Following the ceremonial lighting of the lamps, the conference commenced with the introduction of dignitaries and a brief insight into the conference theme by the student Emcees. The convenor of the event, Dr Shreesh K Pathak took to the podium to deliver his welcome remarks.
Dr Shreesh K Pathak (Assistant Professor, AIIS) welcomed the dignitaries and students present in the room and explained the thought behind the conception of VIJIGISHU, which has presently reached its fifth year. The word ‘Vijigishu’ means conqueror, which was previously used by Kautilya in the Mandala Theory. He spoke on the ideals of diplomacy in the neighbourhood, and the nation’s need to ‘win’ resources for its citizens and national aspirations alike. He further elaborated on this year’s theme of the conference, ‘Border Management in Contemporary World Politics: Security and Beyond’.
Prof (Dr) Nagalaxmi M Raman (Director & Head, AIIS) in her introductory address, took to the stage to welcome everyone present at VIJIGISHU 2024 and remarked on the significance of the decided theme. She commented on the value of knowledge as the ‘ultimate wealth’, and the contributions of this conference to leveraging this knowledge. After introducing the topic, Prof. Nagalaxmi stated how critical border management is for the stability and prosperity of the nation. She remarked, “As we navigate the integrated intersection of security politics and social dynamics, we recognize borders are not only lines on a map but instead represent points of convergence and divergence”. Prof. Nagalaxmi discussed border management, emphasising on economic cooperation, migration control, crime prevention, and climate change while balancing national security and cross-border collaboration. She gave the audience an insight into border management and encouraged the students to ask questions. Lastly, she concluded by expressing her gratitude to the knowledge partners and attending dignitaries.
Prof. (Dr.) Balvinder Shukla (Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, AUUP), began by conveying her regards to the organisers and knowledge partners. She spoke on the significance of border security to facilitate trade and commerce and allow dialogue and discussion. To build harmony and peace in the dynamic world order, one must attend to aspects that go beyond physical borders, with cybersecurity at its forefront. She referenced the situation in Gaza and Ukraine as contemporary examples of the importance of border security management. She also highlighted the impact of migration issues, which take on transnational prominence at borders. She then proceeded to host the release of the Compendium of Abstracts, alongside the other dignitaries present.
Prof. Krishnendra Meena (CSRD, JNU), with 17 years of teaching experience and a PhD from JNU (2012), delivered a speech that focused on the complexities of borders and border management. He began by thanking the faculty for organising the event and highlighted the difficulty of understanding and discussing borders, particularly due to their often ambiguous nature.
Borders are not always situated at the territorial edge of a state. They can extend into seas, airports, and maritime zones, creating a challenge in accurately identifying their locations. He emphasised that borders are not just physical markers but are “performed” by various agencies and actors, each with different perspectives, especially when comparing state authorities to border residents.
Prof. Meena discussed political borders as lines that demarcate states, dividing not just territories but people, which he noted as the most important aspect of borders.
He outlined four key stages in border development:
Definition: Agreement on physical boundaries between states.
Delimitation: Representation of these boundaries on maps.
Marking: Physical marking of these points on large-scale maps.
Border Management: The practical handling of border disputes and issues.
He concluded by noting that disputes often arise during the informal stages of border definition and delimitation.
Prof. Amitabh Mattoo (Padma Shri, Former VC-University of Jammu, Dean and Professor, SIS, JNU) started by addressing the dignitaries and showed his interest in the conference. He continued by focusing on how borders are not just boundaries, but they occupy a number of dimensions today such as international politics. The focus then shifted to the IT revolution in India and around the globe. He reflected on how physical boundaries have existed for a long time, throughout the Mughal and the colonial period in India. He also remarked on non-state actors such as environmental issues that do not limit to the physical borders. He specifically mentioned cyber-attacks that have become one of the biggest threats around the globe and stressed on the importance of investing in technology. Prof. Mattoo also discussed the relevance of migration and refugee crises especially in Europe. Lastly, he concluded by addressing the importance of resource management and greater capacity building to be able to deal with this challenge of border management.
The Guest of Honor, Prof. Shri Prakash Mani Tripathi (Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Tribal Central University, Amarkantak and RG Manipur) in his speech, spoke of the impact of borders and the very crucial strategic aspects of border management. He noted that borders were not only physical but also social, existing through cultural lines and national identity. He elaborated on the needs of security management in landlocked countries, including but not limited to dialogue and discussion for border security. He also highlighted the need to cater to economic needs and accessibility of defense forces, and the vitality of a control system at the borders. He further spoke on the importance of satellite navigation, and the need to develop a parallel system to combat our neighbor’s forces. He called for VIJIGISHU to be a hope for success and stressed on the responsibility of citizens towards security and the depth of national sentiment at borders. In the advent of globalization, there is a need for humanitarian efforts and the prevention of terrorism. He concluded by calling for cooperative efforts, as it is not the age of war but of dialogue.
Prof. Neerja Gupta (Vice Chancellor of Gujarat University), in her insightful speech, shared her unique perspective on the concept of borders. Reflecting on her personal experience as the daughter of an army officer and her extensive travels in the North and Northeast of India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Finland, she introduced the idea that "Seema" (limit) is more than just a physical border. She differentiated between various types of borders: Mitra Seema (friendly border), Shatru Seema (enemy border), and Kathastra Seema (disputed border).
Prof. Gupta emphasized that a border represents a mental space rather than just a physical one. She discussed how India, with its diverse range of borders, has historically faced challenges before and after 1947. She noted that prior to independence, India had over 500 internal borders between the Rajas and Maharajas, which were not international in nature.
Drawing on references from Dharmashastra, Ayurveda, Buddhism, and Hindu traditions, she explored how borders have appeared in religious and cultural texts. She also highlighted the strategic and sensitive nature of border management, stressing that it should not be about creating enemies, but about maintaining harmony and peace. Prof. Gupta concluded by advocating for the importance of understanding both physical and cultural boundaries, and the need for sensitivity and strategic planning when managing national borders.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr Dhananjay Tripathi (DIR, SAU). The crowd was dispersed for a tea-break.
