MEA Division

Five year Programme on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security (CDPS) in South and Central Asia, Supported by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi

The Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) expanded its academic programme to conduct multi disciplinary research seminars and conferences to strengthen the relations between India and countries of South and Central Asia under the project/programme "Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia". This was initiated by Late Shri P.N. Haksar, a Veteran diplomat and thinker, as Chairman of the Governing Body of CRRID and Editor-in-Chief of the International Quarterly Man and Development. The programme started with the seminars in 1981 and again in 1983 and thereafter regularly from 1997 to date. In order to carry forward this programme, Shri Haksar sought 96 well researched articles on different aspects pertaining to the Asian region from eminent experts in India and abroad. In addition to the above 29 articles on the Asian region were published in volume I and volume IV by the CRRID in the memory of Shri P.N. Haksar.

The other initiative taken by the CRRID under his guidance, culminated in a project on 'Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South Asia' and later extended to Central Asia. This initiative began with the holding of an international conference on this very theme, sponsored by the Japan Foundation in 1997. The Conference was inaugurated by Shri K.R. Narayanan, the then Vice-President of India, and addressed by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the then Union Finance Minister, Dr. A.P.J. Abul Kalam, the then Scientific Adviser, and attended by several eminent participants.

The Ministry of External Affairs found sufficient merit in this programme, and supported a series of subsequent lectures, seminars and conferences. This invaluable support enabled CRRID to organize interactive sessions and conferences in Chandigarh, Kolkata, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka, and also in Uzbekistan. The project was extended to Central Asia under the advice of the then External Affairs Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, who also inaugurated the Kolkota Conference, held in collaboration with the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIS) and the Global India Foundation. Prior to this, Shri Mukherjee had delivered the Haksar Memorial Lecture on the very theme of 'Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South Asia' at CRRID, Chandigarh. Collectively, more than 1000 delegates from India and abroad have participated in these events.

At the apex, CRRID has had the honour of having Shri Hamid Ansari, Vice-President of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, and Shri I.K.Gujral, former Prime Minister of India, to deliver the Haksar Memorial Lectures which primarily addressed the theme of Cooperative Development, Peace and Security and related issues in the Asian region.

All these activities mentioned above including the publications based on the deliberations and policy recommendations aroused enthusiastic response from the academicians, media experts, community leaders, diplomats, representatives of trade and industry, and the policy makers. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) which had been associated with this initiative practically from the very beginning recognized the need to back up this programme on a long-term basis. Consequently the MEA considered on merit and decided to provide an annual grant-in-aid for a period of five-years commencing from October 2011. Following this decision of MEA, CRRID has engaged full-time three Assistant Professors, four Research Assistants, and three visiting professors/experts in this programme. The CRRID has already held highly represented international conferences in Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), New Delhi and Chandigarh (India). The Bangladesh conference was inaugurated by Hon'ble Minister of Finance and valedictory was given by Hon'ble Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh. Similarly, the three days conference in Chandigarh in March 2012 was inaugurated by the Advisor to the Prime Minister Shri T K A Nair and the valedictory was given by Hon'ble Pranab Mukherjee, the then Minister of Finance, Government of India. The deliberations of the conferences were widely publicized in regional and national press and also are being published in book form.

CRRID organized the following Conference/Seminars/interactive sessions under its five-year programme on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia:

• Interactive Session on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security at Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) Chandigarh on 11th-12th December 2011.
• Three-day interaction on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia at Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) Chandigarh on 18th to 20th January 2012.
• First Advisory Committee Meeting of the Programme/Project on "Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia" held at the Private Dining Hall of India International Centre, New Delhi on 1st February 2012
• Three-day International Conference on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia at Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) Chandigarh on 28-30 March 2012. Inaugural address was given by Shri T.K.A Nair. Special Statement was made by Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty. Valedictory speech was delivered by the then Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee and addressed by Mr. M.J. Akbar. The conference was attended by dignitaries like Shri Salman Haider, Shri R.P. Bambah, Professor P.L. Dash.
• Informal Meeting with the MEA officials at IIC, New Delhi on 3rd May 2012.
• Core Group meeting held at IIC at New Delhi on 14th May, 2012.
• International Conference on Contemporary Process of Inter-Regional Cooperation in Central and South Asia: Indo-Uzbek Perspective for Cooperative Peace held in collaboration with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 20th-23rd September, 2012. Prof Nodir Zhumaev, Rector, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan inaugurated the conference. His Excellency Mr. A. Gitesh Sarma, Ambassador of India to Uzbekistan and represented of Uzbek Foreign Ministry made their contributions in the inaugural session.
• Three days National Seminar on India and Central Asia: Perspectives on Bilateral and Regional Cooperation in collaboration with Centre of Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir, Srinagar at CRRID from 17-19 October 2012. It was inaugurated by the Vice-President of India, Hon'ble Shri Hamid Ansari. Remarks were given by Chief Minister of Punjab and a special statement was given by Shri Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty.
• Fourth Annual IPCS Residential Workshop on Contemporary Nuclear Discourses: Doctrine, Deterrence and Disarmament in collaboration with the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) at CRRID from 16-20 November 2012. Highlight of the workshop were lectures by Amb. Salman Haider, General V.P. Malik and Mr. Raj Chengapa.
• Annual Convention of the Indian Association of International Studies (IAIS) in collaboration with Institute for Research on India and International Studies (IRIIS) on The Dawning of the 'Asian Century': Emerging Challenges before Theory and Practices of IR in India, at India International Centre, New Delhi, from 10-12 December 2012. External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid delivered the inaugural address. Amitabh Mattoo gave the Presidential Address, and Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty delivered inaugural remarks. National Security Advisor, Shiv Shankar Menon and Editor of The Hindu, Siddarth Vardarajan also attended the Annual Convention.
• Interactive Session with Professor Akbota Niyazovna Zholdasbekova, Chair, Department of Regional Studies from Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan at IIC, New Delhi on 12th December 2012.
• One Day Informal Interaction with Friends of India and Nepal on 29TH March 2013 at CRRID Chandigarh. Intense interaction held between scholars, diplomats, representatives of industry and civil society and political thinkers of both from India and Nepal. Mr Akhilesh Mishra, Joint Secretary (North), represented Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. The ten member team from Nepal was led by former Deputy Prime and Foreign Minister of Nepal Mr Upendra Yadav.
• Two day International Conference on Changing Scenario in South Asia: Leveraging Economic Growth for Collective Prosperity held during 30th – 31st March 2013 at CRRID Chandigarh. Clip on the film Siddhartha-The Buddha was also shown by the producer of the film from Sri Lanka, Mr. Navin Gooneratne who stressed that the film being symbolic of compassion and cooperation in the region delivers a message. External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid inaugurated the conference and delivered the inaugural speech. Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty provided the overview of the programme/project Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South Asia in the inaugural session. Professor G.K. Chadha, President South Asian University also addressed the august audience in the conference.
• Second India-Central Asia Dialogue organized in collaboration with ICWA and Institute of Oriental Studies, Almaty, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 16-17 June 2013. Welcome remarks were given by Professor Absattar Derbisali, Director, R.B. Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Stuides, Professor Meruyert Abusseitova, Head, Department of Oriental Source Studies, History and Culture of the East, Head of UNESCO Chair, R.B. Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Stuides and Amb. Sahai. Opening remarks were given by Amb. Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, ICWA. Amb. Doulat Kuanyshev and Amb. Ashok Sharma also expressed their views in the inaugural and the Minister of State for External Affairs Shri E. Ahmed delivered the inaugural speech. Valedictory Session was attended by Mr. Ajay Bisaria.
• Three day International Conference on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in Central Asia: Challenges and Prospects organized in collaboration with Centre for Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir, from June 29 to July 1st 2013, at University of Kashmir. The august audience was formally welcomed by Profesor Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir. Inaugural address was delivered by External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid. Inaugural remarks were given by Shri Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir. Presidential remarks were made by Shri N.N. Vohra, Governor, Jammu and Kashmir. Shri Mohammad Akbar Lone chaired the valedictory session and Shri Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty gave the valedictory address.
• 1st International Scientific Conference on Eurasian Regional Studies, entitled, "India and Central Asia: Facing the Challenges and Prospects for Cooperative Peace" organized in collaboration with Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Centre for Military and Strategic Research, and Embassy of the Republic of India at Astana, Kazakhstan during 20-21 September 2013. The inaugural session was chaired by Professor and Rector of ENU Yerlan Sydykov, Professor and President of the Centre for Military and Strategic Research Bakhytzhan Abdrayim, and Shri Rashpal Malhotra and Indian Defence Attache Colonel Arjun Segan.
• Two-day international seminar on "Post-Independence Development Strategies in Central Asia: Perspectives, Policies and Performance" organised by the Academy of International Studies, Jamia Milia Islamia, in collaboration with CRRID on 29th and 30th November, 2013. Inaugural address was delivered by Shri Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty. The keynote address was given by Professor R.G. Gidadhubli, an expert on Eurasian and Central Asian Affairs and the Valedictory address was delivered by Professor Devender Kaushik, former Director, Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.
• One day interactive session was held on 2nd December 2013 with experts from Central Asia as CRRID. Prof. Umarov and Dr. Sodat Olimova represented Tajikistan, Dr. Abdulkhay Muminov and Prof. Murat Bakhadirov represented Uzbekistan while Baiken Altynbekov was from Kazakhstan.
• Two days International Conference on India's Partnership with Countries in Southern Africa organized in participation with Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi during 3-4 February 2014 at CRRID, Chandigarh. Inaugural address was delivered by Hon'ble Shri Shiv Raj Patil, Governor of Punjab. Dignitaries like Amb. V.B. Soni. Amb. Shamma Jain, Shri V.K. Sibal and Amb Sahai attended and participated in the conference.
• Two days International Conference on Cooperative development, Peace and Security in South Asia organized in collaboration with Centre for South Asia Studies (CSAS) during 15-16 February 2014 at Hotel Himalaya, Kathmandu (Nepal). Welcome address was given by Dr. Nishchal Nath Pandey, Director, CSAS. Inaugural session was addressed by His Excellency Ranjit Rae and Shri Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty. Keynote address was delivered by Hon'ble Dr. Karan Singh and the conference was inaugurated by Hon'ble Shri Sushil Koirala, Prime Minister of Nepal. Dignitaries like Mr. Jaideep Mazumdar, Mr. Hari Sharma, Amb. Dr. Bhekh Bhadur Thapa, Hon'ble Khim Lal Devkota, Hon'ble Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha, Prof. Lok Raj Baral, Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, His Exceleency Amb. Dago Tshering, Mr. Bharat Bhushan, Major General A.N.M. Muniruzzaman, Mr. Sugeeswara Senadhira, Mr. Shrinivasrao S. Sahoni, Prof. Imtiaz Ahmed, Amb. M. Humayun Kabir, Amb. Madhu Raman Acharya, Mr. Khim Zaw Win and Amb Sahai attended and participated in the regional conference.
• CRRID organized an international Conference on "India's North-East and Asiatic South-East: Beyond Borders" from June 6-7, 2014 in collaboration with North East Hill University, Shillong. In this conference 25 scholars made their presentations. This conference has been organized under our ongoing programme "Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia", supported by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The Conference was inaugurated by Hon'ble Shri K.K. Paul, Governor of Meghalaya. Keynote Address was made by Professor Mrinal Miri, Member, Rajya Sabha. Scholars from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Srilanka, Nepal and India participated in the Conference.More...
• A two-day International Workshop was held at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh entitled "Understanding Non-Tariff Trade Barriers between India and Pakistan" from June 27-28, 2014. The focus of the workshop was to understand and discuss the modalities for a project on Non-Tariff Trade barriers between India and Pakistan. In this Conference, 9 experts from Pakistan and nearly 20 experts from India from the field of research, business community and traders participated. This Seminar is a part of the CRRID project on this theme "Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia" funded by Asia Foundation through Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi.

Books Released under MEA Programme:

• South Asia: Stability and Regional Co-operation, ed. M S Agwani et al., Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) Publication, July 1983.
• India and Its Neighbours, 1989, pp. 99, M.K. Rasgotra and K.S. Bajpai
• Peace and Development, Haksar Memorial Volume IV, 2007, pp.483, Subrata Banerjee, ed. Hon'ble Vice President of India, Dr. Hamid Ansari released the book on 30th November 2007 at CRRID Chandigarh.
• India-Bangladesh Strengthening the Partnership, 2005, pp.216, Salman Haider ed.
• India-Eurasia: the Way Ahead, with Special Focus on the Caucasus, 2008, pp.273, Paramjit Singh Sahai, ed. Released by the Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs, Shri Pranab Mukherjee on 15 March 2008 at CRRID Chandigarh.
• Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South Asia, 2009, pp.144, Neetu Gaur and Vijay Laxmi, eds.
• South & Central Asia: Issues of Peace and Development, 2009, pp.162, Neetu Gaur and Vijay Laxmi, eds. Released by the Hon'ble Finance Minister of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee on 28 November 2009 at CRRID Chandigarh.
• Economic Cooperation and Infrastructural Linkages between Two Punjabs: Way Ahead, 2010, pp.155, Sucha Singh Gill and others. Released by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Punjab, S. Prakash Singh. Badal on September 18, 2010 at CRRID Chandigarh.
• Women Guiding the Destiny of South Asia, 2010, pp.138, Paramjit Singh Sahai and Vijay Laxmi, eds. Released by H.E H R Bharadwaj, Governor of Karnataka on 27 November 2010 at CRRID Chandigarh.
• Perspectives on Bilateral and Regional Cooperation: South and Central Asia, 2013, pp.484, Rashpal Malhotra, Sucha Singh Gill and Neetu Gaur, eds. Presented to Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble President of India on 22nd March 2013 at Rashtripati Bhawan, New Delhi. It was released by the Union Minister of External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid on 30th March 2013 at CRRID, Chandigarh.
• South and Central Asia: Quest for Peace and Cooperation, 2013, pp.256, Rashpal Malhotra, P.L. Dash, Sucha Singh Gill and Murat M. Bakhadirov, eds. Presented to Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble President of India on 22nd March 2013 at Rashtripati Bhawan, New Delhi. It was released by the Union Minister of External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid on 30th March 2013 at CRRID, Chandigarh.
• Changing Scenario in South Asia: Leveraging Economic Growth for Collective Prosperity, 2014, Rashpal Malhotra, Sucha Singh Gill and Neetu Gaur, eds. It was released by Hon'ble Vice President of India, Dr. Hamid Ansari on 6th February 2014 in New Delhi.

List of Dignitaries who addressed the Conferences / Seminars and delivered Lectures on the theme Project "Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia" and related issues w.e.f. October 2011 onwards:

Nearly 1000 distinguished Ministers, Experts, Scholars, Planners, Diplomats, Medial Persons and dignitaries participated in the Seminars/Conferences and delivered Lectures. Some of the distinguished persons were as follows:

• Mr. Peter Rowan, a British Expert working with UNFCCG
• Shri Piyush Pradhan, Additional General Manager, NTPC
• Ms. Wei Meng, Project Manager, Venture East Consulting Ltd. (VEC), U.K.
• Dr. D. Subbarao, Governor, Reserve Bank of India.
• Hon'ble Shri Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab.
• Dr. Sreeradha Datta, Director, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies.
• Dr. Nalin Kumar Mohapatra, Assistant Professor, Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, J.N.U. New Delhi.
• Shri M.J. Akbar, Editorial Director, India Today, and Editor and Managing Director, Sunday Guardian.
• Brig. Davinder Singh, Head Economic Cell, Member, Governing Body, India Central Asia Foundation, New Delhi.
• Shri K. Natwar Singh, Former Minister of External Affairs, Government of India.
• H.E. Shri Scot Slessor, Consulate General of Canada.
• Dr. Jim Holway, Director, Western Lands and Communities: A Joint Venture of Land Policy and Sonaran Institute, Phoenix.
• Shri T.K.A. Nair, Adiser to the Prime Minister of India.
• Shri Navdeep Suri, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India.
• Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble Minister of Finance, Government of India.
• Shri Pinak Ranjan Chakravarti, Special Secretary (PD), Ministry of External Affairs, GOI.
• Dr. Sanjiv Bhatia, Managing Director, Environmental Services, USA.
• Shri K.N. Srivastava, Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, MEA.
• Shri Varj S. Dhahan from the Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community, Canada.
• John W. Hepburn, Vice President, Research and International University of British Columbia.
• Shri H.K. Dua, M.P. and Eminent Journalist.
• Mr. Amarjit Singh, Members, Law Commission of India, New Delhi.
• Shri Hamid M. Ansari, Hon'ble Vice President of India.
• Hon'ble Chief Minister of Punjab S. Prakash S. Badal.
• Dr. Ulugbek A Khasanov, Associate Professor, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• Professor B.B. Bhattacharya.
• Dr. Oybek Makhmudov, Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for Re-training teachers, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• H.E. Mr. Michael Steiner, Ambassador of The Federal Republic of Germany.
• Ambassador Deepak Vohra, Advisor, South Sudan.
• Dr. M.S. Gill, Professor, Department of Geography, University of Malaya, KualaLumpur, Malaysia.
• Sh. Giles Dickson, Vice President for Environmental Policy and Global Advocacy.
• Professor R. Nagarajan, Dean and Alumni Relations, Department of Chemical Engineering, Madras.
• Professor Sreeniwas Jayanti, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras.
• Ambassador (retd.) Sh. K.P. Fabian.
• Ambassador (Retd.) Deb Mukharji.

CRRID has strong networking with other institutions working on the theme through various collaborations. The associated institutions are:

• The Centre for Central Asian Studies (CCAS), Srinagar, Kashmir
• Institute for Research on India and International Studies (IRIIS), New Delhi
• Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), New Delhi
• The University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• The L. N. Gumilev Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan (in progress)

Advisors/Coordinators

Ambassador Paramjit Sahai, Principal Programme Coordinator

Visiting Professors/Experts

Shri Avtar Singh Bhasin
Areas of Specialization: India's Foreign Relation, India-Pakistan Relations.

Shri Pinak Chakravarty
Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
Areas of Specialization: Foreign Affairs.

Centre for Caucasian Study

A Centre for Caucasian Study was set-up at CRRID in November 2003 in collaboration with Institute of Oriental Studies, Armenian National Academy of Sciences, Yeravan for promotion of understanding, cooperative development and peace through research, education and training. The President of Armenian Republic, His Excellency Mr Robert Kocharian, inaugurated the Centre in a solemn function presided over by the Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amrinder Singh, Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia and other selected invitees. The Centre for Caucasian Study aims to promote Indo-Caucasian relationship by making efforts to enhance socio-economic programmes including collaboration in agriculture, trade and industry. Supported by both the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Government of Armenia, the Centre for Caucasian Study also works on international diplomacy and subjects of mutual concern with active collaboration of scholars, policy makers, diplomats, representatives of trade and industry, journalist from both the countries. The Centre organizes regular visits of scholars from Caucasian region to Chandigarh besides undertaking research studies on a range of themes.