South Asia is on the move. Having remained dormant for about three centuries, it has picked up speed, and is on the way to recovery. If the current development trajectory is any indicator, it is destined to become one of the most dynamic regions of the world in not too distant a future. Much, however, depends on how fast it forgets its divisive past, and transcends the narrow national interests of its constituent nation states to work in unison to forge a regional identity similar to EU.

Known as India until the British occupied it, it had always been a prosperous land. The region is endowed with rich natural and human resources. With 1.56 billion people, forming almost a quarter (23.50 percent) of the world population (July 2008), South Asia has the potential of becoming a leading region of the world. The people are industrious, intelligent, and inheritors of a highly advanced civilisation whose roots go back to 7,000 years. Vedic Civilisation, which took its birth around 7000 bc has been known for its spiritual heights, and the Indus Valley Civilisation, (3000-1500 bc), one of the earliest urban civilisations of the world, tells the world the basics of city planning. And to add to its glorious past, it gave birth to three great religions of the world: Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Further enriched by Islam and Christianity, they taught the world the lessons of non-violence, human brotherhood, and sustainable development. They still dominate the cultural landscape of South, South East, and East Asia.