The South Asian regional identity is based on a varied amalgam of individual and group adherence to the South Asian geographic territory with a sense of belonging. The regional identity is shared by the forms of governance, participation and democracy besides geographic linkages, tradition, culture and history. This facet can also be realized in the existence of and adherence to civic and other professional norms and the development of regional agendas. Despite many efforts to build a common identity in the region, there exist issues of identity crisis in various parts of the region. The regional identity can be termed as the image, visibility and presence perceived, seen and felt by regional inhabitants and by the outside world.
Presently, there are two important centers working with South Asian studies. One is in the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India and its name is South Asia Studies Center. The other is in the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. The centers are mainly for studies and there is no scope of cooperation among the regional scholars. The new SAARC Center needs to support in expanding networks of these South Asian Studies in all the countries of SAARC.

There are no strong mechanisms for promoting regional identity and regional cooperation. The socialization process should be transformed to think beyond the national level and enhance regional identity. Unless culture and thought, which at present remain under the hegemonic influence of Western intellectual tradition, are reformulated and brought to the reality of South Asia, no measure of cooperation will succeed. This may be well facilitated by a South Asian University, which will address complex challenges of modernity and promoting regional cooperation.

Promoting of Regional Culture and Identity

The civil society should facilitate the process of developing a culture where the new generation will be inculcated in South Asia. The new generation needs to be transformed into citizens of South Asia. They can be part of a global community maintaining strong the identity of the region where they belong.Various groups of people may be encouraged and assisted by the civil society to visit the countries of the region. The groups may visit for various purposes like business, games and sports, pilgrimage, studies etc. Emphasis may be given to the comparatively younger population who will take up the leadership in various countries in the future. They are also more amenable, progressive, risk bearing and insightful. This may be termed as the people oriented approach to the regional cooperation.

There should be interventions for reorienting people of South Asia by the civil society for promoting regional identity. There is a need for changing the education curriculum and the change process of socialization. There should be promotion of actions like South Asian TV, South Asian Radio and South Asian Magazine for promoting knowledge sharing at regional level. It will support the process of developing regional identity and that will ultimately promote regional cooperation.
There should be a campaign for incorporating the SAARC curriculum into the text books of all schools of the region. The curriculum should help children to know about the region and different countries of the region.

There should be a strong lobby for establishing a SAARC Center for South Asian Studies and Cooperation in one of the existing Universities of the region. The SAARC Center should support in expanding networks of these South Asian Studies in all SAARC countries and provide intellectual and financial assistance to students and teachers so that they can concentrate more on these studies related to peace and regional cooperation.

The civil society should also lobby for the establishment of a South Asian University that can support in building regional identity. This may be well facilitated by a South Asian University, which will overcome the business of modern statehood and shoulder the responsibility of innovating ways to transform the pitiful condition of a billion people of this region.Professional associations on the regional basis need to be established for helping generate a culture of regular exchange of ideas, view and information among the people of the region. The process can be initiated by the civil society. People belonging to all professions may form associations and help create a healthy environment in the region.