The big brother syndrome: Should India Avoid?

“ Our big brother was Big. He was really big in size, knowledge, resources and was kind of independent. Though, he reassures occasionally that he really cared for us but in reality he wanted us to be dependent on him. He wants us to speak his language, see the world through his lens and yes encourage and invest us to do many things that we might never do in our own.....and slowly we were paralyzing...not knowing that our brother so near and dear to us was planning it from years unknown..... “

south asia XgXHG 18508

Source: http://safeer.info

Everyone hates to be inferior or we can say that has desire to be supreme.....but ‘in what cost?’ is important rather than the status of being weak or powerful. Identity has always been the prime factor over any conflict or dignity. And identity always comes with the geographical power. The South Asian region featured by its unique identity bears many diversification as well as commonalities. Among the South Asian countries, India is the most powerful and superior country. The extended country is more powerful than Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and others too. Even countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan are far behind India’s global trade or local development but they have always been skeptical about it progress or the gap in between India and their respective countries.

India is growing stronger day by day though it is neither rich nor poor but it has become very powerful. With its growing economy and drive to develop it is building strong foundation and command over the region. This might be one of the many reasons that India tends to have a Big Brother Syndrome as it bullies to other of its neighbours. A big brother syndrome is a complex illusive superiority complex which advances into patronizing, aggressive, pompous behaviors and resulted by bulling or interfering others who are small or weak. India is becoming another America which gets it rightful to poke to other’s politics, business, society and other lots of areas. Whether it is politics of Nepal or Sri Lanka, any changes within the sphere, there are suspicion rambling on peoples mind holding India responsible.

The 1950 Treaty of Peace and friendship between India and Nepal has ruined Nepal in many ways due to its unequal stipulations and agreements. Many villages and agricultural lands of Nepal have submerged due to the ignorance of India by building high dams nearby the border. There are issues of trade and economy which has paralyzed Nepal over and over which has created scarcity and suppression. There are issues of land encroachment at border side called Susta village in Nawalparasi district which is 175 km southwest of Kathmandu. According to a field survey report presented at the parliament, India has encroached on 14,000 out of the total 21,000 hectares of land and taken hold of seven of the total nine village development committees in Susta, according to the report. The encroachment started in 1984, the report said.

These days, standing up of India on Madeshi issue is very controversial. There are investments and politics by India for autonomous Madesh in Nepal. If India is not behind this tumult, why do Madeshi leaders speak or act the way India wants? Why India is protecting offenders? Why everything happens and get decided when our politicians meet Indian leaders or why people like Sitaram Yachury and his troop visit to Nepal before every important political milestones? And why decisions made in Delhi is always so important?

Nepalese people are very skeptical and have prejudice about India. There are people who think being anti-Indian is the way to be nationalist. Even the investment done by India in building bridges and schools especially in borders of terai are seen as cultivation of conflict. Though India might have its interest in Nepali politics or national issues, it is the responsibility of Nepalese to grow up and break the dependent chain rather than discerning other people or country. In the same line, India’s interest to lead the region should be based on the mutual cooperation rather than by dominating other nation. It should respect sovereignty of other countries and promote peace and harmony, as we share and live in similar spheres of life.

“But then we realized that…..we have our unique strength and potentiality to be developed and prosperous. We can be friends to our Big Brother…real friends. He even can support and cooperate us and will pray that one day we will be healthy and independent. All we need was to stop complaining against him and our Big brother should stop dominating us, then we do no harm to each other. We are so related and alike…and we need each other….”

This is my personal view, not to hurt anyone’s feeling. No offence please!!!