Sunday, May 11, 2003		Books

Security from cooperation and independence
Kanwalpreet

India’s Security in 21st Century, Challenges and Responses.
edited by Rajendra Prasad.
Dominant, New Delhi. Pages 318. Rs 650.

THE common cultural heritage, the shared legacy of British colonial domination and similar economic and social backwardness make the countries of South Asia stand on one platform. At the same time, to quote Indira Gandhi, "each country has its individual personality, distinctive perception and a different political system." The religious, linguistic and ethnic bonds that run across boundaries have given rise to problems among the same nations, which has led to transforming peaceful nations into kriegstaats, or garrison states.

Not only the South Asian countries, but states across the globe believe that military preparedness is the best way to achieve security. This is what the book in question aims to reveal. With essays by different research analysts, the work talks about wide-ranging topics from human rights to the Indian Ocean. With contributors like Major Generals P.R. Misal and V.K. Srivastava, we get a holistic picture as to what are the issues of security for India vis-`E0-vis its neighbours. Their experience in the Army helps us correlate the information with the news we hear from the mass media.

The book is a rich source of facts as we come to know about our military strength in comparison to the other countries. We not only read about the military might but also the importance of international trade and how it is manipulated to control economies. In S.K. Singh’s essay "South Asian Security," we read about Mohathir Mohammad who, thinking about George Sores and his tribe of forex manipulators, says, "We are told we must open up, and that trade and commerce must be totally free. Free for whom? For rogue speculators?"

One chapter that stands apart is the "Indian Ocean and India’s Maritime Security in the Early 21st Century." This paper by Satyavir Singh, among other issues, ponders as to why India should defuse the anti-India ring being created by China in the region. The Indian Navy will have to be strengthened to protect our coastlines.

An essay by V.K. Srivastava, "Kargil," draws the reader’s attention for its immediacy. It talks about the miscalculations of Pakistan’s leadership and the morale of our armed forces. He warns us that we may have won the war but we need to beware of a nation that goes to war with India only to divert its people’s attention from the crisis within. This strategy of Pakistan will always keep India on its toes.

The underlying theme of many essays highlights the role of the USA and how China is gradually maturing economically and is on the way to becoming a force to reckon with. Many contributors in the book have focused on China and its relation with India and how Pakistan is the beneficiary of a lot of grants only because of its animosity with India.

The book can be read with interest by those interested in "power politics." However, the book could have done with another proofreading. The book is a quiet, thoughtful collection edited by Rajendra Prasad of Gorakhpur University.