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Trade concession: An uneven game
   Indeed, it is an uneven and difficult game. The poor nations have been allowed certain concessions under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules to be provided by the developed countries. The rich nations, under 'Special and Differential Treatment' (S&DT) of the WTO, are obligated to provide the poor developing nations preferential access to their markets. Besides, under the rule, they are also to provide technical and other assistance to the poor countries so that they can meet their WTO obligations. In other words, the rich nations have been obligated to help the poor nations to build their own capacity.
   This was one of the main themes of a three-day regional conference of the International Civil Society Forum 2005 organised in Dhaka by a local think tank, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) for advancing LDC interests in the sixth WTO ministerial to be held in Hong Kong from 13-18 December next. Bangladesh Ambassador to the WTO Permanent Mission in Geneva Dr. Taufiq Ali lamented that the developed countries expect access for their industrial products to the LDC markets but protect their own markets through high tariff and non-tariff barriers for the LDC products. He, like many other speakers at the meeting, suggested that the LDCs should stand together firmly and demand market access to both the developed and the advanced developing countries under WTO's S&DT. The Forum has called for a common stand of the LDC governments and civil societies on trade issues ahead of the Sixth WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong.
   However, many speakers who are recognized experts on the subject did not mention for the benefit of the lay people that the main problem for getting the benefit of these trade preferences granted by the developed countries are voluntary and not mandatory. Yes, they do grant preferences voluntarily but such facilities are confined only to those areas where the poor nations' are much disadvantaged and less capable to use it to their own advantage and put pressure on the rich countries. They rarely grant such facilities to the developing countries where their export potentials are huge. Instead, as Dr. Taufiq Ali lamented, the rich nations tend to protect their market by raising the wall of tariffs and non-tariffs to maximize their profits.
   
   Deceptive preferential
   Empirical evidence suggests such preferences doled by the rich have hardly helped the majority of the world's poor. A small number of middle-income countries have, by and large, benefited from such preferences because they have the capacity to comply with the requirements set by the developed countries. According to a research agency known as CUTS, in the year 2001, only 10 out of the 130 eligible countries accounted for 77 percent of US non-oil imports under GSP provisions. The rest could not qualify to reach the standards prescribed for getting such facilities.
   Although the industrialized countries are obligated to come to the help of the poor countries raise their standards through technical assistance under an agreed trade-related technical assistance and capacity building (TABC), they are doing just the reverse. For example, they impose higher tariff on the goods imported from the developing countries than those from the developed countries, both in agriculture and non-agriculture products. The rich countries import on average 15 percent tariff on the import of agriculture products from the industrialized countries but the developing countries - the LDCs and developing countries alike - are forced to pay higher import duty in the range between 20 and 35 percent. In case of non-agricultural products, the discrepancy range is even more. Tariffs on import of non-agriculture products from the industrialized countries, the developed countries levy on average only one percent. However, the developing countries have to pay anything from 2.1 to 8.1 percent. Such unbelievable facts - perhaps stranger than the fictions - are available in the World Bank's 'Global Economic Prospects 2004: Realizing the Development Promise of the Doha Agenda.'
   The leaders and policy makers of the rich countries tend to forget that as per WTO's Special & Differential Treatment (S&DT), they are to implement their agreements in a way that is beneficial, or least damaging to the interests of developing countries and the LDCs. Since this obligation is only voluntary and not mandatory, they choose to do what tends to advance their own national interest.
   The Geneva-based International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development has repeatedly harped that there has been little movement on the Doha mandate - or Doha Development Agenda (DDA), as the Doha WTO Ministerial held in Doha in November 2001 is referred to - how to strengthen the existing S&DT provisions. The WTO agreements, the CUTS policy brief on multilateral trading system says, are replete with references to S&DT. There are about 155 S&DT provisions in several WTO agreements.
   The countries belonging to the industrialized group had made a number of commitments in November 2001 at the WTO Doha Ministerial at Doha known as Doha Development Agenda (DDA) as well as Development Round, but in most cases they did not go beyond the realm of rhetoric. The participants at the Doha Development Round had agreed to a number of proposals to address the genuine development concerns of the poor countries, but nothing much has happened. The Nobel Lauriat, economist Dr. Joseph Stiglitz in his well known report to the Commonwealth Secretariat entitled 'The Development Round of Trade Negotiations in the Aftermath of Cancun,' noted 'alternative ways for the Doha Round to ensure that developmental promises are kept.'
   The Stiglitz report makes it clear that 'there is a huge discrepancy between the Development Round agenda - as it was formulated at Doha and as it has evolved since - and a true Development Round agenda, that would reflect the interest and concerns of the developing world. The WTO, therefore, needs to foster a culture of robust economic analysis to identify pro-development proposals and promote them to the top of the agenda.'
   
   The Hong Kong agenda
   What the next WTO Hong Kong Ministerial holds for the least developed countries (LDCs) that constitute more than a quarter of 148 WTO memberships? As it is, the LDCs are being made to lose at least US$2.5 billion annually as potential exports earning because of high tariff protections in the industrialized world. The oft repeated example of how high rate of tariffs are being charged on imports from Bangladesh by the US administration compared to those from France is a case in point. Bangladesh pays duties worth US$300 million on its exports of under US$2 billion while France pays almost the same amount for exporting goods and products worth US$30 billion. This alone proves beyond any shadow of doubt that the effective US import duties imposed on poor countries like Bangladesh is almost 10 times higher than most countries in European Union.
   The adoption of what has now become known as the 'July Package of 2004' - it injected some life to the Doha Round - by reaffirming the importance of S&DT and instructing the Committee on Trade and Development-special Session (CTD-SS) to expeditiously complete the review, but has failed to really make any breakthrough in that direction. CPD's executive director Devepriya Bhattacharya in his introductory statement at the Forum's inaugural session, referring to the July Package, however, stated that it has addressed most of the points of the LDCs 'up to a point'. Describing the LDC points as 'Defensive Agendas', Bhattacharya pointed out that those included resolution of the controversy surrounding the Singapore issues, progress on export subsidy reduction, waiver on liberalization commitments for the LDCs and so on.
   The focus in Hong Kong which Bhatacharya describes as 'Offensive Agendas' include effective zero tariff market access in developed countries for all LDC products, zero tariff market access in selective advanced developing countries, phasing out trade distorting domestic support measures in agriculture sector of the developed countries and meaningful implementation of S&DT provisions for the LDCs. However, empirical evidences have made it clear that as far as S&DT provisions are concerned, no resolution or agreements at WTO Hong Kong can persuade the developed countries to 'implement S&DT provisions' meaningfully.
   Something more direct and resolute actions are called for if the 'Offensive Agendas' are to bring in meaningful results. It appears that what is required to do at this stage, as suggested in the Policy Brief 5 by CUTS Centre for International Trade for Economics & Environment that 'S&DT shall be made mandatory and legally binding through the dispute settlement system of WTO (including notification requirements and inclusion of these commitments in country schedules).' The agenda at the WTO Hong Kong cannot become 'offensive' unless it takes a positive stand to sort out the issues that defied solutions for years. The irony is that if this suggestion were pushed as an agenda, nobody would consider it as serious because the developed countries are in no mood to take it seriously. So Hong Kong may help us adopt yet another 'package' of promises and of good wishes till the next Development Round takes place. In other words, LDCs should not place much hope on WTO Hong Kong, which could turn out to be 'all sound and not much fury' either.

Autumn, with its blue sky and its white fleecy clouds, seems to me like a maiden who is putting the last colours on before putting on the winter attire. There is anticipation written in the wind, sun, flowers and even the birds seem to sing in a different tune. This anticipation, this waiting is for the winter that is just around the corner. Winter comes with its cold days but autumn is there with the last warmth of the year. Autumn seems to get one ready for the coming kisses of winter. If winter is here every year just to remind that the year is ending, then autumn comes with the last bright thoughts of the year. How fascinating the nature looks when the trees are adorned in flaming yellow, brown and orange in the colder regions. Autumn with its clear sky and the sparkling sun fills the heat with delight after the soggy days of the rainy season. The gentle breeze seems to have just the right touch of coolness in it. It is a blessing after the hot humid days of summer.
   It is thrilling to see the jasmines lying on the green dew laden grass in the autumn mornings! Dewdrops cover the withered flowers. The trees too have dew drops dripping from their leaves. My heart wants to scream and shout, to welcome the autumn with its graces. When I stand by the large field near my house I can see a veil of fog covering the horizon at the other end. A touch of cool breeze kisses my face. It is as if winter is whispering within the folds of the fog, as if winter, like a small baby is getting ready to rise and see the world. I can feel the wetness of the dew on the grass beneath my feet. I love the sensation and my soul wakes up to the bliss of it. Rays from the rising sun touches the dew drops and thousand secrets seem to unfold their wings as they start sparkling under the new light! Oh wonder of all wonders! Its like a magic carpet. The sunrays can be seen streaming through the fog, penetrating through its whiteness. I find a message written on the sunrays; they seem to touch one’s heart with new hopes for the day. Far away over the paddy fields the wind blows with sudden gusts and sends waves of yellow and green as the rice stalks bow to the wind. Few small birds hiding within the paddy field flutter up flapping their wings and glide along with the flow of the wind.
   As the sunlight spreads and touches the treetops with its golden light, the birds, already chirping and twittering within the boughs, start to fly to the field in search of seeds and insects. The rising sun now brings in to view the yellow carpets of mustard flowers. A little farther away the water in the river glistens as the blanket of fog starts to rise. The mustard flowers stretch in endless miles taking a golden hue with touch of the rising sun. A closer look will reveal the white ‘kash’ flowers along the river bank. Oh heavenly, heavenly! Who has said that heaven is far away? The beauty of the autumn morning brings a heavenly bliss to the soul. I feel as though I could just stare on and on, as if the solitude of the morning was enough to make feel glad to be alive!
   I am reminded of a song of Tagore:
   ‘Aji shoroto topone probhate shopone
   ki jani porano ki chaye….’ (What dream seeks my soul in this autumn morn..)
   I am reminded of the song for there is a mesmerized me, not knowing exactly how to express my joy of the beautiful autumn morning. Indeed the deepest thoughts find no words! No wonder great poets like Tagore has written the exact words of the heart. I wish I had learnt how to paint then maybe I could have held this scenery on my canvas. But and then this wonderful picture will remain in my heart to recall and will be a joy for ever. Speaking on how the autumn touches the soul a Canadian poet Bliss Carman has said in his poem, The Vagabond Song,
   ‘There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood
   Touch of manner, hint of mood;
   And my heart is like a rhyme….
   There is something in October that sets the gipsy blood astir..’
   There is a yearning in my soul to sit idly under the huge blue sky and watch the white clouds play around in the clear moon at night. The autumn sky at night with its countless stars makes feel like joining the stars with the fairies. I want to stop thinking about the maternal needs of life. There is a craving to feed my spiritual self, to fulfill my aesthetic self to the brink. I realize that there can be no peace in my soul without spiritual fulfillment. And this contentment is what my soul seeks in the autumn days.
   The withered jasmines remind me of how short life is. I am reminded that may be next autumn I will not be here on this earth. But I pray from the bottom of the heart that I may be alive and see the next autumn. May the autumn rock me within its cool lap and let me feel the hard kisses of winter too.
   Tulip Chowdhury teaches, composes poetry and writes fiction.
   She contributes regularly to New Age Literature

There was a time when the jubaan of a large part of North South Asia used to be called Hindustani, and films of Lahore and Bombay both used it un-self-consciously as their lingua franca. Then came the terrible partition, and Hindustani lost out. To the extent that you could not even say ‘Hindustani classical music’, with some people veering towards ‘Southasian classical’ as a way out.
   Hindustani’s decline was dictated by the hegemonic rise of Hindi and Urdu in India and Pakistan. While there was genuflection towards Urdu in the beginning (including the opening credits of Bombay flicks in Arabic script), the politics of demography and language has made Hindi the true hegemon of the Subcontinent as a whole. In the last decade, it is Hindi’s Bambaiya patois which has become ascendant (‘Apan ko roz roz ka lafada nahi mangta hai!’).
   And now television has slipped into the role prepared for it by latter-day Bollywood, and Hindi is the unquestioned transnational mass-market vernacular, having crushed Maithili, Braj Bhasa, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Magadhi, Awadhi, Bundeli and others along the way. In the larger region, the power of Indian multinational satellite television makes Hindi the medium of entertainment right across the east-west expanse of the Subcontinent.
   Hindustani has lost this war of the vernacular. As the name of a language, it supposedly does not exist any more, with the Indian state and society preferring Hindi and Paksitan favouring Urdu. For the parochial Indian establishment, ‘Hindustani’ refers to the tongue of the Muslims (almost as much as Urdu), whereas for the chauvinists of the Pakistani establishment, ‘Hindustani’ is marred by the reference to ‘Hindu’ which is retroactively inconvenient.
   It is all very confusing. It turns out that Hindi and Urdu are one and the same tongue that differs only in the upper reaches infiltrated by Persian and Sanskrit. As the scholar Afroj Taz (born District Etah, Uttar Pradesh, now teaching Southasian languages in North Carolina) says: ‘Hindi and Urdu, which share a common, identical grammatical structure, must be considered a single language: Hindi-Urdu.’
   The fact that Urdu is in fact Hindi and vice-versa would be a matter of some discomfort to a few on either side of the LoC, but the very fact that Bollywood films are consumed voraciously in Pakistan proves the point. No one would claim that Pakistanis watch Bollywood blockbusters because they know Hindi. Ergo, they are listening to Hindi-Urdu as one and the same language. Which means that even though the Bombay producer and director thought they were making a film in Hindi, they are heard in Lahore as Urdu. When this Nepal-based writer goes to Lahore, he is ridiculed for his bad Urdu, and in Delhi for his atrocious Hindi. Or Hindustani.
   In heavyweight gatherings of Southasian states, diplomats from Kathmandu, Dhaka, New Delhi and Islamabad alike are found succumbing to what is/has become the common jubaan of North Southasia, quoting Iqbal, Faiz and Shair Ludhianvi. Away from diplomatic decorum, they ascend to a language that is neither Hindu nor Urdu but an evolved medium of conversation carrying the heritage of the Indus Valley, Awadh, the Padma, Tipu Sultan and Dilip Kumar. Hindustani.
   Naming of the shared language as ‘Hindi-Urdu’ does not really work. Someone once suggested that the combined language be called Sahi Boli, taking after Khari Boli which is an ancestor of modern-day Hindi, but that did not spark. Nor would it help to call the tongue ‘Hindurdu’ or ‘Urdhindi’. Another time, another day, when the geo-political hackles are down permanently, perhaps we can indeed go back to ‘Hindustani’, which would be most satisfying. It is an evolved name, it packs in just the right amount of multi-layered-ness of Southasian society. With ‘Hindustani’ there would be no need to invent a new word.
   It is just possible that the need for a name for the joint language will be felt among the people once the India-Pakistan thaw accelerates, and the economic, social and cultural links between Northern India and Pakistan take firm root. When the India-Pakistan frontier becomes truly ‘soft’, it is likely that Hindustani will emerge from smog of Subcontinental geopolitcs and take its rightful place as the major tongue of South Asia. Except, let us pronounce it and spell it as the original ‘Hindostani’.