Economy and identity

"Southasian' is one among the many identities that I carry, and I am also a Muslim, a Pakistani, a Punjabi, a Lahori, a teacher, a researcher, an economist and  male. Some of these identities are clearly identifiable, while others require a bit of probing. Each, however, is equally valid. At certain times, one might receive more prominence than others, such as during an India-Pakistan cricket match; while at other times some could be more problematic, such as being a Muslim Pakistani male deplaning at JFK airport in New York. Regardless, all of these together make me who I am. At times, some elements can also come into conflict; but which broad conceptual categories do not? Do claims of liberty and equality not likewise clash at times? Importantly, the clash does not take away from the defining power and characteristics of any individual aspect.

The food that I eat is shared by many across Afghanistan, Pakistan and North India. The music that I enjoy is popular across Southasia and beyond. Our languages, literature and attire do not follow any of the provincial, national, religious or other boundaries mentioned above. The domain of overlapping identities is a reality and, more importantly, a cause for celebration. The solitude of the individual, after all, can only be broken by such overlaps. It is our Southasian identity that more often comes into conflict, and comes under pressure, than do the others. Our national boundaries are recent, and continuing territorial and ideological disputes complicate matters further. There is also the burden and memory of history: the Partition of 1947, the wars of 1965 and 1971, the creation of Bangladesh and many more. These issues have definitely slowed down the development of an institutional and organisational base for a Southasian identity, on top of the existing cultural ones. But this has not made the idea redundant.

Free flow
SAARC and the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) may not have achieved much till now, but that does deny their potential. Some might believe that, with increasing globalisation, the idea of a Southasian zone, and regional institutions and organisations have become passé. In fact, the opposite is true: an open and vibrant Southasia will make each of its constituent nationalities and sub-nationalities even stronger partners at the global level. To be globally competitive, you have to take advantage of the benefits of your neighbourhood; and this is true not just for the smaller countries, but also for India. We must thoroughly explore the advantages of common markets, which encourage the free flow of goods and services, capital, tourists, labour and ideas. Nepal and Bhutan have significant potential for hydroelectricity generation that, when realised, will benefit all of Southasia.

The western countries of the region have significant reserves of oil and gas that could benefit India and the east. Road networks across Southasia will facilitate trade for all, and connect us to Central Asia, Southeast Asia and beyond. India provides not only a billion-plus market, but can also be a supplier of food and a large number of commodities to the region – items that are currently being imported at a higher cost from overseas. Studies have indicated that trade in a few commodities (such as cotton, minerals and oil) among countries in the region show significant gains for the trading countries. If we extend this to trade in all goods and services, and across the region, each and every country will gain. Other countries must emulate the examples of India and Sri Lanka working together to develop human resources.

We must top the advances made by individual countries for the sake of growth, such as in heavy industry, light engineering, from agricultural commodities to information technology, from medical knowhow to banking services. Despite these clear opportunities, the countries of Southasia have not been able to achieve a fraction of this potential. One thing should be clear. Moving to take advantage of the potentialities will offer cyclical benefits – encouraging interest groups that will become supporters for change, as they would benefit from each other's complementarities. But there will be others who would lose in the short to medium term, which is why there is a need for brave leadership to push through change, if we are to strengthen the Southasian region and the Southasian identity.

~ Faisal Bari is associate professor and head of the Department of Economics at the Lahore University of Management Sciences.