Jaipur’s vibrant literary scene came alive as Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Riyaz Hamidullah, graced the Jaipur Literature Festival. Participating in the ‘Asian Drama’ panel alongside noted experts like Professor C. Raja Mohan, Suhasini Haidar, Navtej Sarna, and Shubhijit Roy, Hamidullah shared insights on the evolving dynamics between Bangladesh and India.
Posting on X, the diplomat expressed delight at the event, thanking festival director Sanjoy K. Roy for creating a platform that fosters open dialogue on everything from fictional narratives to real-world issues. ‘Listening to others is certainly a virtue,’ he noted, highlighting the festival’s role in bridging ideas two decades after his last visit.
However, the visit unfolds against a backdrop of straining ties under Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. India has voiced deep concerns over targeted violence against minority Hindus, urging Dhaka to ensure fair and independent elections. Analysts in New Delhi hope a democratically elected government could mend fences and restore stability.
Adding international flavor, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski attended with his wife, drawing from his dual experience as a journalist and statesman. He delved into Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Poland’s pivotal response, and Europe’s adaptation to a rapidly shifting global order during sessions, including a conversation with Navtej Sarna.
Sikorski’s presence underscores burgeoning India-Poland relations. Just last month, the 11th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi saw both nations commit to ramping up cooperation in defense, security, science, technology, cybersecurity, and AI. Co-chaired by India’s Secretary (West) Siby George and Poland’s Secretary Władysław T. Bartoszewski, the talks reaffirmed joint action against terrorism and backed an early India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
The consultations reviewed progress under the strategic partnership’s five-year action plan (2024-2028), sealed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 2024 visit to Poland. As Poland emerges as India’s largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, these engagements signal a new chapter in bilateral ties, blending cultural exchanges like JLF with robust diplomatic momentum.