India did not just recreate history but also created it at the recent Asian-African Summit. By representing India at the golden jubilee of the first Afro-Asian Conference held in Bandung in 1955 in which Jawaharlal Nehru had played a key role, Dr Manmohan Singh must have been overwhelmed by history. But he also created history of sorts by speaking on the behalf of entire Asia. It was Nehru's vision that India would one day be the leader of Asia. Fifty years after the Bandung Conference which was the precursor of the Non Aligned Movement, that vision was fulfilled, even if symbolically. But this symbolism was also enormously important particularly when one realises that India was accorded this rare honour when Asian giants like China and Japan were present. Like India, Japan is also vying for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. But after the summit at which the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was present, India's claim for a permanent membership must have received a shot in the arm. The eminent status bestowed upon India increased New Delhi's responsibility to play a more active role in forging a stronger bond between Asia and Africa. The summit was attended by over 100 countries which account for over 70 per cent of the population of the world. But sadly, even today this mass of humanity faces the adversities which plagued it in the previous century: poverty, disease, illiteracy and conflicts.

Many of them are also victims of the machinations of Western powers and exploitation of global financial institutions. The irony is that there is no dearth of natural and human resources in the two continents. If they jointly make an honest effort, they can find solutions to many of their problems. Fifty years ago, the then leaders of Asia and Africa had created NAM to address the challenges of that era. In the changed global context, the challenges have also changed. And it is to confront the new economic realities that the African and Asian leaders set up the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership (NAASP) which as the Indian Prime Minister hoped, would help usher in peace, progress and prosperity in the two continents.