On January 20, Neelam Deo, Director, Gateway House, moderated a panel discussion titled ‘Elephants in the Room: India and its Neighbours’ at the Jaipur Literature Festival, held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, from January 17-21.
The panelists included Aunohita Mojumdar, Associate Editor of Himal Southasian, Lily Wangchhuk, president of a political party in Bhutan, Kazi Anis Ahmed, author of Good Night, Mr Kissinger, and Ahmad Rafay Alam, environment lawyer and activist.
The panel discussed the social and political workings of the countries bordering India – Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The discussion ranged from elections and political portraits, to the role of the media and involvement of the youth and middle class in social change, as well as India’s position as a strategically important neighbour.