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International columnist, political analyst and senior journalist Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui’s articles are published across Asia, Africa and Europe. He writes for The Moroccan Times, The Tunis Times, India Tomorrow, Kohram News, The Etemaad Urdu Daily and for news papers published from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. You can follow him on Twitter at: @journopolana[/symple_box]
The Indo-German bilateral ties got a major boost during the 3-day trip of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to India this week. As many as 18 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed on Monday. The fast-track system for German companies is to be set up in India to bolster the economic relations between India and Germany. Climate change was a major focus of talks as both the countries decided to forge an Indo-German Climate and Renewable Alliance – a partnership to harness technology, innovation and finance in order to make affordable, clean and renewable energy accessible to all and foster climate change mitigation efforts before the crucial United Nations (UN) Climate Change talks to be held in Paris in December 2015.
‘‘The reforming of the United Nations Security Council and security and economic cooperation between Germany and India figured prominently during the 3-hour Indo-German Summit in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru, which is dubbed as the Silicon Valley of Asia. India and Germany signed deals worth $2.25 billion on German investment in various sectors.’’
Germany and India issued a joint statement on Climate Change and Energy Technology Cooperation after the Third Inter-Governmental Cooperation (IGC). This bilateral mechanism exists between India and Germany only. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the bilateral mechanism as unique. He said,‘‘We see Germany as a natural partner in achieving our vision of India’s economic transformation. German strengths and India’s priorities are aligned. And, so is our mutual goodwill.’’ He thanked Germany for its more than one billion Euro aid each for India’s Green Energy Corridor project and the solar projects. He hoped for a boost in partnership in areas of defence manufacturing, trade in advanced technology, intelligence and countering terrorism and radicalism.
It is significant to note that both India and Germany have radical parties and elements which threaten to disrupt peaceful life and have become hindrances to communal harmony and brotherhood. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s extreme right ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members and close former ministerial colleagues like Maya Kodnani have been convicted for mass murders and communal violence in the Prime Minister Modi’s home state of Gujarat. Kodnani who is out on bail was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Germany has an extremist organization –PEGIDA, which is anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab.
It will be interesting to watch how Angela Merkel – a stateswoman of repute, convinces Narendra Modi to tread the path of peace and development by dealing firmly with the radical elements in his own ruling party. It may be recalled that within one year of Modi coming to power in 2014, five churches were vandalized in the capital New Delhi. The police, which is under the direct control of the central government in New Delhi could do little to arrest the culprits and restore the confidence of the people. Muslims and Christians have been at the receiving end since Modi came to power.
Merkel has shown how different communities can co-exist peacefully in Germany. Her handling of the Syrian refugees influx into Germany and her humane touch has endeared her to people in distress all over the world.
The linguistic and etymological affiliation between ancient India’s Sanskrit language and the German language binds the Germans and the Indians linguistically, socially, culturally, technologically and politically. The Aryan knowledge of horses, horsemanship, the spoked wheel craftsmanship was undoubtedly the technological ‘state-of-art’ about four millennia ago. The technological leadership is reflected in the stupefying language similarities between German and Sanskrit. For example, the Sanskrit word for chariot is Ratha, which echoes in German as Rad. Similarly, Aksha in Sanskrit and Achse in German denote an axle – used in figurative sense of an alliance or a close bond/union.
Hindi and Urdu derived from Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian languages are taught as part of Indology in 12 German universities. Urdu is taught in 5 German universities. Heildelberg University teaches Urdu at the Master’s level. In 2013, three German students of biology studying in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad produced a film –‘Hyderabadi Biryani’. It is story about Moritz, who goes to Hyderabad ofr a study exchange programme. Actually, Hyderabadi Biryani is a meat-rice-spices dish, which is popular all over the world, especially among the Indian diaspora in Europe, the United States, Asia, Australia and Africa. Hyderabad is a centre of Urdu language, where students and businessmen are learning the German language. Hyderabad is home to the first Indo-German International Research Training Group in Mollecular and Cellular Glyco-Sciences in collaboration with Munster, Germany. It offers a programme to all nationalities with a strong background in natural and life sciences, human or plant disease programme or protection.
The German language is restored to be taught in the Kendriya Vidyalayas – central schools in India with cooperation from the Max Muller Bhavans or Goethe Institutes. The German orientalists and Indologists brought the two countries closer in the 18th and the 19th centuries. The translation of Kalidasa’s epic — Shakuntala into German in 1791 and the publication of a Sanskrit dictionary by Otto von Bohtlingk in 1879 took Indo-German literary relations to new heights. A Danish historian Georg Brandes in his book – ‘The Major Trends in Literature’ published in 1872 wrote thus:
‘It was not surprising that there came a moment in German history when they – Germans started to absorb and to utilize the intellectual achievements and the culture of the ancient India.’
Commenting on the above quote, Michael Steiner, a German diplomat says:
‘‘The opportunities are infinite. We have to grab them – never mind in Sanskrit, German, Urdu or Hindi.’’
In 1876, the first telegraphic link between the Indian city Calcutta and London was established by the German firm Siemens. The technological cooperation continues till today with many German firms doing business in India. Merkel visited Bosch – A German engineering and technological company in Bengaluru during her India visit. The Indo-German Science and Technology Cooperation (STC) in New Delhi focuses on cooperation between India and Germany in the fields of biotechnology, healthcare, Information Technology, Environmental Science, Sustainability Research, Advanced materials, Space Research, Production Engineering, Disaster and Secretarial Management.
India and Germany can foster a strong and strategic partnership for development and peace. They can jointly harness the power of knowledge and technology. India, which is blessed with immense human resources and brilliant minds, can transform the lives of its citizens by partnering with a developed nation like Germany. It can insulate Germany from the economic slowdown that Europe is facing today. It is a win-win situation for both India and Germany.
