The seventeenth century English diplomat Henry Wotton once defined an ambassador as "an honest gentleman sent to lie abroad for the good of his country." In modern times, diplomatic "lie" has often proven counterproductive in the face of growing public access to truth and public opinion in diplomacy. Unfortunately, India's diplomacy in Nepal still reflects the same antique maxim.During his historic visit to Nepal two years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did much (at least in words) to cleanse the tainted history of unequal diplomatic transaction between two closest neighbors. Transfixed by his eloquence in his address to the Constituent Assembly, Nepalis applauded him for every single sentence of a well-tailored speech.
By the time he finished, the ties between two nations had already taken an exceptional leap. Nepal was lifted, we were told, to the position of political equal from a mere pawn. We only had to wait a year to realize all this was a hoax. It was nothing more than placebo effect.
Nearly two and a half decades after the 1989 blockade, the 'special relation' has once again rolled back in time. India has adopted the same banal tactic of intimidating Nepal and our political establishment has by and large shown the same reluctance to speak against the Indian bully. India's treacherous bargaining over new constitution and its unofficial blockade, that has pushed Nepal to dire straits, has proved that grandiose Indian claim of paradigm shift in Nepal-India relation a big lie.
India has often played with Nepal's sense of vulnerability of being India-locked, to force Nepal to serve its interests. Dwarfed by its inferiority complex for being poor, small and land-locked, Nepal has unshakable faith in this 'special relation', a la one artfully indoctrinated religious devotee.
However, to the dismay of India, much has changed in the public sphere. During the 1980s, while ruling elites played the blockade game, the public responded with silence. With traditional and new media empowering people, their voices have suddenly acquired new meaning in diplomacy.
Diplomacy has veered farther from the coterie of ruling elites whose "lies" were undeniable truths to the public. The Indian Prime Minister understands this, far better than any diplomat. His strategic manipulation of social media like Facebook and Twitter and his extensive public engagement is a testimony of his desire for public approval.
If the euphoric mass, pushing each other for his passing glance in the pavements of Kathmandu, mattered to him, the budding anti-India sentiment in Nepal must also concern him. Even more worrying would be flames that emanated from the burning of his effigies and #BackOffIndia #IndiaBlockadesNepal and #NepalRedflagsModi hash tags in twitter.
Anti-Indian sentiment is raging like a wildfire in Nepal, rightly so. The people who had a reckless infatuation with everything India until a few weeks back—TV soaps, movies, chips, chocolates—were immediately ready to stand in favor of nationalism and sovereignty.
Not only the literate bunch but also mothers, farmers and street vendors who never learned about the riddles of diplomatic discourse are now disillusioned with India. This is not ultra-nationalism, merely reflection of undue Indian meddling. Irrespective of its shortcomings, the new constitution carries behind it 70 years of struggle to have constitution through people's chosen representatives. Nepalis feel India wanted to sabotage this dream.
After lifting the blockade, it may be easy for India to settle issues at diplomatic level but it will be hard to restore the lost goodwill of Nepali people. This represents a signature foreign policy failure.
Tragedy with Nepalis is that they easily forget the past. They also carry with them a dangerous sense of complacency. It took Nepal no time to forget the thirteen-month blockade of 1989.
We must understand that in realpolitik, special relation has no meaning. In diplomacy, national interest is everything. This blockade should chart our way to self-dependence.
@Smita_Poudel
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