Candid assessment of Indo-Bangla ties
Paramjit S. Sahai

The Jamdani Revolution: Politics, Personalities and Civil Society in Bangladesh, 1989-1992.
by Krishnan Srinivasan. Har-Anand Publications. Pages 386. Rs 595.

the book is a path-breaking effort by the author Krishnan Srinivasan in the area of diplomacy and foreign policy, as recording history is not an Indian trait. By using the medium of diary, the author shares first-hand knowledge and his experiences with the readers and thus helps in bridging the information deficit that exists on our neighbours.

The book attempts to celebrate the emergence of ‘bloodless civil society’ in Bangladesh, which justifies the title, The Jamdani Revolution, in the spirit of Rose and Orange Revolutions. It is, however, much more than a treatise on the civil society, as it looks at ‘Politics, Personalities and Civil Society’. It also provides a window to the whole gamut of India-Bangladesh relations and the working life of an Ambassador. In his own fashion, the author lets the readers have a whiff of fresh air, in the true Gandhian spirit of letting wind blow from all the directions.

The diary relates events/incidents compiled on a weekly basis. The value of the publication is enhanced, as each event is interspersed with incisive comments. These provide food for thought, reflection and introspection. The conversational and racy style makes the book an easy reading.

Srinivasan laments the low intensity of the India-Bangladesh relationship, which attracts attention only in ‘crisis situation’, as is the case of India’s relation with other neighbours. It is largely the product of a mindset with other factors contributing to the same. Even the change of leadership has not made any difference. We are no better in 2007 than we were in 1992, although some issues are behind us. Our lukewarm response to Bangladesh cyclone victims in 2007 bears testimony to this.

The author also provides a peep into the daily working life of an Ambassador with its moments of dullness and excitement. It is no more a bed of roses and attending cocktail parties. The envoy’s job becomes more complicated in the absence of any direction from the headquarters. He is rudderless and is required to promote relations, equipped with an ‘open-ended’ brief and is thus left with ‘his own devices’. A successful Ambassador has to be vigilant, perceptive and credible and has to dexterously charter his course. This task has become more difficult in these days of ‘open diplomacy’ with the opening of multiple channels of direct communication between world leaders. This disconnect between the envoy and the Foreign Ministry is, however, a worldwide phenomenon and not limited to India alone. It would, therefore, be interesting to see Srinivasan coming out with a sequel to this book, which narrates the perceptions of the headquarters, given his experiences as Foreign Secretary.

In his treatment of ‘politics and personalities’, Srinivasan is both bold and transparent. He accepts an element of subjectivity, even in his objective assessment. His observations are unlike that of a diplomat who usually couches his comments in ‘ifs and buts’. These, therefore, serve to provide a useful window to understanding the mindset of the leadership in both the countries—apathy in India and anti-India feelings in Bangladesh. His comments on the personalities are bound to ruffle some feathers. Only the brave would take these in their own stride.

The India-Bangladesh relationship has to fit into the larger context of India-South Asia relationship, its extended neighbourhood policy and aspirations to be a world leader. India has not so far succeeded in dealing with the complexities that naturally arise from any neighbourhood policy, as they say it is easy to "choose friends than neighbours". Despite past failures, India has to craft a policy, which turns its neighbours into reliable working partners, if not friends.

The author needs to be commended in providing the readers with a candid assessment of India-Bangladesh relations. The success of the book would be measured if it results in a thorough review of India’s relations not only with Bangladesh but also with other neighbours. We also need to conduct foreign policy by relying on well-tested institutional arrangements rather than relying on personalities. The author starts and concludes with chapters on "Confidence Building". What, however, is missing is the confidence in one another. This can be achieved through change in mindset—a slow process, but this is the need of the hour. Will the policy makers in India and Bangladesh wake up to this clarion call, realising that they have a common destiny and not allow their domestic compulsions to stand in the uplift of their people? Do we finally see the Jamdani becoming a symbolic fabric, which binds India and Bangladesh into friendship?

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