Objective of the Conference The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), organised a two day conference at the FICCI House, New Delhi on May 24-25, 2017 on the theme, “Homeland Security 2017 – Modernisation of India’s Internal Security Mechanism”
Objective of the Conference The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), organised a two day conference at the FICCI House, New Delhi on May 24-25, 2017 on the theme, “Homeland Security 2017 – Modernisation of India’s Internal Security Mechanism”
Background Non-inclusiveness in the process of development leads to unemployment, discontentment and frustration. These have been established as one of the root causes of insurgency in the Northeastern part of India in general and Manipur in particular. It has directly and indirectly led to the mushrooming of various socio-political and underground organizations who have worked towards increasing the ethnic divide in order to retain their relevance in the society.
Abstract Land is at the center of most conflicts in Northeast India because of its importance in the life of the people of the region, particularly its tribal communities. Manipur, the Land of Jewels, has been besieged with conflicts on issues ranging from exclusivity, integration and governance.
In continuation of a series of dialogues and conferences held over the years on Kashmir, a Round Table Discussion was arranged at the VIF when some of the prominent voices on Kashmir - Mr KM Singh, Air Vice Mshl Kapil Kak, Dr Sudhir S Bloeria, Ms Seema Mustafa, Dr Shujjat Bukhari and Prof Gul Wani, among others – were invited to share their thoughts on the current uprising in the Valley and the State’s possible future. The session was chaired by General NC Vij, Director VIF.
The VIF invited Mr. Zafar Iqbal Manhas, MLC from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), for an informal session on the evolving dynamics in Kashmir. The discussion revolved around a broad set of issues - sense of alienation, autonomy and democratic deficit, developmental stagnation, cross-border influences, stone pelting and radicalisation, and the China-Pakistan nexus in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Perceived acts of commission and commission by New Delhi were also narrated. Mr K M Singh and Mr P C Haldar were among key discussants.
A Round Table Discussion on the ‘Efficacy of India’s Nuclear Doctrine in the Context of Pakistan’s Tactical Nuclear Weapons’ (TNWs) was held at the VIF. It began with a presentation by Brig Gurmeet Kanwal, Visiting Fellow, VIF, to outline the characteristics of TNWs, its impact on strategic stability in South Asia, nuclear scenarios and options for India, and need for review of India’s Nuclear Doctrine. The discussion established that even if battlefield or TNWs are used against purely military targets, the effect would be strategic.
ISBN: 9788182748996 Publication Year: 2017 Binding: PB Pages: 100 Price: Rs. 295 Online Available at Pentagon Press
Author’s Note The previous paper by this author, while addressing the broader concerns and implications of Daesh for the Indian context, built on theoretical insights from multidisciplinary domains in pursuit of a possible counter-narrative to the violence, hate and prejudice suffused by the extremist master-narrative in what is essentially emerging as a ‘war of, and for ideas’. This paper, in continuation of preceding efforts, attempts to view the challenge of radicalization and violent extremism through the prism of the ‘epidemiological metaphor’.
Abstract Ethnic strife between the people of Tripura and Bengal that was simmering since the princely days increased subsequently, leading to tension and sporadic incidents of violence since its integration into the country. The partition of Bengal in 1947 resulted in an influx from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) which forever changed the demography of Tripura. This demographic change paved the way for a fierce ethnic conflict that has ravaged Twipra, as the indigenous tribes-people of the state call it.