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Panel Discussion on India and the Commonwealth in the 21st Century


Three leading institutions in Bangalore – National Institute of Advanced Studies, St Joseph’s College and the Christ (Deemed to be University) – came together on 9 April 2018 to discuss the role of India in the Commonwealth. The initiative was supported by the office of the Deputy British High Commission in Bangalore. A Panel Discussion was held at the NIAS premises; the discussion focussed on defining a new role for the Commonwealth in the changing dynamics of international politics and a role for India’s role in it. The Panel was carefully chosen representing different including education, diplomacy, governance, science and technology, and trade and economics. There were representations from other commonwealth countries as well.The panel included the following:
    Amb Nirupama Rao, Former Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, India
   Prof Rajeev Gowda, Member of Parliament
    Jennifer Daubeny, Canadian Consul General
    Fr (Dr) Jose CC, Director, Department of International Studies and History, Christ University,   Bangalore

    Fr Victor Lobo, SJ, Principal, St Joseph's College, Bangalore
     Ms Jo Burden, Head of Political and Bilateral Affairs, British High Commission
   Dr VS Ramamurthy, Former Secretary DST and Former Director, NIAS
   Ms Deepa D, IPS, Inspector General of Police, Karnataka
       

Followed by the inputs from the panel, open discussion followed involving a larger audience from the above three institutions, and also from the civil society. Some of the key ideas that came out of the discussion included:

     Need to strengthen the Commonwealth of Nations, given the tremendous scope for collaboration and cooperation. Where nations decisively assert and promote practice of good governance, respect for democracy, Rule of Law, sustainable development and Human Rights in all member states.
·         Encourage higher education by extending scholarships to students at postgraduate levels in all fields of education. In the education sector, the need provide access to quality education to citizens of all member states was highlighted. Access to quality education must supersede parochial considerations such as caste, colour, race, religion and other parameters of social segregation among the member nations.
 Re-define priorities and have a sense of direction. As an approximately 70-year-old group, emphasis was laid on the Commonwealth of nations that must reflect the realities of today. acknowledge India’s role as a leader in the Commonwealth, while steering India’s leadership to promote democratic values, inclusive and sustainable development, good governance, etc
     Need to strengthen relations between India and the UK to achieve global influence and a need for regular high-level meetings of member states with an increased level of seriousness were highlighted.
    Collaboration between states to address common threats of the member states. Here the focus was on the promotion of innovative legislations and their emulation in other states, ensuring formalisation and implementation of innovative legislations in the member states. Special emphasis was made on the promotion of Human Rights in the member states where efforts are to be directed towards prison reform programmes and promotion of Prisoners’ Rights.

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