At the India International Centre by the Lodhi tombs in New Delhi, the watering hole of India's, and now South Asia's, diplo-academic elite, workshops are held in a glassed-in chamber that is surrounded by grand trees. This one had been called to ponder on South Asia's future. As usual it had the usual mix of renegade academics and former diplomats (some arrogantly New Delhi-centric, others self-assuredly 'South Asian'). Plus add a bunch of academics from the Jawaharlal Nehru University's school of diplomacy.
From beyond New Delhi came academics — from Madras University, Bombay University and the University of Punjab — less encumbered by proximity to Raisina Hill, or being part of India's opinon-making elite, and hence willing to stick their necks out a bit. From the other South Asian countries came academics, some mildly critical of the 'state' but most of them without the oomph to take on the diplo-scholars who presume to represent newly resurgent India.
Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, who would probably be the overwhelming choice for Prime Minister of the Republic of South Asia if we had one, opened the meeting with a cautionary note. "In all the papers that I see here, there is diagnosis of the problem, but no prescription." Rather than discuss overarching solutions to the problems that dog interstate relations in the region, the conclave concentrated on the report of the "Eminent Persons' Group" meant to revive the SAARC organisation.
While Shri Gujral spoke on, J N Dixit, former Foreign Secy at South Block, tried to pry open his bottle of Blue Lite mineral water. It was proving very difficult and C K Lal, the roads engineer-cum-columnist from Kathmandu, joined the fray and wrestled with the uncooperative bottle. Finally, the plastic wrapper came off , and they had their fill of aqua before their attention returned to the proceedings.