[mukto-mona] On Horse-trading

On Horse-trading

 

Farida Majid

 

 

Folks!

Have you never heard of "horse-trading"?  From the dawn of civilization all politics in all places have been about "horse-trading." An exchange of 'koti taka' under the table merely smacks of crooked politics. Unless 'horses' are a part of a political deal it is not authentic politics, or economics, for that matter. American local politicians and statesmen knew a thing or two about 'horse-trading' from early 20^th century on, which is why they prospered both domestically and worldwide to establish Pax Americana.

We could use some horse sense too in our regional politics. The problem is that this component of "horse-trading" has been missing in the relationship between Bangladesh and India due mainly to the shrill propaganda of the Jamaati political clout here and that of BJP over in India.  So much of Jamaati anti-Indian cry is crass communalism that when India is seriously at fault in breaching a pact (Farakka Dam) or violating human rights (border patrol) the issues remain unresolved year after year.

Relentless India-bashing drummed up by Jamaat and other hues of Islamists depend heavily on communalism; both communalism and fundamentalism are founded upon dumbed-down versions of the world, society and religions. Somehow or other we MUST believe that India is equal to Hindu, and all good Muslims should hate Hindus (the flip side being all good Hindus must hate Muslims). You'd think that the strings of identity politics are still in the hands of the British colonial puppeteers, and we are all frozen in a time capsule, circa 1947, poised on the brink of a bloody communal riot.

The fact that India is the home of the largest single country Muslim population in the world is to be ignored. The fact that Muslims of Bangladesh, and also of Pakistan, are generically and culturally Indian Muslims is not to be taken into account. If, to a culturally knowledgeable person's ear, the anti-India talks of some of the Bangladeshis sound like a four-year-old child's babble, then that is what it is in most cases.

            It is silly and totally wrong to believe that Bangladesh is a 'beggar' because it is a smaller country in size. With its huge population, BD is a lucrative market for Indian manufacturers, traders and investors.  Similarly, India is to be treated as an eager customer for what BD has to offer for sale or barter for its manufactured goods, produce of natural resources and strategic geographic location. A little bit of 'horse-trading' could trot a long way towards a profitable trading partnership for both countries.

            General Moeen U. Ahmed's visit to India in February 2008 is an interesting one and I do not much want to speculate on its political implications. The gift of the expensive horses by the Indian Armed Forces to the Bangladeshi General caught my attention. I must say that I was smitten by the beauty of the horses and their impressive pedigree! Hope the Deshi Army has enough stable-hands and experienced trainers to maintain and up-keep these splendid animals.

            Speaking of the General's 'koti takar ghoRa', amidst the sniggers, chuckles, and party jokes, I want to share with people a little known fact of Bengal's history. Literally, not just figuratively, horse trading was of tremendous significance in the economic history of Bengal and, I imagine, of other Eastern states of India as well.   

All historical accounts, aside from the imperialist history-writing of 19^th century, give glowing description of the riches of India, and of the wealth of Bengal in particular. From at least the 3^rd millennium BC up until the last quarter of 18^th century, after the death of Siraj-ud-Dawla, we get a rosy picture of Bengal's economy.  Alexander Dow, a Company man held East India Company wholly responsible for the devastating famine of 1770 and wrote in his Enquiry into the State of Bengal, 1772, that "it was one of the richest, most populous, and the best cultivated Kingdoms in the world." Earlier, pilgrims, merchants and diplomats from China, in the 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th centuries give accounts of Bengal's exports of fine rice, fine cottons, famous muslin, and other luxury handicrafts. "Clearly," writes Richard M. Eaton in TheRise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier: 1206-1760 (1993), p-97.

            Trade means both export and import. Since precious metals were not mined in Bengal, silver and gold were imported from Burma and China to keep the Indo-Turkish rulers of Bengal happy with an abundant supply of coins. Some treasures were imported like brocade, silk and porcelain. Bengal's trade surplus would still be unaccounted for. What else came from abroad that was very important and which Bengal did not have?  Several years ago I picked up the telephone and asked Dick Eaton the question. "Horses," he replied. They are not indigenous animals and did not thrive well in Bengal's climate. Yet horses were essential to trade, swiftness of transport and the maintenance of army and royalty. Performance of an engine –a political or economic engine – could be measured in horsepower back then long before James Watt invented the term.

            Let us hope Moeen's horses, gifts themselves, are not bearing any untoward gifts. We will wait for the 'trade' part of the horse-trading to materialize in not too distant a future.

 

 

                       ================

---

__._,_.___

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona 
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/


*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/


Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___