National Symposium on Diplomatic History of Asia: Changing Contours

being organized by Department of History, Banaras Hindu University, on

April 18-19, 2019

Concept Note:

The year 2019 marks completion of a hundred years of tumultuous

transformations in Asia which were set in process by struggles and negotiations
for the nation building. Events like the tragic massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in
Amritsar, India during the course of civil disobedience movement against the
colonial state ; the May Fourth Movement in Beijing, China triggered by the
treachery that it confronted in Versailles Peace treaty at the hand of Imperialists
Powers; the March 1 resistance movement in Korea against the Japanese state
leading eventually to the independence of that country; the Pan-Islamic Khilafat
Movement propelling the Turkish War of Independence are part of some of the
major national and transnational currents that provided a fillip to the rise of
nation-states in Asia out of the ruins of empires.

Equally significant in the course of 1919 was Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the
establishment of the League of Nations with the promise for the equality for all in
the comity of nation and for application of various kinds of diplomatic overtures
to maintain the balance of power in the globe. Under such a surcharged
atmosphere, the British dispatch of its favorite Maharaja of Bikaner as
plenipotentiary and a signatory from India at the League of Nations was one of
many examples that raised hopes and optimism for an emerging world order
based on respect and equality of all. This also marked the elevation of diplomatic
history as an academic discipline to document and measure the relationship
between nation-states.

Yet, promises that 1919 portended proved to be illusory in spite of the fact that
the world has since then seen rise of many nation-states and the process of
nation-building continues. What this confirms is that the historical trajectory of
nation-states has been unwieldy, complex and unpredictable. Hierarchical
restructuring of the nations, mistrust, rivalry and conflict, and the rise of myriad
uni-, bi-, and multi-lateral national and international bodies have moved the
world away from the original goals for equal stake and participation.

We also witness the shift of power and ascendance of economic activities

from the Western world to Asia-Pacific order. Analysts and policy makers talk
about the beginning of Asian century with the start of 21st century. With new
priorities and necessities, statecraft and diplomacy are taking on newer forms.
These make it imperative to now discuss and deliberate on this important theme
employing a multidisciplinary approach.

In the present symposium we propose to discuss these issues by taking up the

following themes, and beyond, in the context of Diplomatic history.

* Historical connections
*Anti Imperialist movements
*Cold War era
*Diplomatic initiatives
*Oil Diplomacy
* Post Cold War era
* Disintegration of USSR and emergence of Central-Asian
Republics
* New dimension of Energy-politics
* Prospects of multi-polar Asia

We hope that discussion and deliberations in this symposium would enrich

multidisciplinary perspectives in diplomatic history of Asia and update
prevalent knowledge system to bring it in fore of the mainstream history courses.
We invite Historians, Area Study experts and practicing diplomats to contribute
towards these ends through Panel-discussion, presentation and special lectures.
We are fortunate to convene this meeting in Varanasi - the city of Lord
Vishwanath and Lord Buddha located on the banks of the holy Ganga, and at the
campus of Banaras Hindu University – a creation of Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya
during the course of our national struggle and the building of a modern nation-
state.

Keshav Mishra Ranjana Sheel

Professor, Dept. of History Professor, Dept. of History
& Organising Secretary of Symposium & Convenor of Symposium