detected? Both neighbours claim to have kept nukes unassembled and dispersed. Can each react to an attack fast, given 3-6 minutes time available? South Asian maintenance culture has a poor record. Radiation leaks were reported in an Indian reactor recently. Will each nuclear command function efficiently in crisis?
Level Two, Terrorist Threat: A surprise seizure, or stealing, of nuclear materials is real possibility. US-Israeli commando units conducted joint training in 2001 to intervene if Pakistan's nukes were seized. Ongoing terror in India led to a warlike situation recently, especially in Kashmir. Pakistan shuns NFU. So, terrorism may catalyse a war that may turn nuclear. This paper will highlight these and attendant problems (e.g., India-perceived Chinese threat) and suggest remedial measures.

Paper Anstract: The Soviet invasion in Afghanistan played a vital part in helping Islamists gain ground in Pakistan. So called Islamite military government of Pakistan became United State's natural choice to send their help. And it was thought that if the war against Soviets is dubbed as 'Jihad", we will be able to recruit many more Muslim fighters not just from Afghanistan but from all over the world. The assumption was correct. Soon Afghanistan became a hub of Jihadis activities - the biggest training camp for Jihadis ever in modern history. Afghanistan was soon to become a launching pad from where they were to launch their attacks on every infidel. They were using both Afghans and the US to achieve their missionary goals. As soon as they succeeded, with Pakistani help, in defeating the Soviets, they turned their hatred toward liberal factions in Pakistani society.
The freedom movement in Kashmir was originally a freedom movement against Indian occupation, but after it was transformed into a Jihad, it has been hijacked by Islamists – the same people who constituted Al-Qaeda and formed Taliban. Al-Qaeda and Taliban had many faces – Lashkar-e Tayyaba, Harkat ul Mujahideen, Jaishe Muhammad, Sepahe Sahaba etc. That's why it is very easy for them to disappear in one form and reappear in another.
Looking at the ground realities in South Asian region it is more than obvious that Islamists have been very successful in establishing their bases there. Kashmir as a result of this Islamism process presents a dilemma that is not so easy to solve. Al-Qaeda and Taliban have been so successful in using Kashmir freedom movement to their advantage in Kashmir that if it joins Pakistan, it will surely enhance the Islamist's influence, already at a peak there, and if it remains under Indian occupation, it will become more dangerous than Chechnya providing a very potent raison d'etre for a Jihadist mentality (holy war frame of mind), which will be harnessed by Islamists to recruit more Taliban and form many more Al-Qaeda like organizations.

Paper Giver 4: M. A. Hussain, Srivenkateswara university, Andhra Pradesh, India

Paper 4 Title: India's Secular Democracy At Risk: The Challenge of Communalism

Paper Abstract: There is an inseparable linkage between democracy and secularism in India. In this multi-religious and multi-cultural society democracy can not function if it propagates any one religion. The people in general will not tolerate discrimination on the part of the state on religious matters. Hence secularism is a compulsion for Indian democracy. In India secularism has emerged in our struggle for freedom, as a complimentary value of democracy and nationalisim. The Indian constituent assembly did not use the word secular in the Indian constitution though the principles qualified secularism were incorporated. The word secular was inserted in the preamble by the constitution 42nd amendment act 1976.
Secular spirit is not wholly reflected in our mass living and thinking. Communal riots in India at the time of partition and after the partition created havoc. With the passage of time the members of the Hindu Muslim communities have increasingly organised themselves on communal lines and religious fundamentalists have become very active. In Kashmir, it is Islam against Hindu hegemony, in Gujarat it is Hindutva forces against Muslims and in Punjab it is Sikhs against Hindus. The government at times failed to act effectively to counter communal attacks against religious minorities and attempts by state governments to limit religious freedom. The Gujarat and Tamil Nadu governments passed anti-conversion laws. The ineffective investigation and prosecution of attacks on religious minorities may be seen by some extremists as a signal that such communal violence may be committed with impunity. The Indian secular state has to grapple with challenges posed by communal and religious fundamentalist forces .Therefore we must oppose majority and minority communalism, if we do not want to retard the growth of real secular democratic spirit.

Paper Abstract: India, the world's largest democracy, which won Independence through non-violence under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, 'An Apostle of Ahimsa', is passing through the most violent decade in its recent history. During the period of hardly a decade, this violence – ethno-religious in character – answered by counter-violence at the hand of the state has taken a very heavy toll of lakhs of people as commoners culminating in the casualty of the two Prime Ministers: Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1984 and Mr. Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 besides several other political murders. The incidence of violence in general in India has increased in almost all states, but it is at its highest in the most sensitive areas of Jammu & Kashmir, North-East India and areas adjacent to Shri Lanka. The Amnesty International Report indicates in the violence by the terrorists and by the state, the most of the sufferers were the depressed classes. This violence is attributed to various reasons, but its ethno-religious character is apparent. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the nature of political violence, its incidence; the methods adopted by the state to counter or control this violence, the efficacy or otherwise of these methods and the remedies, if any.
Violence can not be completely done away with but it can be definitely minimized. In a democratic set-up we have to follow certain norms. Individual rights and civil liberties are of vital importance. For committing violence a person can not be summarily tried and punished. Things become still difficult if it is a political violence. India is wedded to democracy and hence things are different compared to some of her neighbours like Pakistan or Nepal where we don°t find the norms and values implied to a true democratic system.

Paper Abstract: India is a country where largest number of religions in the world exist. It is still the biggest democratic nation with secular character and unity in diversity. The Constitution of India reiterates the secular character. But this is under threat as it is being challenged by communalism and religious fundamentalism. They are weakening the working and stability of democratic, secular and federal state.
The word "Communalism" which evokes negative feeling amongst all people, has been subject to much analytical scrutiny. It is stretched in all directions according to the contingencies of time and sequence. Communal conflicts create not only bitterness and a sense of insecurity but have far reaching economic and political consequences as well. They are something like political movements aiming at realising not a cultural or religious objective but to create fear among the minorities. It is in this context that the Godhra carnage and the subsequent riots in Gujarat against the backdrop of Ramjanmabhoomi dispute in Ayodhya are discussed in this paper. Frequent communal riots are emerging as one of the severest challenges to India's polity in post-independent secular India. They are threatening the fragile communal harmony and dividing the people further. The factors responsible for communal riots in general and with reference to the Gujarat incidends, the steps to be taken to check these riots, and how best they can be avoided, are also analysed in this paper.

Paper 7 Title: The rise of communalism and the shifting political opportunities of Dalit social movements

Paper Abstract: Dalit assertion throughout India presents a formidable challenge to the militant Hindu Movement (MHM). The impetus to challenge the validity of Hinduism forms the very logic of Dalit politics. The emergence and development of Dalit social movements (DSMs) in India though, is very uneven. This is indeed evident through the varied responses of DSMs to MHM in various North Indian States. Such responses range from one of Dalit participation in the activities of the militant Hindus (as in the communal riots in Gujarat); to occasionally forging political alliances with militant Hindu political party (as is evident in UP), or even maintaining a tacit distance with the militant Hindu ideologues (as in Maharashtra). This paper analyzes differential responses of DSM to MHM. In a broader sense, these varied responses not only affect the trajectories of the overall Dalit agenda, but also in turn make a significant difference to the socio-political dynamics of the entire ethnic mosaic that is a characteristic of the Indian polity.
This paper argues that the differential responses to MHM are a function of the character of DSMs in respective states. The character of a social movement is shaped by its ideology, organization, and leadership. The paper then attempts to trace the character of DSM in respective states. It establishes that the political character of DSM in Uttar Pradesh facilitated by its politicized ideology explains the formation of Dalit-Hindu political alliances. DSM in Maharashtra, historically led by activist-scholars and littérateurs being characteristically intellectual, elucidates its tacit distanciation with the MHM. The fledgling character of DSM in Gujarat, facilitated by weak leadership and ideology, as well as weak organization explicates the participation of Dalits in communal riots instigated by MHM. The paper acknowledges the role of state in organizing the political environment within which social movements operate. Nonetheless, it is evident that the character of social movements per se, regardless of the state, makes the movement relatively autonomous in molding its own political opportunities.

Paper 8 Title: The Effectiveness of Federalism to Combat Separatism in India : A Critique

Paper Abstract: India is a continental-size country with diversities and complexities. It is a multi-caste, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-linguistic society. Therefore it has been facing a serious challenge from the separatist movements since a long time. Since 1947 Jammu and Kashmir has become a controversial issue between India and Pakistan. The separatist movement started by the JKLF and other separatist groups has become a severe threat to India's national integration. In the northeast also separatist movements have been posing a serious challenge to Indian unity. The insurgent activities are supported by the champions of the "sons of the soil theory" and some regional political parties. Separatist tendencies are still visible in Punjab and in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Some fringe separatist groups are indulging in anti-India campaign. Although they are not posing any serious challenge to India's federal democracy and its integrity, they cannot be overlooked or ignored. The makers of the Indian Constitution did realize the threats likely to be posed by the anti-national forces in independent India. Hence they made a choice in favour of centralised federalism.
In this background an attempt is being made to examine the effectiveness of federalism in curbing separation in India.
- The primary factors responsible for the emergence of separatism would be analysed.
- The evil consequences of separatism such as terrorism, regionalism, and communalism and their impact on the functioning of India's democracy would be discussed.
- The effectiveness of centralized federal provisions in combating separatism would be reviewed.
- Is present federal model suitable to maintain and sustain India's integrity? Is there any need for reinventing Indian federalism? The paper answers these two questions from the national, federal and democratic perspective.

Paper 9 Title: Communal violence in India: Perspectives on the causative factors

Paper Abstract: The communal carnage in Gujarat led many to re-examine the existing explanations of the various causative factors of religious conflagrations. The paper would therefore attempt to take a broad but detailed account of the four theorists, namely Paul Brass, Steven Wilkinson, Imtiaz Ahmad and Ashutosh Varshney which has the potential to advance the most varied and differentiated mass of thought and scholarship which could go a long way in putting the issue of Hindu-Muslim violence in India in perspective.

Paper Abstract: This well researched and dispassionately analysed paper will contribute significantly for a debate on the crucial areas of minority problems in India and its solution. The main problem in India has been the problem of the Muslim community vis-à-vis the Hindu majority. No other minority has faced so many riots as the Muslims. However, in recent past sometimes Christians are also at the receiving end, particularly those engaged in missionary work. A situation can be defused effectively by enlisting public co-operation. Several commissions have stressed the role of peace committees. It should be ensured that important men with considerable local influence and who are acceptable to both the communities, because of their proven impartiality, are included as members of these committees. These committees should be given every assistance by the administration so that they can go around the area and prevail upon the people to refrain from violent activities. The peace committees can too play a very important role in removing fear, mitigating panic, reducing tension and restoring normalcy in the area.
Unfortunately an alarming development during the last few years has been the concerted and planned attacks on the minorities. The physical assault of the minorities during the recent past in different parts of the country is unprecedented in brutality. It is said that certain privileges are enjoyed by minority communities and, when changed what those privileges are, the answer is personal law and Article 30 of the constitution. We are fighting for over insignificant things. There are things happening in the world which are of great importance to our country. We are fighting over small things and in the process harming our own interest and development. We should seriously think over the matter and try to find out amicable solutions acceptable to both the majority and minority groups of the society before it is too late.

Paper Abstract: This paper highlights a conceptual overview of terrorism in India in the perspective of India's security. Terrorism is growing day by day. The law and order enforcing agencies find themselves helpless in curbing the growing trends of terrorism in India. Terrorism is biggest threat we face to day, which is geographically widespread and ideologically diverse. Life in India has become precariously insecure. Eradiction of terrorism will herald the advent of new era of peace in the continent. The whole world had bad experience of terrorism. Most of the terrorism at present is concentrated in Jammu and Kashmir in North West, but its arms have become long and it even is resorted to by the politician also. This type of terrorism is very obnoxious and determental to the helth of the polity. As victim of terrorism for more than decade, India has reasons to welcome the recognition of this menace by the international community after the devastation in America and Moscow. India, too, has paid a very heavy price in the last 10 years in Kashmir, which has lost its reputation as a tourist paradise because of the insurgency. Other parts of India have also born the burnt of terrorist attack. Both the civilians and the security forces have suffered.
This paper also analyses Pakistan's role in spreading terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and other areas of India through ISI programme "K-2" aimed at coordinating terrorist activities in India.

Paper 12 Title: Problems of Democracy in Ethnically Divided South Asian Countries

Paper Abstract: All South Asian countries are ethnically more or less heterogeneous, and, consequently, all of them have experienced serious ethnic conflicts. The problem is how to safeguard peaceful coexistence of different ethnic groups in such countries. The idea of this paper is to investigate this problem from the perspective of political institutions and especially from the perspective of democracy. Do political institutions of a country reflect the ethnic heterogeneity of the population and by what means? Further, are political institutions adapted and used to mitigate ethnic conflicts in such societies, or are they designed to strengthen the position of dominant ethnic groups and to suppress the strivings of some other groups? To what extent have political institutions succeeded or failed in the management of ethnic relations and are there, from this perspective, clear differences between democratic and autocratic political systems? These are some of the problems investigated and discussed in this paper, which covers seven South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). A conclusion is that democratic institutions seem to be better adapted to manage ethnic conflicts than autocratic institutions, although there are still problems in the adaptation of democratic institutions to the requirements of ethnic nepotism.

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Panel No. 32

Panel Title: Problems of democracy in South Asia: ” Terrorism and Separatism; ” Communal Politics and Religious Fundamentalism; ” Ethnic division

Papers accepted for presentation in the panel: