GANGTOK, 09 Sept: A total of 20 participants, 10 each from India and Bangladesh, are taking a special short-term course on ‘India-Bangladesh Studies’, which started here today. The course is being organized by Sikkim University in collaboration with Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and Dhaka University, Bangladesh.
The course has MPhil and PhD students from public and private universities, faculty members, media personnel, professionals from NGOs and corporate organizations, government officials and security experts from both countries. The course has 15 experts from India and Bangladesh as resource persons.
The objective of the course is to bring the concerned stakeholders from the two countries to one platform to facilitate the synergy of shared views and opinions on diverse aspects of India-Bangladesh relations. It also seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship through “intense interaction” between the young professionals of both countries.
Another objective of the course is to provide a platform for “free-wheeling discussions” and exchange of views to create on ambience for the successful implementation of the state-level decisions taken by the heads of Governments to be taken in Dhaka later this month, through the preparation of joint papers and a joint publications.
The inaugural session of the course was chaired by SU Fellow [Academic], Dr CB Sunwar, who was accompanied by Prof Veena Sikri, Bangladesh Studies Programme, Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia University, and Prof Amena Mohsin, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka,
In her introductory remarks, Prof Veena mentioned that the course primarily has young participants from different fields, since younger generation was the most important driver in neighbourhood relations. She added that the course will try to motivate young minds to drive of neighbourhood relationship.
She stated that while sovereignty was very important, in the face of globalization, it was important to address its challenges regionally and not in isolation. She stressed that the mindset of ‘Us Vs Them’ needs to be changed into ‘Us and Them’.
“We have to rely, share and come together; it is very important,” Prof Veena said.
Talking about the programme, she mentioned that the idea of the course was to interact and work together on papers on different topics like policy, culture, trade, investment, connectivity, security, energy, water resources, regionalism and sub-regionalism issues and etc.
Prof Amena mentioned that a major objective of the course was to interact in dialogical mode. She stated the people of these two countries are not different and nature did not create problems, but people did. Hence, she added, it was upto the younger generation to decide how they share and cultivate the relationship and bonds and friendship between the countries.
Prof Amena encouraged participants towards high quality papers referring their young minds.
Likewise, the SU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mahendra P Lama, who is presently in Delhi, sent his message for the programme, which was read out by a representative from SU.
In his message, he mentioned that the course on India and Bangladesh for young students was very crucial and relevant.
“For us, it has other critical dimensions as we in the north-eastern states including West Bengal share an overwhelming length and breadth of borders with Bangladesh and this region at one time remained the most prosperous zone,” the message reads.
The course is scheduled to cover topics of history of India and Bangladesh, State and Politics, Foreign policy and security issues, economic relations: trade, investment and connectivity issues, environment, energy and resource sharing, including water resources and case studies.
Upon conclusion of the course here, the participants will move to Dhaka to continue three more days of lectures and group discussions before preparing joint papers.
The course has MPhil and PhD students from public and private universities, faculty members, media personnel, professionals from NGOs and corporate organizations, government officials and security experts from both countries. The course has 15 experts from India and Bangladesh as resource persons.
The objective of the course is to bring the concerned stakeholders from the two countries to one platform to facilitate the synergy of shared views and opinions on diverse aspects of India-Bangladesh relations. It also seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship through “intense interaction” between the young professionals of both countries.
Another objective of the course is to provide a platform for “free-wheeling discussions” and exchange of views to create on ambience for the successful implementation of the state-level decisions taken by the heads of Governments to be taken in Dhaka later this month, through the preparation of joint papers and a joint publications.
The inaugural session of the course was chaired by SU Fellow [Academic], Dr CB Sunwar, who was accompanied by Prof Veena Sikri, Bangladesh Studies Programme, Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia University, and Prof Amena Mohsin, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka,
In her introductory remarks, Prof Veena mentioned that the course primarily has young participants from different fields, since younger generation was the most important driver in neighbourhood relations. She added that the course will try to motivate young minds to drive of neighbourhood relationship.
She stated that while sovereignty was very important, in the face of globalization, it was important to address its challenges regionally and not in isolation. She stressed that the mindset of ‘Us Vs Them’ needs to be changed into ‘Us and Them’.
“We have to rely, share and come together; it is very important,” Prof Veena said.
Talking about the programme, she mentioned that the idea of the course was to interact and work together on papers on different topics like policy, culture, trade, investment, connectivity, security, energy, water resources, regionalism and sub-regionalism issues and etc.
Prof Amena mentioned that a major objective of the course was to interact in dialogical mode. She stated the people of these two countries are not different and nature did not create problems, but people did. Hence, she added, it was upto the younger generation to decide how they share and cultivate the relationship and bonds and friendship between the countries.
Prof Amena encouraged participants towards high quality papers referring their young minds.
Likewise, the SU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mahendra P Lama, who is presently in Delhi, sent his message for the programme, which was read out by a representative from SU.
In his message, he mentioned that the course on India and Bangladesh for young students was very crucial and relevant.
“For us, it has other critical dimensions as we in the north-eastern states including West Bengal share an overwhelming length and breadth of borders with Bangladesh and this region at one time remained the most prosperous zone,” the message reads.
The course is scheduled to cover topics of history of India and Bangladesh, State and Politics, Foreign policy and security issues, economic relations: trade, investment and connectivity issues, environment, energy and resource sharing, including water resources and case studies.
Upon conclusion of the course here, the participants will move to Dhaka to continue three more days of lectures and group discussions before preparing joint papers.
How shall we get further information regarding this kind of courses?
ReplyDelete