From India to Latvia: Interest in the Baltic States Brings to Riga

Both Archana Upadhyay and Kottookunnel Bhaskaran Usha are Associate Professors in the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies at the largest University of India. The Center focuses on the independent States of the Former Soviet Union. Kottookunnel Bhaskaran Usha lectures on the Baltic States politics. Students of Master’s programme “Political Science” at the Faculty of Social Sciences were given an opportunity to learn about some topical problems of the Indian region as well as to see the Baltic States politics from the Indian perspective. This is your first visit to Latvia and, probably you have vivid impressions. Did you experience culture shock? K. B. Usha: We are feeling great here - the people, the University, atmosphere and infrastructure left the very positive first impression. People are very responsive and well-organized. Until now anything unpleasant has not happened to us. A. Upadhyay: We did not experience culture shock; we knew what to expect due to our interest in the Baltic States. We know what happened here in the past and what happens now. So, there is no surprise. When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised that more or less our assessment of what can be expected here turned out to be true. This is an exciting, very educational and informative visit. Although we have no time to see all Latvia’s beautiful places but Riga, we would like to thank Zaneta Ozolina for her efforts to reveal the charm and many faces of Riga. Could you tell us the circumstances and reasons for visiting the University of Latvia? K. B. Usha: In India I teach a course in Baltic politics. Once a student from Latvia (his teacher was Z. Ozolina) who worked on his thesis on Central Asia got interested in my course and wrote me a letter. He was interested in the opportunity to meet, and I certainly supported his idea. I introduced him to our faculty, department and teaching staff. He seemed really impressed. After his returning to Riga, he told others about his visit and acquired experience. Then Zaneta Ozoliņa invited us to visit UL and read some lectures, focusing on how political systems and democracy work. A. Upadhyay: No one from our university has visited Riga after it regained independence. Some of our teaching staff went to Riga more than 20 years ago. Everything has changed since then and, for this reason, our visit is a discovery of some kind. The aim of this small academic journey is to become better acquainted and ‘feel’ the region.  The visit is conducted as a part of bilateral cooperation. Since education, in my opinion, is one of the most important links in our globalized world, we must establish the closest possible relations. We hope the visit will result in positive changes - we are planning collaboration projects between Latvian and Indian educational institutions. It seems very interesting and exciting that UL has an Asian Studies programme which will provide lots of different options for cooperation. We have many areas to share - education, art, literature and culture in general. We hope the visit will establish closer cooperative ties between two universities. Are Indian students interested in the Baltic States and how is it useful? K. B. Usha: Yes, they are very interested in this course; so far we have received good feedbacks. Last year for the first time students were introduced into curriculum referring to the course of the Baltic States politics. Initially, two students applied for a course, afterwards six, and this year four students joined them. Students are asking a lot and wish to learn more about the Baltic States’ development after regaining their independence. We talk about historically important events which have shaped their future growth. We also discuss democratization processes. Today free and fair elections form a basis for democracy and therefore we talk a lot about them. But we are also faced with many challenges when we compare the Baltic States and India’s democratic systems. Problems relating corruption, inequality, slavery, manipulation with public and other are discussed either in Latvia or India, although in India such discussions do not provoke that much of active response. A. Upadhyay: Students’ willingness to study on this program can be proved by the fact that choosing this course, they have to study for five years. They know it and take into account. Undoubtedly, the number of students will increase every year because our university is incorporating new courses into the existing structure. The School of International Studies has at least two programmes in close relation with the Baltic States – the Russian and Central Asian Studies and the European Studies. In addition, the University has other programmes which will be relevant for the Baltic Studies, for example, the Centre for European Studies, the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies and the School of Arts and Aesthetics. So, there is a great potential in the future for Latvia and other Baltic States cooperation with our and other Indian universities. This is an important issue we have already discussed with rector of UL, especially if UL organizes an Indian Studies programme. What will be further co-operation between two universities? A. Upadhyay: Today UL has already made a proposal for further cooperation with the School of International Studies, the School of Social Sciences, the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, the School of Arts and Aesthetics. The process actually may take a long time for all aspects have to be mutually agreed upon. UL contract will be discussed at various levels and in various academic committees and panels. What would you like to wish UL students? A. Upadhyay: I would encourage students to visit India. In my opinion, India has much to offer – its history, its culture and its civilization what makes India so interesting and attractive for Latvian students. I invite students to see, experience and learn themselves about India. So, let us make possible a bilateral process where we can learn from each other. I do believe that it could not be possible to fully understand the processes of democracy without exploring the world’s largest democratic republic through personal experience. Books, no matter how many and how long you read, cannot provide information and experience obtained through direct communication. These couple of days in Latvia are much more useful than any book with the best description and analysis about Latvia.

Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.