India and Israel are natural allies and share similar geopolitical conditions. Making a first visit by an Indian PM, Modi has struck many milestones to reaffirm bonds between the two nations
Dr Vikas Abrol
India and Israel are natural allies and share similar geopolitical commonalities. They became independent nations in 1947 and 1948, respectively. Both have mountainous northern border protected by Himalayas and Golan heights, respectively. Both are surrounded by hostile neighbours which promote terrorism as their strategic state policy to impinge on growth of the two nations. Despite fighting several wars with respective surrounding hostilities, the threat on security of their citizens still looms large.
Israel has leaped ahead after her Independence in terms of development in so many sectors. Be it food security through innovations in agriculture and dairy, waste water recycling, sea water purification, national security (internal and external), information technology (IT), aerospace technologies, power generation through alternate resources, whereas India has lagged behind in these areas due to various reasons.
There are more than a few key areas in which India could willingly collaborate and adopt Israeli innovations.
In agriculture, fertigation is the key technology available for adoption as more than 68 per cent of net cultivated area in India is under rain-fed agriculture. This single technology of fertigation on such a large stretch of area holds potential to transform Indian agriculture. The Waste water recycling, polyhouse farming, soil-less culture, high yielding drought resistant germplasm are other areas where Indian agriculture could benefit immensely by adopting these technologies.
The Indian Government can focus and strengthen agricultural research on these frontier areas to bring tangible changes and achieve higher productivity on sustainable economic threshold levels.
One reason of Israel scaling new heights in Development is ‘exploitation of science for its best possible
utilisation’ which has been a key to Israel’s success as exporter of products and their technologies. India, as a collaborating partner of Israel, is endowed with an edge of simply choosing available and validated technologies without investing time, money and energy in evolving advanced technologies.
Presently, Israel has set up expertise centres in 15 Indian states to help increase productivity in olericulture (vegetable production) and horticulture sectors. There is wide scope to expand these centres exponentially to cater to our requirement of food security across the nation. To begin with, a minimum of two such centres should be started as nodal centres in each state to help farming community increase productivity.
The social fabric of the society which includes education, transportation, healthcare, provision of civic amenities, insurance,cleanliness and different vital aspects of day to day life is very well organised. The fool-proof system was such that one never felt harassed in a totally new workplace. Every small locality covered by municipality had the state’s own crèche, Primary school and Secondary Schools providing best of facilities. There was a provision of 24×7 electricity and water supply and this made living there so comfortable.
As for building stronger nation and structuring quality citizens, it is mandatory for every student, irrespective of gender undergo military training for a specified period after passing the class XII standard thereby inculcating sense of nationalism and equipping every citizen with physical and mental strength. Whereas we in India celebrate Diwali, Eid or some other festivals with great fervor, in Israel the Independence day is the most celebrated day of the calendar year.
The fool proof security of Israel was substantiated in summer 2014, when unprovoked firing of rockets in Israeli territory from Gaza pushed Israel into a forced war. Initially, people were scared being in war zone with their children on a foreign land but intervention of famous “Iron Dome technology” of blasting incoming rockets in the air has been
lending psychological strength to people.
Every time, with the incidence of incoming rockets from Gaza, a loud siren would be sounded as a warning to
citizens to go into their underground bunkers locally called “mamad” built in all the schools, hospitals, residences, parks, offices etc. The protection shield of Iron Dome and provision of mamad helped them lead a nearly normal life even during the days of war. May be the Government of J&K can enact a law making it mandatory to build an underground room for every residential and commercial building in areas adjoining international border like Samba, Kathua, Sutechgarh, Akhnoor.
Moreover with view to further boost education and business ties between these two nations, it would be admirable if GOI can negotiate with its Israel counterparts to work out modalities to grant citizenship to interested non-Jew professionals and businessmen which would benefit both the countries.
Israel might be younger than India as a republic and in size but can play a bigger role in coming times and help India achieve the pinnacle of glory.
(The writer has worked as an
agriculture scienitist in Israel)
