Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nehru Foreign Policy 1hfh17kgyt
Nehru Foreign Policy 1hfh17kgyt
twentieth century, had left his indelible imprint on all aspects of Modern
and India's emerging role in the world scene. The two major strands of
nationalist struggle.1
well known even before 1927, when Jawaharlal Nehru gained a decisive
infused flesh and blood into them; as N.V.Rajkumar has written, Nehru
was the "mentor of the Congress's foreign policy; it was he who gave
that India should make its stand clear on crucial global issues was a
135
logical corollary of the manner in which Indian National Movement,
developed in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Indian National Congress,
keen interest in matters relating to foreign policy from its very inception.3
Gandhi occupying the centre of the political stage. Gandhi took a global
New Era published from Madras in May 1928, Nehru wrote: "We must^
end the isolation of India and try to understand world currents and world
136
Nehru's maiden venture into the international arena came quite
late in life, in 1927, when he was 38 years old.8 His extensive reading, his
visit to Europe - a fundamentally altered Europe after the first world war
Latin America - all these enabled him to crystallise his views on foreign
policy. His first,9 but significant, essay on "A Foreign Policy for India"
foreign policy.10 The essay should be read along with his speeches and
end the isolation in which India has lived for generations and for
not, India cannot remain, now or hereafter, cut off from the rest of the
world."11
Congress, Nehru wrote: "Most of us, specially from Asia, were wholly
137
ignorant of the problems of South America, and how the rising
Central and South America. But we are not likely to remain ignorant
much longer for the great problem of the near future will be American
quote Nehru: "In developing our foreign policy, we shall naturally first
cultivate friendly relations with the countries of the East, which have so
much in common with us. Nepal will be our neighbour and friend; and
China and Japan, Indonesia, Annam and Central Asia, we shall have the
problem.15
the people of Burma to make the decision, and should they are perfectly
welcome to do so."16
138
Jawaharlai Nehru also clearly expressed his views on India's stand
should also declare unequivocally that she will be no party to any war
without her consent and if she is bullied or hustled into such a war, she
Asian countries, Nehru said: "If a war breaks out in the East, India must
necessarily play a decisive role in it. A country rising against British rule
and trying to get rid of it will not only hamper such a war but will
"From this stand point, it was only natural for the Indian National
Congress to assert during the Second World War that India can only be
defended by Indians and, that too, only when it is completely free from
foreign domination."19
great attention to India's relations both with Soviet Union and China. He
r Union will be one of the cardinal tenets of Indian foreign policy. Nehru
more important, the practice of Soviet Russia have always been in favour
139
of the fullest self determination of various people. She has always been
"ordinarily Russia and India should live as the best of neighbours with
Nehru declared, "India today is with China not only because she has
every sympathy for her, but because she feels that China's successful fight
"Statement to the Press" on 9 February 1927, Nehru pointed out that there
oppressed peoples."23 Their opponents, Nehru said, "are often the same,
140
"Greater contacts" and "closer co-operation" among the nationalists
Nehru pointed out that freedom of India was the essential pre-requisite
for the freedom of mankind. "It is important for you that we win
freedom." Nehru said, "not only internal freedom but freedom also to
which was an off shoot of the cold war - were articulated by Jawaharlal
1946, Nehru informed the world that India would develop an active role
vague." India said Nehru, could play a positive role in the stretch from
Australia and New Zealand to East Africa, and as the first Asian and
for freedom on India's part in the world affairs. Nehru always felt that
its merits without any partisan bias. The time factor of India's
strategic position in the Indian Ocean world become untenable and our
India's domestic institutions and its position in the world. Nehru himself
reflected his view in eloquent words - Long years ago we made a tryst
when an age ends, and when the source of a nation long suppressed,
142
finds utterance/' these word reflected the widespread awareness that a
Nehru always tried to carve out a new role for itself and if possible,
to play the role of bridge-builder between the blocks, and thus promote
the keystone to that policy. Besides, the concept of non-alignment was the
result of the experiences which the leaders (especially Nehru) had during
the freedom struggle. "In 1958, Nehru himself had asserted that he was
not the architect or originator of India's foreign policy. Nehru drew the
- contours of the foreign policy by declaring that India would always keep
away from the power politics. He also asserted the "wherever freedom is
instant recognition from the many important countries of the world, and
India did not receive early recognition. Obviously Nehru's thinking was
more in touch with many of the realities of post war. Asia than was the
British Indian tradition, and it was India's efforts to apply these precepts
that attracted the attention of the world in the early years of Indian
*
Independence. The British Indian tradition was centred on the vital issues
143
genuineness of India's non-aligned policy, while other's viewed her with
an eye of suspicion.32
For many years the momentous was maintained, but the setbacks
of India's progress during Nehru's regime had been more striking than
is equally true that, in the international sphere, there had been some*
decline in India's prestige and influence and war with her principal
British claims about external threats to India's frontiers. This was also one
of the major criticism of Nehru's foreign policy. Stalin and his colleagues
were suspicious of every one who was not fully with them. "Nehru set
Nehru complained "how naive the naive the Americans are in their
foreign policy. It is only their money and their power that carries them
144
politics, who further stated 'we want friendship and co-operation with
responsibility of the United States. It may stumble often, but it has the
capacity, to stand up again and take some more steps forward. This
early years of independence. India held the most valuable part of Kashmir
and was able to deal with Pakistan very strongly. India's efforts on behalf,
policy.35
hostility towards India. His policy seemed to be working during the mid
Chinese road in the Aksai China area of Ladakh section of Kashmir, and
in 1959 Chou En-Lai first informed Nehru that China did not accept
India's border claims, Border clashes also occurred in this period, and by
145
.Indian border dispute, Asia's tow largest nations were now enemies, and
the Panch Sheet period was over a scant five years after it had begun.36
than doubled to 1.8 billion within two years, as New Delhi attempted to
same time".37
Western and Soviet arms". (The Afro-Asian countries also generally took
a neutral position - which was one of the crudest blows of all to India).
Under the circumstances, "Nehru did not want to rely on the West alone,
lest this may lead to the end of non-alignment and the Soviet support to
China".38
policy. He was very sure that "India has much to give not in gold or silver
or even in exportable commodities, but by all over the world that the
becomes more and more pivot of Asia". He was a man of great foresight,
146
double alignment" as some critics have pointed. The true partice of non-
relations quite close and intimate. In the wake of the border war with
China came the war with Pakistan in September 1965. The U.S. had
Pak war.41
with China and Pakistan and the major changes in some key relationships
relations - India has held to its policy of non-alignment and its support
for Asian and African nationalism through the past forty years this has
Gandhi's meeting with Presidents Tito and Nasser in 1966, was an effort
147
Gandhi's first decade in office January 1966 - March 1977 can be stated to
policy.42 Decisive because Mrs. Gandhi led her country through different
situations at home and abroad, than those that had prevailed in during
shaping India's foreign policy. Indira was Nehru's confidence, his closest
companion, his political courier. One thing certain that Indira learned
from Nehru's mistakes and failures. Not with standing this training,
person or as a national leader. Some who worked with both suggest that
she consciously did the opposite though as Prime Minister she quoted
relations which was different from his. Her own perspective is best
summed up in her remarks, off quoted, "He was a Saint who strayed into
foreign or domestic policy yield more power and influence, and occupy
personality cult like that of Stalin. Nehru, as the Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister for nearly two decades, was a pivot in shaping India's
148
Foreign Policy based on the principles of peace, freedom and prosperity,
Michael Brecher has pointed out that "in no other state does one man
overwhelming was his influence that India's Foreign policy has come to
Nehru.
Policy of Non-Alignment
heritage of the long Indian struggle for freedom and was not something
blocks, military alliances and the like. In effect, it means that in a crisis
involving the possibility of war, we are unaligned and feel that more than
joining block would mean only one thing to "give up your view about a
particular question and adopt the other party's view on that question, to
149
Policy Towards Afro-Asian Countries
the Asian and African countries highlighted the thoughts and aspirations
strong base to Nehru not only to champion the cause of the countries in
and her freedom after long struggle had marked the beginning of process
of decolonisation after the second world war. Nehru's personality and his
world war period made a decisive impact on the minds of people in far-
flung countries. The Afro-Asian countries have their part in the history of
the world. This was referred at the inaugural session of the Asian
Relations Conference held in New Delhi on 23rd March 1947 - that "for
That story must now belong to the past, we propose to stand on our own
legs and to cooperate with all others who are prepared to cooperate with
reiterated his earlier stand and emphasised in unequivocal terms the need
150
Kashmir Issue
issue and ;made known to the external world that it was an integral part
;of India, and proceeded on the idealistic approach, which did not yield
overscrupulous in this matter," and that "we went out of our way to
revealed when the issue was referred to the U.N. The U.N. then was yet
the Western powers. On the issue being referred to the U.N. Nehru, in the
on this issue to the Security Council of the U.N. was an act of faith,
world government,51 and Pakistan has a reason to the U.N. but not India.
It was Pakistan not India that was unsuccessful in occupying the major
Goa Issue
may not abandon or permit any degradation of our identification with the
cause of our compatriot under Portuguese rule, and (b) Equally we may
In the subsequent years also Nehru reiterated that "we rule out
had been one of "waiting and exercising some patience even though it has
base.55 At no stage had Nehru stated before 1961 that India would use
occasionally remarked that "the iron has gone into our soul, and that
152
India's patience had been exhausted. India opted deliberately the policy
Foreign policy.56
Suez Crisis
The Suez and Hungarian crisis of 1956 showed how far India had
travelled from her special relations with Britain and how much value she
attached to the maintenance of friendly ties with the Soviet Union. The
two crises were not similar and certainly did not call for identical
reactions. The British invasion of Suez dearly showed that it was not in
any way inhibited by India's close ties with Britain and felt to denounce
timing as well as of words and took care to keep India scrupulously aloof
not yield and positive result. For India, it was most inappropriate to do
her eyes and ignore emergence of new China. Of course, India's prompt
153
recognition of the new government was a step in the right direction.
Nehru realised that to defend Tibet (in 1950) against China through any
military action would have been quixotic. In such a context, Nehru stated
negotiations, but was shocked with the outbreak of news that the Chinese
believed that through Pancha Sheel Agreement (1954) with China, peace
could be established not only between these two countries, but in East
Asia also.
not take any firm action when China attacked India. India then was ill-
counter the attack, ordering Indian troops to evict the Chinese from
point of view, Nehru's China policy was only a question59 of degree, and
154
Indo-Pak Relations
encompassing all matters.60 After cease fire on December 22, 1949, the
India, a draft on a joint declaration denouncing the use of force for the
peoples who have many committees hereby declare that they condemn
between them. But, Pakistan did not agree for "Pakistan looks at every
issue from the point of view of its possible effect on India, and how they
can harm India. They regard India as an enemy. But I feel that we should
while protecting our rights should not try to quarrel with Paskitan."61
with either U.S. or U.S.S.R. because of cold war power politics and
their economic help. Nehru said that "When I say that we should not
align ourselves with any power block it does not mean that we should not
be closer in our relations with some countries than with others. That
155
depends on entirely different factors."62 In the early years, India's
relations were much closer with Britain and U.S. India's trade relations
were closer to Britain than to any other country. British policy towards
in its anti-Congress stance. The U.S. also have a similar objective in South
on any ideology or geographical interest Nehru went to seek aid from the
U.S. inl949. They were not inclined to invest in Indian Public Sector.63
officials and they saw that Pak was more suitable to fulfil their ambitions
than India. Nehru, however, rejected the deal providing facilities to the
policy, he asserted again and again, and had been fully vindicated by the
aftermath of the Chinese invasion and also by the fact that India was able
to secure the support of both the super powers. He agreed in the Lok
had developed closer bonds with some countries which helped us. This,
however, did not mean that "we have weakened our desire to adhere to
non-alignment."65
156
In regard to the Indo-USSR relations, we remember that our
national movement had inspiration from the Soviet people. Nehru's visit
to the Soviet Union and its help to our industrial sector was appreciable.
The case of Kashmir at the U.N.O. and Goa's merger into India were
friends unto death and if we are enemies we are enemies unto death." In
reply Nehru said that India had no enemies66 which reflects Nehru's
intensive desire to have friendly relations with all the nations and enmity
with none.
India's Independence and its decision laid the political and psychological
legal position and function. The condition for membership was no longer
that of allegiance to the British Crown, but acceptance of the Crown as the
along with Pakistan. Thus India blazed a trial, and set into motion, a
process which has over the years, metamorphosed the very character of
the Commonwealth.68
the new Commonwealth and helped enlarge and broaden the area of its
Lanka Freedom Party had once stood for Ceylon becoming a republic
government of the British pattern gave it "a stature and prestige which it
did not have before." India's endorsement made it easier for other
democratic institution.70
India's large size and the scale of the problems she faces as well as
her moral prestige and the fact that she is the only possible counterweight
to China make her, whether she likes it or not, the focus in the East-West
and behaviour on the one hand has been matched by the political
"Pandit Nehru had conceived the idea in 1949 and ever since it has
159
Nehru's creativity and the role played by him had made this "modern
Commonwealth a possibility."72
After 1957, there was no looking back, not even after India became
a Republic, a new formula was taking shape that the ex-colonies would
remain within the Commonwealth with the Crown as the symbolic head
of this free association and each member nation enjoying full freedom to
international relationship.74
strain. Nehru was not just the creator and leader of the new
South Africa was final testimony to the discarding of the concept of the
"white" nations as the core of the association, and the acceptance of the
160
apartheid and the principles which the Commonwealth was assumed to
help, if necessary. India's pioneering role was taken over by the African
gone ... is dead", and along with Indian preoccupations nearer home, it
161
REFERENCES:
2. Raj Kumar, N.N., The Background of India's Foreign Policy (New Delhi,
All India Congress Committee, 1952), p.2.
3. Bimal Prasad, The Origins of Indian Foreign Policy: The Indian National
Congress and World Affairs, 1885-1947, (Calcutta, Book Land Private
Ltd., 1960).
9. "A Foreign Policy for India" (September 13, 1927), Selected Works of
Jaxoaharlal Nehru, Vol.2, pp.348-64.
10. Ibid.
„ 12. "The Situation in China and India's Duty," Selected Works of Jawaharlal
Nehru, Vol.2, pp.326-28.
15.Ibid.
16.Ibid.
162
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
30. Das, M.N., Partition and Independence of India, (New Delhi, Vision
Books, 1982), p.266.
34. Ibid.
37. Foreign Affairs: 'India Friends and Neighbours, William j.Barnads, p.553.
163
39. Ibid., p.554.
41. Foreign Affairs, India Friends and Neighbours, Vol.46, No.3, p.555,
April 1968.
43. Oriana Fallaci: A Talk with Indira Gandhi, (Mecalls, June 1973).
45. For details see Bimla Prasad, The Origins of Indian Foreign Policy,
(Calcutta, Book Land Private Ltd., 1962), 2nd edition.
63. Whereas U.S.S.R. readily agreed to help India to tide over the scarcity
of foodgrains during 1949-50 and again she wanted to invest and
provided technology to the Indian industry at the beginning. Nehru's
ideological inclination was in favour of USSR rather than America.
65. Ibid.,
69. Nandhini Iyer, India and the Commonwealth: A Critical Appraisal, (New
Delhi, A.B.C. Publishing House, 1983), pp.28-29.
70. Raj Darbari and Jenis Darbari, Commonwealth and Nehru, (New Delhi,
Vision Books, 1983), p.34.
77. Sir W. Ivor Jenings, Problems of the New Commomvealth (North Carolina,
Duke University Press, 1958), p.120.
165
78. Anup Chand Kapur, Select Constitutions, (New Delhi, S.Chand & Co.,
1981), p.52.
79. Khilaani, N.M., Panorama of Indian Diplomacy, (New Delhi, S.Chand &
Co., 1981), p.30.
166