Temat: Ashok K.Mehta We are not poles apart- Hindus o nas

Ashok K.Mehta We are not poles apart- Hindus o nas

Autor Dariusz Karwowski

Poland has gainfully used its past to build a promising new future. Poland was ravaged by conquests for centuries and yet rose remarkably from the ashes. India could learn a thing or two from its rich experience. Both countries cherish traditions, values, heritage and culture. Though immensely different, they face common challenges and concerns: Respect for democracy, proclivities to dynastic rule, coalition Governments, uneasy strategic partnership with the US while retaining strong bonding with Russia, energy security and impressive economic growth between 7.5 and nine per cent.



The rule of the Kaczynski brothers - Poland\'s President and Prime Minister are identical twins - was curtailed by coalition difficulties and elections are due on Sunday. When the new Indian Ambassador, Mr Chandra Mohan Bhandari, presented his credentials to the President last month, Mr Lech Kaczynski spoke glowingly about Indian democracy.



Geography has shaped Poland\'s history. Located at the crossroads of central Europe, armies of conquerors marched across its terrain leaving a trail of utter destruction. It was gobbled up by its more powerful neighbours and for 100 years Poland even disappeared from the map till its resurrection in 1918. Polish history is replete with uprisings and revolutions. World War II saw it being invaded by Nazi Germany and liberated by Russia. For nearly 50 years Russia exercised tight political control over it. Poland has been a free country only for the past 17 years. So, its resurgence and achievements, especially after joining NATO and the EU, are decisively impressive.



Poland is the largest country in central Europe and ranks eighth in Europe by size and ninth by area. With a $ 570 billion economy and 40 million population, Poland has remained India\'s biggest economic partner after Russia in eastern and central Europe.



Like India, Poland has problems with its neighbours, Germany and Russia. Germany has not replicated the Franco-German reconciliation with Poland. The nostalgia of Chancellor Helmut Kohl era has been replaced by a diplomatic distaste for Chancellor Angela Merkel who cold-shouldered a Polish proposal for a joint EU Army and is accused of trying to isolate Poland in EU. Only last week the two Presidents met to warm up relations.



Other problems with Germany concern war reparation after German vacation of Polish territory and the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, which is to go under the Baltic Sea bypassing Poland. Gas intrinsically is linked to Russia. Dependent on Moscow for its oil and gas Poland cannot escape geography and totally erase its recent past. Oil plays a significant part in diplomacy and the politics of US-NATO missile defence sites in Poland and the Czech Republic.



After the collapse of the USSR, \"everyone\" Poles say \"looked at the US\". Poland has become a close ally of the US, but that got us \"trapped in Iraq\". The US is not as \"generous\" as we imagined; it has been stingy on contracts in Iraq. Further, Poland has difficulties on visas to the US, unlike other EU countries. Political analysts from Warsaw University caution India about its strategic partnership with the US: \"Don\'t make our mistakes.\" This warning will be music for Mr Prakash Karat and Mr Sitaram Yechury.



Poland is fully integrated in OSCE, NATO and EU security structures. By European standards it has large armed forces: 100,000 Army, 8,000 Navy and 12,000 Air Force. An elite Special Forces Regiment operates directly under the Prime Minister. The military has soaked up British, Russian, French and German traditions, though it is entirely Polish now. The elite 6th Air Assault Brigade which is 80 per cent professional force - it took part in Operation Market Garden in World War II - is servicing combat contingents in Iraq and Afghanistan.



By 2008, Polish military will be an all-volunteer force. Troops are currently involved in UN, NATO and EU and coalition missions - in 2002 Polish troops were deployed in 17 countries on peacekeeping missions. Though jointness is stressed, the Navy maintains an exclusivity no one is able to justify. High military morale stems from high salaries and respect and dignity from Government and civil society, something India could emulate.



The 35-year-old BUMAR company is the backbone of the Polish defence industry and focussed on land systems being part of former Soviet defence industry and now adhering to NATO standards. It exports annually, military equipment amounting to $ 1200 million. India is an old and tested customer of Soviet-Eastern Bloc equipment and BUMAR\'s dilemma is whether to cooperate or compete with Russia in its cooperation with Delhi.



The ruling coalition of Law and Justice Party and the agrarian Self Defence Party collapsed in August due to internal rows and ran a minority Government. The Liberal Right Citizen\'s Platform is the biggest Opposition party followed by the Left and Eurosceptic Peasant\'s Party and the New Left and Democratic Party.



The Kaczynski twins are accused by the Opposition of having ruled through the Secret services after dissolving the military intelligence and replacing it with an elite anti-corruption police. Some observers refer to Polish politics as permanent civil war.



In a 90 per cent Catholic country where the Church is officially apolitical, Polish humour keeps the chin up and powder dry. It begins at the very top. Prime Minister Jaroslav Kaczynski revealed that he does not have a bank account, since he fears someone might deposit money in his account. So he keeps his money with his mother. Elections are being fought on relations with Germany, Europe, corruption and social spending. Tapping the rural vote is going to be crucial.



Though Poland and India are situated at opposite ends of different continents, they are not poles apart. Indian may not have developed any taste for the world-famous Chopin vodka, but Poles have been initiated into Indian mangoes and IT. Opportunities for IT and BPO to create a second hub in East Europe are being explored by Zensar Technologies.



Indian investment in Poland is around $ 700 million, mainly in steel, tractors, pharmaceuticals, IT, electronics, food processing and health systems. These have created 5000 new jobs. Poland could become a base for Indian markets in this region.



On joining the EU, skilled and unskilled labour has moved out of Poland to the UK, Ireland and other parts of Europe. You hear more Polish than English these days in London. Warsaw and Delhi have signed an MoU for Indian labour even as 3,000 Indians are resident workers. The 2012 European Cup in Poland has triggered a construction boom and Indian workers are making a beeline.



Poland sees India as a long-term strategic partner. Defence cooperation has been enhanced from MoU on Defence Cooperation in 2003 to High Level Military Technology Cooperation and contracts worth $ 800 million, which include ARVs, modernising tanks, electronics, are in play. Poland is a natural base for upgrading old Soviet equipment.



Polish military experience in Iraq and Afghanistan will constitute valuable operational exchange even while 100 Polish service personnel are participating in the International Military Games in Hyderabad. Not for nothing are the Poles experts in football and politics.

Autor Dariusz Karwowski