WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR: FROM 'BORDERS' TO 'TRANSITION ZONES'

Abstract

With renewed interest in forging social, economic as well and cultural- in the late 20th century India began to 'Look' east towards the South Asian nations which although had rich historical ties had drifted away in recent times. While India looks towards the east it needs to look through the Northeastern region. The importance of the region cannot be overlooked given its strategic and economic significance to the nation. New Delhi, for long has seen the Northeast region with a perspective that has implications for the nation's internal and external security environments. If the region has to effectively take part in the 'Act East' policy, there must be a sense of security among the people. Caught between terrorist and counter-terrorist actions, there prevails an atmosphere where no trade and commerce can effectively grow and prosper. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the way the region has been seen and treated so far if it has to effectively play a role in India's relation to Southeast Asia. Cultural connection beyond the political borders is a characteristic of this region. The beyond-border connections can be transformed into 'Transition zones' of not just culture but also commerce. So far, political boundaries have created economic barriers across traditionally contiguous regions. The making of such 'zones' has to address several dimensions. Most importantly local politics needs to be aligned with Federal Initiatives for subregional Cooperation.

Keywords: Region, security, connections, borders, politics, zones