INDIA AND SOUTH EAST ASIA

Modern Southeast Asia presents an example of varied cultures living together and thriving. There is a commonality in dress, food habits, marriage, and social customs. 

Southeast Asia is a group of diverse tropical countries between the Indian and Pacific oceans. These countries are influenced by Indian culture and region including various communities like Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and native Animists. 

South East Asian countries are favourite corners of tourists because of perfect beaches, tasty cuisine, low price, and good flight connections. South East Asia has had close contact with India for centuries and is linked culturally. 

Ancient times

Relation between India with South East Asia is not built because of modes of transport built on basis of modern technology. The relation with South east Asia is traced back to the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata. There are references in the holy book of Ramayan, mentioning the import of spices from then known Suvarnadweep on the special occasion in Ayodhya. 

This shows India's involvement in trade and Commerce 7000 years ago with South East Asia. Ramayan and Mahabharata are, the 2 most read and followed epics of Hindu culture; both exert significant influence in South East Asian countries. Many versions and translations are present in countries Of South East Asia. 

• Indonesia has an entire puppet show designed to deliver tales of Mahabharata. 

• The Ramakein, literally "Glory version of Ramayan", the Thai version of Ramayan is one of Thailand's national epics derived from Buddhist 'Dasaratha-Jataka'.

Medieval time

The famous Chola dynasty represents the Zenith of ancient Indian Maritime capacity. Chola ruled a significantly larger area, at the height of their power from the latter half of the 9th century till the beginning of the 13th century. 

Under Rajaraja-I and his successors, the Chola dynasty became a military, economic and cultural powerhouse in South East Asia through naval raids. These invasions were in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Southern Thailand. Invasions were short and only meant to plunder the wealth of the Sri Vijaya Empire. The cultural and architectural influence of India over the region is evident through:

• Borobudur Temple: 9th century Mahayana Buddhist temple, in Central Java, Indonesia. The world's largest Buddhist temple built during the reign of the Shailendra dynasty demonstrates the influence of Gupta art.

• Prambanan Temple: 9th century Hindu temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia by the Sanjay dynasty dedicated to Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) characterised by tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu architecture.

• Angkor-Vat temple: 12th century Vishnu Temple by Surya Verman, of the Khmer empire, Cambodia which gradually transformed into a Hindu-Buddhist temple. Appearing on its national flag and is countries main tourist attraction. 

• Bagan: Asian city in Mandalay region, Myanmar. From the 9th to 13th century, the city was the capital of the Bagan Kingdom and between the 11th and 13th centuries more than 10,000 Buddhist Temple, pagodas, and Monastries were constructed here. 

The city of Bagan was earlier known as Pagan, which attracted monks and students from India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. Here native Animist tradition co-existed with Buddhism, and Shaivite and Vaishnav School of Hinduism. 

These are some recognised pieces of evidence which show the religious and cultural influence of India over the region. The key drivers of the Indianisation of South East Asia were the Indian Maritime trade, especially the Spice trade and emissaries of Ashoka.

Modern times

Modern Southeast Asia presents an example of varied cultures living together and thriving. In South-East Asia neither religion nor language constitutes a basis for developing a unique National identity. 

There is a commonality in dress, food habits, marriage, and social customs. All these common characteristics of the people of South East Asia can be explained by the deep cultural and psychological bonds. 

A kind of emotional unity among the people of South East Asia arises out of the subconscious recognition that, South East Asia constitutes a distinct civilization. Despite the region's experience of decades of conflicts, it is the third largest Market in the world, larger than the EU and the North American market.

Challenges 

South East Asian leaders who grandly proclaim that poverty alleviation and people's welfare are the foremost concerns of all countries should first try to analyse, why South East Asia is so backward? It is neither because of the paucity of resources nor because people are not talented or hard-working. 

No part of the world is as blessed with abundant sunshine and water as South East Asian countries. South East Asians seem to do very well when they migrate abroad. South East Asia has not developed or progressed as much as it could have. 

The reason is that the people of South East Asia over-emphasize their newest identity as a citizen of one country or another and underplay their cultural heritage and traditions with other South East Asians. 

The tragedy is that its people have an artificial divide; based on ethnicity, caste and religion, first by their colonial masters and then by their political Elites. Other challenges evident are:

• China's territorial claim in the oil and gas-rich South channel and building up of artificial islands. 

• The growing threat posed by the Islamic state in southeast Asia. 

• South East Asia was largely unsuccessful in containing the Rohingya refugee crisis. 

• Regularly facing problems of migration, human trafficking, South-China Sea and piracy. 

• Cross-country organised crime like drug trafficking between Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos forming the golden triangle could not be contained.

Measures

• "Act East Policy" (upgrade of "Look East Policy") of India is a diplomatic initiative to promote economic, strategic, and cultural relations with Asia--Pacific Region which involves continuous engagement. This push bolsters India's standing as a regional power and counter-weight to the strategic influence of China. 

• Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), was established to promote political and social stability. The motto of ASEAN is "one region, one identity, one community" this group act as a platform for the member Nations to resolve disputes from the economic aspect to the strategic and security element.

Way forward 

History teaches us that dramatic and completely unexpected developments do sometimes occur, so why not in South East Asia? In the long term, India might have to look for Regional integration within a European Union type Framework of open borders and free moment of people, goods, and capital. 

However, that is a long way off. It may come about only when the younger generation of South East Asian countries which does not carry bitter memories of old feuds and antagonisms, begins to wield political power.

-BHAVNA GEED.