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Oxford University Press publishes 'The Agartala Doctrine' by Subir Bhaumik : visionary book a product of Tripura Conclave organized by TIWN, worldwide formal launch on Feb 19
TIWN Exclusive
TIWN Exclusive
PHOTO : Eminent Journalist Subir Bhaumik presenting the FIRST COPY of Book to Saumen Sarker, Editor of TIWN at Kolkata. TIWN Pic Jan 30
KOLKATA / AGARTALA, Jan 31 (TIWN Exclusive): British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) former Eastern India Bureau Chief and Eminent Journalist Subir Bhaumik's much waited Book "The Agartala Doctrine" published by world renowned OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS. Many would say how come a doctrine named after Agartala -- a small state capital town of an once princely state. Doctrines guiding diplomacy are usually named after those who propound it -- Monroe doctrine or Gujral doctrine .But strategic analyst, journalist and author Subir Bhaumik has propounded the "Agartala Doctrine of Appropriate Response" on the basis of his analysis of tinyTripura's role in handling the neighborhood. Subir Bhaumik has been a long time journalist, 17 years with BBC, and his columns are used by all leading Indian newspapers and the likes of Al Jazeera and BBC. His book " Agartala Doctrine: Proactive Northeast in Indian foreign policy" has now been published by the Oxford University Press. Worldwide launch will begin on Feb 19 starting at British Council Kolkata, followed by Delhi, Dhaka and other cities.
Bhaumik says the Agartala Doctrine, now published as a book with the same title, is far different from both the American Monroe doctrine of neighborhood dominance and also the Indian Gujral doctrine of unilateral magnanimity."It is not pacifist but it seeks to any recourse to bullying smaller neighbours. It is based on strict reciprocity that the Gujral doctrine sought to avoid," says Bhaumik.
"I have only put together a roadmap of action for states and Centre in how it manages the neighborhood . The leaders of Tripura from first Chief Minister Sachindralal Singha to current CM Manik Sarkar have followed an unambigous , no-nonsense proactive courseof action that forms the basis of the doctrine I choose to name after mydear hometown," said Subir Bhaumik , perhaps the most prolific writer on strategic issues in the East.
In the 1960s, long before India came around to support the Bengali independence movement in East Pakistan, Tripura's first chief minister Sachindralal Singha had secretly hosted Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Agartala in Feb 1962 and promised to mobilise Indian support .
"It did not work with Nehru who was bogged down by the Chinese problem and Shastri did not live long. But Indira Gandhi bought Sachindralal Singh's argument that the only way to ensure the security of India's Northeast, where China and Pakistan were fuelling separatist insurgencies, was to throw Pakistan out of the East. When Indira Gandhi accepted Singh's vision , India began to support the Bengali struggle,:" says Bhaumik.
Tripura not only played a crucial role in the most decisive Indian foreign policy action after Independence but also blazed a trail in tackling its security woes caused by arevival of tribal insurgency.
Bhaumik says the Manik Sarkar government authorised then police chief G M Srivastava's policy of attacking rebel bases and safe houses inside Bangladesh by using surrendered militants or Bangladeshi mafiosi .
"There were more than 20 such attacks in 3 years after the ruling Left Front lost the 2000 Tribal Areas Autonomous Council elections. That softened up the militancy and finally destroyed it and helped the state complete crucial projects like extension of rail link to Agartala," says Bhaumik.
In fact , in Tripura, no unified command was set up because the state administration wanted to maintain no record of such trans-border operations. "But local Military intelligence units and BSF helped the state police in organising the raids which were clearly deniable," says Bhaumik .
At a time when India's policy establishment appear confused overhow to handle Pakistan-origin terror or have created unseemly controversies by high level bragadacio involving ministers owning up a covert strike inside Myanmar, the 'Agartala Doctrine' is offered as an alternative .
Author thanked Tripura Infoway organized Tripura Conclave 2014 and TIWN Editor Saumen Sarkar for making this book possible. TIWN
The 'Agartala doctrine' calls for proactive, if necessary covert offensive action by proxies but it also pitches for walking the extra mile of friendship if the neighbour is as cooperative as Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina .
Tripura's contemporary positioning on neighborhood issues -- from Singh's determined lobbying to break up Pakistan to Sarkar's tough covert but totally secret counter-action -- is also used by Bhaumik to drive home a lesson for regional leaders like Mamata Banerji and Jayalalitha who created problems for national foreign policy makers by shrill opposition to major initiatives.
"Tripura has taken much more decisive action, be it a Congress or a Communist government, but such action has always been in the best interest of the nation and not for partisan interests. There is no place for cheap populism in the Agartala Doctrine," says Bhaumik .
After crushing the insurgency, Tripura has moved swiftly to do away with the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and develop rail, road, river and Internet connectivity through Bangladesh to the extent of slowly emerging as the alternaete gateway to Northeast .
"Agartala doctrine is all about converting a huge disadvantage into a redeeming advantage , be it handling Pakistan, separatist insurgencies or the more positive geo-political and geo-economic repositioning of the state," says Bhaumik, who hails from Tripura .
A long time journalist , he is a former Queen Elizabeth Fellow at Oxford University, an Eurasian Fellow at Frankfurt University and a senior fellow at East West Centre, Washington. For 17 years, Bhaumik was BBC bureau chief in Calcutta . He four previous books are Insurgent Crossfire: Northeast India , Troubled Periphery: Crisis of India's Northeast, Counter-Gaze: Media , Migrants , MInorities and Living on the Edge : Bangladesh Chittagong Hill Tracts.
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