Prospects for Trans-Himalayan research amidst warming Sino-Indian relations

1. Prospects for Trans-Himalayan research amidst warmingSino-Indian relations Rajiv Rawat Annual Meeting of the Ontario Division of the Canadian Association of Geographers Waterloo, Ontario October 30, 2004

2. Why the Trans-Himalayas? • Source of most major rivers in Asia • Biodiversity hotspot & sensitive ecological zone • Physical, political, cultural juncture of two most populous civilizations in the world • Economic expansion of China and India being increasingly felt

3. Why Ontario, Why Canada? • Toronto is home to large Chinese and Indian diasporic populations • Himalayan barriers remain between communities in Asia, but less so in Canada • US-Canada cross-border relations can serve as a model for the trans-Himalayas • Canada’s policies are oriented towards both countries

4. Why a Regional Focus? • Unique and intense physical and human features • Mountain regions have specific geographies distinguished by variations in altitude • Mountain communities are often culturally distinct from lowland settlements • Regional focus overcomes national antipathies with international collaboration & cooperation on common environmental & livelihood issues

5. Origins of Conflict • 1904 Younghusband’s march to Lhasa • 1911 Revolution in China, Tibet asserts complete sovereignty • 1914 Shimla conference and drawing of the McMahon Line • 1951 China reenters Tibet & forced signing of the Seventeen Point Agreement • 1959 Tibetan uprising, Dalai Lama flees to India • 1962 India-China War • 1965- Friction over Cold War alignments

6. The McMahon Line 1914 • “Simla Convention” defined boundary between Tibet and British India • Signed by Britain and Tibet but repudiated by China, leading to India-China War

7. Catastrophe of 1962 • Closure of border ended centuries-old trans-Himalayan trade relations • Loss of cultural ties leading to assimilation pressures on both sides • Re-orientation of Himalayan economies away from border, absorption into huge markets of India and China • Marginalization of Himalayan communities, loss of lands and livelihoods

8. Assimilation & Marginalization

9. Geography Interrupted • Accurate large scale maps of Indian border areas restricted in 1967 • Border passage effectively ended, even for local nomads & transhumants • Militarization of border & restrictions on passage & entry of border districts • Historical data & archives of NEFA, Kashmir, Tibet, Bhutan, India-China conflict, etc., indefinitely classified

10. Rapprochement • 1951 India recognizes China’s claim to Tibet, recognizes PRC as legitimate government of China • 1954 Panchshilla Doctrine • 1977 Vajpayee’s first trip to China • 1988 Rajiv Gandhi’s trip to China • 1993 Limited opening of border • 2003 Vajpayee’s second trip to China • 2004 Continuing CBMs & discussions

11. Recent Cooperation 2004 • Aug. Cooperation & joint strategizing on Himalayan river floods after initial secrecy Pareechu River, October 2003 Engorged Pareechu Lake, September 2004

12. Recent Cooperation 2004 • Sept. Celebrations of Indian Independence Day & Chinese National Day at border posts Tawang, Arunachal PradeshAugust 15 & October 1, 2004

13. Trade • Bilateral trade will surpass $10 billion (US) in 2004, 88% increase from 2003, & several hundred fold from $2.5 million in 1977 & $1.16 billion in 1999. • Most of this trade is maritime • Two trading posts open at Shipki La (Himachal), Lipu Lekh La (Uttaranchal) • Border trade valued at $100 million, to increase five fold in five years • Nathu La (Sikkim) to be opened & another post in Leh (Ladakh)

15. The Tibetan Question

16. Cultural Survival • Influx of Ethnic Chinese into Tibet, parallel influx of Bengalis into Assam & Arunachal, and land speculators into Indian Himalayan states • Forces of cultural homogenization & economic marginalization at work on both sides of Himalayas • Will trade & economic integration accelerate this process, or lead to another possible future?

17. Destination or Waypoint? • Contested Golmud to Lhasa Railway will permanently link Tibet to rest of China • Yet will Lhasa connect to Calcutta, and thus restore its central role in trans-Asian trade?

18. Kailash & Mansarovar • Holiest, but least visited sacred place in the world • Metaphysical centre of the world in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, & Bon Cosmologies • Central geographic axis of emerging Asian Century?

19. Reimagining the Himalayas Peripheral Borderlands Central Pivot of anUnified, Peaceful, and Prosperous Asia

20. Research Initiatives • Well developed on environmental front: • International Centre for IntegratedMountain Development (ICIMOD) • Mountain Forum • Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 • 2002 International Year of Mountains • Developing on political front: • China-India Project of Hong Kong University

21. Climate Change & Retreat of Glaciers Seismic Studies Conservation Biology Disaster Management & Mitigation GIS for Infrastructure, Transportation, & Urban Planning Cultural Anthropology Religious Studies Sustainable Development Political Science Trade Policy Studies Potential for Joint Research

22. Key Questions • How will Himalayan borderland communities be affected by increased trade? How will their interests be safeguarded? • How will traffic along enlarged roads impact the environment & the integrity of local culture? How will their effects be mitigated? • How can research & travel facilitated in North America & Europe aid the Himalayas?

23. Links The Nanda Devi Campaign:www.nandadevi.org Weblog of Doctoral Research:www.rawat.org/thri