The recent tension with Nepal, misunderstanding with Bhutan and border clash with China show that India can no longer create policy of long-term water security in isolation.
Over generations, Bihar’s bane has been its utter lack of urbanisation. But now, even Bihar is urbanising. Or let’s say, rurbanising. Two decades under Nitish Kumar have created a new elite in its cities.
Indian govt officials last month skipped Turkish National Day celebrations in Delhi, in a message to Ankara following its support for Islamabad, particularly during Operation Sindoor.
Bihar is blessed with a land more fertile for revolutions than any in India. Why has it fallen so far behind then? Constant obsession with politics is at the root of its destruction.
An interesting read. Regarding the author’s point: “The concern should not only be that water will cause war — theory and practice tell us otherwise…”, it is worth noting that the very word ‘river’ comes from the same Latin root as ‘rival’ – underlining the truth that water has in fact always been a cause for war! For instance, Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights was primarily driven by the need – justifiable or otherwise – to secure the watershed of the river Jordan, Israel’s lifeline. Likewise China’s interest in dominating the Ladakh-Nepal areas, whence issue three of the greatest rivers of South Asia.
No amount of biltateral agreements will hold its sanctity when you have treacherous and duplicitous neighbours like China and Pakistan..it is an exercise in futility and wishful thinking to even hope so..meanwhile I’m sure the powers that be in the present government are alive to the situation
An interesting read. Regarding the author’s point: “The concern should not only be that water will cause war — theory and practice tell us otherwise…”, it is worth noting that the very word ‘river’ comes from the same Latin root as ‘rival’ – underlining the truth that water has in fact always been a cause for war! For instance, Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights was primarily driven by the need – justifiable or otherwise – to secure the watershed of the river Jordan, Israel’s lifeline. Likewise China’s interest in dominating the Ladakh-Nepal areas, whence issue three of the greatest rivers of South Asia.
No amount of biltateral agreements will hold its sanctity when you have treacherous and duplicitous neighbours like China and Pakistan..it is an exercise in futility and wishful thinking to even hope so..meanwhile I’m sure the powers that be in the present government are alive to the situation