‘THE BEAUTY OF COMPROMISE ‘ By Ramachandra Guha Ramachandra Guha, eminent historian and author most recently of India After Gandhi:The History of the World's Largest Democracy, will argue in favour of a political philosophy of moderation and dialogue. Using examples from Southasian conflicts, such as in the Kashmir Valley, Sri Lanka and the erstwhile East Pakistan, he will seek to demonstrate how the extremism and inflexibility of the contending parties have worked to intensify and deepen the conflicts. Sometimes the inflexibility has come from the State; at other times, from rebels or insurgents. Ramachandra Guha suggests that it is the special responsibility of writers and intellectuals to seek and promote the middle path of compromise and reconciliation. 'The Beauty of Compromise' is the inaugural lecture of an annual series being started by Himal Southasian, the regional monthly magazine from Kathmandu. As an independent magazine which seeks to promote peace and progress in Southasia on the foundation of idealism and realism, we believe in the importance of a fuller understanding of the subcontinental history of the last six decades. A central figure who has defined the terrain of these sixty years has been Mahatma Gandhi, who we see as the quintessential 'Southasian'. |