An advantage of waiting for a long time in the rain and close to the podium is that at one point, the organizers cleared a path in anticipation of the arrivals of External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Lalit Mansingh, the Foreign Secretary. Everyone stepped aside respectfully.That was a perfect opportunity for me to grab Jaswant Singh by the arm and exhort him to:
“Think Region, not just Nation. Go secular! Support South Asian Unity. Yes, I know you have a job to do to protect India’s interests, and I appreciate that but SUPPORT SOUTH ASIAN UNITY. PLEASE!” Well the Honorable Minister actually stopped and listened for one whole minute. When I did that again, on his return off the podium his burly white, male plainclothes detective assigned to his detail struck down my hand. Twice. My left hand began to hurt. So I gave up. But JS listened again anyway. I was impressed with him. He was calm and soft spoken. No polemical harangue.
Several people stared at me, both women and women, nearly all of them Indian, Bangladeshi, Indo-Guyanians, Pakistanis, Hindus, Muslims, some whites Women from our traditional societies are not supposed to touch men and especially not grab them. But our political leaders function in the public arena. So do I as a social justice activist. If I can get India’s Foreign Minister to practice wisdom, reconciliation and skilful negotiation with the US in the name of our nation and our region, and foster South Asia solidarity and unity, then I am going to go ahead and act to persuade. If that included stopping an elected leader in his tracks for a full minute and choreographing an ethical moment, I was ready!
Jaswant Singh then proceeded to the podium to speak entirely and exclusively about the human tragedy that is continuing to unfold in the stilll smouldering and odorous ruins of the World Trade Center. He also stated that he was carrying with him soil and water from India’s various regions and rivers to present to Mayor Rudolph Guiliani to place in a suitable memorial, whenever and wherever that would be built. People gathered there, regardless of their political and religious affiliations could relate to the universality and humanity of such a gesture. Sustained and loud applause as well as shouts of approval rang out across the drenched Square.
May India lead the way as a democracy in forging a unity among the sovereign states of the South Asia region in the name of economic, political, social and gender justice. We have a role to play now and in the future. Our homespun democracy has global implications especially during this time of grief and reflection.
