Chapter 2

Factors Shaping
India's Foreign Policy

INTRODUCTION
We have explained in Chapter I that geography, history, traditions, culture,
economic development, military strength and international environment are
important determinants of the foreign policy. These factors have played
important role in the formulation of India's foreign policy also. India has the
heritage of an ancient civilization and culture. The foreign policy that India
formulated after independence reflected our culture and political tradition. Our
foreign policy makers had before them the teachings of Kautilya, the realist,
who had recognized war as an important instrument of power and foreign
policy. They were also impressed by the Buddhist traditions of Ashoka, the
Great, who advocated peace, freedom and equality. Nehru opted for Ashoka's
tradition and incorporated even in the Directive Principles of State Policy, the
ideals of international peace, and pacific settlement of international disputes.
India's foreign policy is determined largely in accordance with the ideals of our
freedom struggle, Gandhian philosophy and the fundamental principle of Indian
tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam (the world as one family). The personality
of Nehru has had a direct impact. The domestic milieu reflecting communal,
caste, regional and linguistic differences continues to dominate the policy
making in the foreign office in South Block. Our neighbouring country is
constantly working to destabilize India. We have a large common frontier with
China with whom the long standing border dispute still exists. Cold War politics
was also an important determinant of India's policy.
India achieved independence on August 15, 1947. That immediately
necessitated foreign policy making by this country. India became a member of
international community comprising sovereign countries. India's independence
initiated the process of decolonization, and India decided to support all anti-
14 Forign Polhy of lai
colonial. anti-imperialist struggles. Yet, India's foreign policy
liey islargely
on her history and culture.
largely based
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister No
startinoNehru
had said in March 1950: "It should not be supposed that we are
clean slate. It is a policy which flowed from our recent history, and on a
national movement and its development and from various ideals
fron
We our
poclaimed." Even before the attainment of independence, India
was a
have
some voice in world affairs. This was done
(a) by the Brtish Governmeniven
behalf of India and (b) by the Indian National Congress by way of resolutionon
of resolution
adopted from time to time. The India Ofice in London spoke for
international developments. Indiaa on
Although a dependency of Britain, India was invited to become a Memhe.
of the
League of Nations. The views of India were, of course, not ber
Indian public reflective of
opinion. The Secretary of State for India (a member of
cabinet) decided the position to be taken by India. Later, India was British
at the San
Francisco Conference in 1945. and having signed the UN represented
became original member of the United
Nations.
Charter
Indian National
Congress in 1892 criticized the Govemment for increasine
military expenditure for imperialist objectives. The
position on the Khilafat issue soon after the Congress took an anti-British
Congress evolved its foreign policy approach First World War. During 1920-27
thus: Indians would
freedom struggles of other
dependent peoples; India would cooperate support
with all
peace loving countries: India would racial discrimination and
India would oppose colonialism and oppose apartheid:
would oppose imperialist wars, and imperialism all over the world; and
she
would work for world peace. An
foreign affairs department was set up by the Congress under the independent
Jawaharlal Nehru. He led it Nehru represented the leadership
of
Brussels
throughout. Congress at the
Conference (1927) against imperialism. He later visited the
Union also. The Congress Soviet
leadership opposed Japan for its aggression
Manchuria province of China. The against
Nazism. In 1936, a resolution Congress openly opposed Fascism and
adopted
with Abyssinia which had been attacked
by the Congress
expressed solidarity
and later conquered
Germany was criticized by the Congress in 1938 by Italy. Similarly,
Czechoslovakia. The Munich Agreement (1938) when she dismembered
that sealed the fate of
Czechoslovakia was condemned by the Congress.
representative of Indian nationalism had expressed theThus, the Congress as a
feelings of Indian
problems even before independence. people
on various international

independence the Congress in its 1948 session resolved that India's After
policy would be aimed at friendship with all the countries, and it wouldforeign
away from military alliances in the context keep
of the Cold War. Thus, the foreign
policy makers of India had clearly spelt out ideas and
them in their task. programmes that guided
Nehru and the Objectives of India's
Foreign Policy: Jawaharlal Nehru
was the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister from 1947 till his déath in 1964.
 Factors Shaping India's Foreign Policy 15

he foundations of India's foreign poliey were firmly laid by him. Like any
oregn policy maker, Nehru underlined India's national iterest as tne
asic guiding principle. But, even before he did that, Nehru, as head of the
loterim Government, had declared as carly
as September
objectives of India's foreign policy. In a broadcast 7, 1946
to the nation principal
he had saia:
we shalltake full part in international
conferences as a free nation with our
Wn
policy and not merely as a satellite of another nation. We hope to
develop close and direct contacts with other nations and to cooperate
with them in the
furtherance of world peace and freedom... We are
particularly interested in the emancipation of colonial and dependent
countries and peoples, and in the recognition in theory and practice of
equal oppotunities for all
races.
In addition the objectives indicated in the
to
namely, an independent policy, above-mentioned speech,
of
promotion ofinternational peace, emancipation
colonial and dependent peoples, and promotion of racial equality, Nehru
had also emphasized in other
and the
speeches rapid economic development of India,
protection of legitimate interests of people of Indian origin living
aboard. Nehru's personality was a
major factor that shaped our foreign policy.
National Interest: India's national
interest was indeed the most important
governing principle of Nehru's foreign policy. He said in the Constituent
Assembly on December 4, 1947. "We may talk about peace and freedom and
earnestly mean what we say. But in the ultimate
analysis, agovernment functions
for the good of the country it governs and no government dare do anythjng
which in the shortorlongrun ismanitfested to thedisadvantage of the country."
But, Nehru was not arealist of Kautilya-Morganthau school (See below). He
was deeply impressedbyhis leader,Mahatma Gandhi who was an idealistand
insisted on application.ofmoral principlesin the conduct.ofallpolitics. Nehru,
therefore, did not find any incompatibility between India's national interest
and the legitimate interests of other nations. He believed that a nation's self-
interest may itself demand cooperation with other nations. He, therefore, told
the Constituent Assembly: "We propose to look after India's interests in the
context of world cooperation and world peace, insofar as world peace can be
preserved."

Dealing with "national interest as an end", J. Bandopadhyaya refers to

realism and idealism and concludes that, "on the whole it would be correct to
say that there is arstronger accent on idealism in the modem Indian thinking on
international relations... than in any other country in the world." It will be
appropriate at this stage to mention the difference between realism and idealism.
The realist thinkers believe that national interest
may be equated with power,
that politics is struggle for power, and that war is a
legitimate means of protecting
national interest. The idealists, on the other hand, would identify national
16 Foreign Policy of India
interest with universal moral aspirations like eternal peace and human
brotherhood. Kautilya, the master ofstatecraft in India, in the 4th century
B.C.,
considered politics as a game of power, and justified increase in the Prince's
power through conquest by all means at his disposal. Among the modem
Indian statesmen, "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is often regarded as a Realist par
excellence."3 Idealism is symbolized with Emperor Ashoka in the past, and
Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo and Rabindranath Tagore in contemporary
India.
As mentioned in Chapter 1, US President Wilson was a great idealist who
advocated world peace as a goal and international organizations as the means
to achieve it. When Nehru formulated free India's foreign policy, he indeed
insisted on national interest but more in an idealist mood rather than as a
realist. This was reflected in his policy of non-alignment in general, and in his
decision to ascertain the wishes of people of Jammu & Kashmir on the question
ofState's merger with India (after Pak-led tribal invasion). His agreement with
Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-lai in 1954 to allow full integrátion of Tibet
with China was also an act of idealist statesman. Patel's death in late 1950
deprived Nehru of a realist check as none other dared oppose him. But, it
would be wrong to come to the conclusion that Nehru ever sacrificed the
national interest. Indeed, all his actions were guided generally by India's self-
interest. Nehru had opined that it was his first duty to take care of India's
national interests.
While analyzing the basic components of national interest in the context
of India, Bandopadhyaya says:
.essential components of the national interest of any state are security, national
development and world order. Security is the first guarantee ofa state's intemational
personality; national development is its categorical imperative; and an ordered
pattern of international relations is a minimum pre-condition for its independent
existence and free development., just as an ordered civil society is a minimum pre-
condition for the independent existence and free development of an individual

The three components of national interest were fully comprehended by

India'sForeign Office and sought to be protected and promoted by our foreign
policy. It was guided by the country's intemal as well as external security. India
tookefectivemeasuresfor short term as well as long-term security, though it"
isdoubtfulif long-termmeasureswerereallyeffective becausein 1962 China
inflicted ahumiliating defeat-like situation in the north-east. Secondly, there is
an intimate relationship between security and development(Foreign policy is
influenced by economic development, and national developments are influenced
by foreign policy/In India, Nehru and his successors promoted rapid economic
development. That is why India adopted the policy.ofnonalignment.keeping
away from power politics, but welcoming aid, without strings, from wherever it
 Factors Shaping India 's Foreign Policy 17
was available. Thirdly, national
WIl be possible ifa new security depends on international peace, wn
world order based on
Right from the day
India signed the UN
cooperation is establishea.
for a
conflict-free world order based on Charter, India has been striving hara
among sovereign members
of
peace, cooperation and understanding
intermational community.
DETERMINANTS OF INDIA'S
Geography: India's size, climate, location FOREIGN POLICY
rolein shaping its foreign policy. and topography
was
have played avital
Nehru had said in 1949 that
strategic and that no power could India's position
Look at the ignore
map. If you have to consider
us. He
said
India
inevitably comes into the picture. any question affecting the Middle East,
If you have to consider
concerning South-East Asia, you cannot do so any question
East. While the without India. So also with the Far-
Middle-East may not be directly connected
both are connected with South-East Asia,
with. India. Even if
in India, you think in terms of regional
you have to keep in touch with
the other organizations
Thus, India is the regions."
gateway of both South-East Asia
interests are closely tied with theand
India's security and vital the
Middle-East.
future of the region.
Nehru had also stated
that
trends and forces and a "India becomes a kind of meeting ground for various
the East and the West." meeting ground between what may be roughly called
Writing about compulsions of history and
says:"..it can hardly be overlooked that India'sgeography, Professor V.P. Dutt
size, potential and
interest in world affairs."6 India isperceptions
of her elite postulated an intense
South Asia. Its northern borders are situated in
Himalayas. It has avast sea coast on threegenerally protected by the mighty
sides. factor cannot be ignored
This
in foreign policy
making. India's coastline is vital for its foreign
Ocean was used as a route for policy. Indian
penetration
by the French, British, Dutch and the
into India during 17th-19th
centuries
India goes through the Indian Ocean.Portuguese.
Most of the foreign trade of
Any
Ocean is injurious to the national interest offoreign domination of the Indian
this country. The defence of the
vast sea coast requires a
powerful Indian navy.
supporting the demand of Indian Ocean as a zone Besides,
India has been
of peace because that is
essentially vital for
India's security.
India has common land frontiers, at places, with Pakistan,
China, Myanmar (Burma) Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladesh,
Afghanistan touches northern
part of Jammu & Kashmir. The former Soviet Union was also
State of Jammu& Kashmir. Until the Chinese very near to the
were known as the defenders
aggression in 1962, the Himalayas
(prahari) India. That is not true any more. The
air forces of all countries have
of
changed the security perspective all over the
world. India's vast coastline necessitates not
only a powerful navy,
but also
18 Foreign Policy of India
in the
friendly relations with other naval powers present have
Indian Ocean. Thes
Ocean. Thes
include Britain as well as the United States which a powerful naval
val bae
base
at Diago Garcia. Although India has been victim of Chinese and Pakist
attacks, it is in our mutual interests that the disputes be peacefully resolved
stani
India has always desired good neighbourly relations with all the abou
ove
mentioned countries. Besides, other regional powers sucn as iran,Afghanistan
Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos must maintain
friendly conflict-free relations with India. With this aim in view India's attemn
has been to avoid disputes with all the neighbours; and resolve the disp pt
peacefully in case a dispute does occur. ispute
The presence of communist China in, the north, and till 1991
USSR also in the neighbourhood, made it
socialit
imperative for India to develop friendiv
relations with these countries, keep away from
avoid all conflicts with western countries
regional military alliances, vet
UK
(like and USA) with whom India
had historical and
tradition of liberal
strategically important relations, in addition to the common
on British
democracy. The fact that Indian armed forces were trained
pattern required closer ties with Britain, and the moral
USA provided in our freedom support the
struggle obliged us to that
country. But, India's
foreign policy makers have had the main
of Pakistan, which was worry on account of hostile
carved out of British India as a result attitude
by Britain of the Muslim of the acceptance
League's two-nation theory.
History and Tradition: India's historical
colonialism and
imperialism, development as victim of British
and her non-violent
leadership of Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and Azad werefreedom struggle underthe
the shaping of our bound
foreign policy. Not only this, the to have a share in
civilization and culture also legacy of an ancient
says: "A proud civilization helped
in foreign
policy formulation. As
rich legacy of what
with the
weight of centuries of traditionV.P. Dutt
she was too appeared to Indians an
abiding
and the
a client
deeply conscious of her
priceless civilization, like China,
state." India is too big a
country to become
heritage to
accept the role of
Nehru had
himself said that two major anybody's camp follower.
positive aspect of peace' and the aspects of our foreign policy, viz., the
cooperation desire to
ámong nations' were partly promote 'a larger degree of
past thinking. due to
India's traditionat values and
The first Prime
associated with worldMinister had said in 1958 that it was a
peace and added that "in
should work on lines which privilege to be
peace at home and are
our
domestic sphere also we
had abroad compatible with peace."
could be called "positive This emphasis on
in theacknowledged
Lok Sabha:
the
influence of lIndia's aspect of peace'. Nehru
traditions on foreign policy. He said
 Policy 19
Factors ShapingIndia's Foreign

S Completely incorrect to call our poliey 'Nehru Policy'. It is incorrect because

a t h a v e done is to give voiceto that policy. I have not originated it. lt isa
Onherent in the cireumstances of India, inherent in the past thinking of
ndia, inherent in the whole mental outlook of India. inherent in the conditioning
tne indian mind during our struggle for freedom, and inherent in the circumstances
of the world
today"*
The traditional values have
come down to us from the
Vedas and scriptures like tne
Dharmashastras, and the writings of great men like Swam
Vivekananda. Tagore, Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi. The three values that have
helped shaping India's foreign policy are: tolerance, the
and ends, and non-violence. equation of means
Tolerance is the essence of
Indian tradition. It is not necessary that ew
of others be the same as one's own
views. To respect the views of others is a
great virtue. As V. Raghavan said, "Tolerance is one of the most important, if
not the most important, among the concepts which invest the Indian traditional
culture with a distinction and distinctness." Based on
the teachings of Rigveda,
Mahatma Gandhi had said, "Hinduism tells
everyone to worship God according
to his own faith or dharma, and so it lives at
peace with all the religions
Emperor Ashoka's inscriptions on his rock pillars also advocated
tolerance
"The King, beloved of the God, honours every form of religious faith.." In our
domestic policy, India is committed to secularism which is rooted in the above-
mentioned philosophy of tolerance. In foreign policy also, India has adopted
the ideal of tolerance. It is clearly demonstrated in the famous declaration of
Panchsheel signed by Nehru and his Chinese counterpart in 1954. Mutual
non-interference as well as peaceful co-existencel0 are the guiding principles
of our foreign policy based on tolerance of the views of others. However,
tolerance does not mean compromise with our national interest. That is why,
after the rude shock of Chinese attack in 1962, India has gone ahead
systematically to build an impressive defence system, and having tested five
nuclear devices in 1998, India declared itselfto be a nuclear-weapon state.
Equation of right means and right ends is another important Indian
tradition. Mahatma Gandhi indeed insisted on the purity of means to achieve
noble ends. He was deeply impressed by Manu's Dharmashastra which lays
down: "one should not do a good thing by following a bad path." Indian
tradition thus is: "To seek to further the welfare of the state by enriching it
throughfraud andfalsehood, is ke storing water in an unburnt pot and hoping
to preserve it." While the purity of means is the basic thrust of Indian
philosophy, there is no dearth of realist approach either. As pointed out earlier,
Kautilya, in his Arthashastra, had expressed the view that what produces
unfavourable results is bad policy. For Kautilya, diplomacy was an art, not,
concerned with ideals but with achieving practical result for the State. He wrote:
20 Foreign Policyof India
invasion by makingatreaty ot peace,
ar

"A, weak king, should avert... enemy's men eithe

treacherousfight in the battlefield. He mayreducethe by
a
conciliation or by giving gifts.." could not be ignored by ourfore
This important technique of statecraft
reconciliation between
the
means" and
purity of "red
reduce
policy makers. Thus, a about. That is why Nehru frankly
admita nitted
the enemy's" men" had to be brought ae
statecraft only to a limit. The
could be followed in
that moral principles crisis in 1971 wer
in 1961 and in Bangladesh in
which India took in Goa interest evenis:
if it
perception of national
accordance with the leadership's
with the principle ófpurity of means.
compromised
was not only an uncompromisjino
non-violence, or ahimsa,
The principle of
also deeply rooted in Indian tradition. Ahims
faith of the Mahatma, but is harm to.others. Ih
abstention irom doing
or
does notmerely mean non- killing
word and deed, and also promotion af

indicates harmlessness in thought,

universe.
bondless love in the entire
is a virtue, though perfect non-violence Is
not always
Non-violence

possible. Gandhiji was of the viewthat

theuse of force by thedemocratic state
Gandhi would
vialence.cannot.co-exist. Mahatma
is immoral. Democracy and The acceptance of non-
international relations also.
apply non-violence to world peace. Nehru took inspiration from
violent means was to ensure lasting
was possible. The
to the extent that it
the Mahatma, but followed him
non-violence in India's foreign policy, according
application ofthe tradition of
to Appadorai, was "the
deliberate acceptance of a method of approach to
reconciliation, and the temper of
foreign policy problems which emphasized
of revenge and hatred." India is committed to
peace, as opposed to a spirit
world peace and has included in Part IV of
the Constitution a directive to the
state to seek pacific settlement of international disputes.

The impact of British, rule in India and the influence

of national movement

and freedom struggle is clearly evident in the shaping ofIndia's foreign policy.
three-fold impact on
According to Appadorai, the British rule in India had a
India's foreign policy(Firstly,it gave a stimulus to the nationalmovement for
freedom which iaturn led to India's support for the freedom of dependent
peoples: secondly, facial inequality that existed during the British rule made
India realize the evils ofracial discrimination and, in turn, led to India's emphasis
on racial equality in her foreign policy; and thirdly, India voluntarily chose to
remain a member of the Commonwealth even afterbecoming a Republic. Nehru
secured change in the name of the Commonwealth and a re-definition of
relationship between Britain and other sovereign members of the
Commonwealth.
It is not intended to go into the ideals and achievements of India's national
movement in this work on foreign policy. Nevertheless, it will not be out of
 21
Factors Shaping India's Foreign Policy

Place to recall that our freedom movement did not really begin with the
establishment of Indian National Congress. It is wrong to asSume na he
Ongress was set up to fight against the tyrannical rule of the British. To begin
n o t a protest movement. But, as the movement progressed from
Gokhale's moderate stand to Tilak and Lala Lajpatrai's active demand
rule and
reached its climax under Gandhi and Nehru, it turned out totorSC
be a
peaceful struggle for India's freedom based on the Mahatma's ideals of truth
and non-violence. Gandhi told Indian people not to hate the sinner but to hate
the sin. Most of the leaders
of freedom movement were educated in Britain
according to Western pattern of education. They valued liberty, equality andor
democracy. These ideals were valued by the foreign policy makers of lndia.
While
cooperating with liberal democratic countries, India did not oppose ne
sOcialist countries either. The
policy of non-alignment is not only an
of keeping aloof
from bloc politics, but also in accordance with the oufcome
ideals of freedom goals and
struggle cherished by our people.
Indian National
Congress, through its foreign policy department headed
by Nehru, had clearly opposed
had said in 1946: dictatorship and racial discrimination. Nehru
"Werepudiate utterly the Nazi doctrine of racialism wheresoever
and in whatever form it
may be practised."Therefore, he declared in 1949 1n the
Constituent Assembly, "One of the pillars of our
foreign
against racial discrimination" The idea of the above discussion policy
is to fight
the fact that traditional, values and is to underline
historical developments have had distinct
impact on India's foreign policy.
Economic and Military Factors: Most of
limited to Western countries, international trade of India was
of the Commonwealth countries
particularly Britain and the United States. Many
also hadintimate trade relations with India.
We depended on trade in food items
also on liberal democratic countries of the
west. It was natural for India to have
favourable and friendly foreign
towards these countries. But, even then policy
India did not join the Western bloc
during the Cold War. India did not even opt for
capitalist pattern of development.
Indja,on the other hand, decided to follow liberal
socialism. India adopted Soviet pattern of planneddemocracy
economic
and evolutionary
not Soviet type of
government. India welcomed aid and development but
the blocs as well as the World assistance from both
Bank, but without entangling alliances with
one.Apeaceful world order was desired by India, because in that any
could India hope for its only situation
rapid development.
Foreign aid is required by a developing country like India
forms. Firstly, capital is in at least two
also needs
needed to rapidly modernize its economy, for which it"
improved machinery. Secondly, the
technical know-how. A survey of the
of
developing countries need
World War revealed those pace development after the Second
"countries which hada well- built
foundation and
22 Foreign Policy of India
supply of specialized training and skilled manpower, were the first to catch u.
and accomplish accelerated rates of growth." A developing country could up pe
from the developed countries a number of experts who would impart get
specialized
ed
training for development. Transfer of technology to tne inird World
was cleverly avoided
counties
ties
by most of the developed countries. In view of thie
situation, India tried to formulate her foreign policy in such a way that is
we
foreign economic aid without strings, that we get loans at reasonable ratesget
interest, that technology transfer was easily made possible and that we of
economic assistance both from the West and the East. But, received
America and ha
allies were in a far better position to provide assistance than the er
East. This factor also played its role in countries of
shaping lIndia's foreign policy. Initially
non-aligned India was said to be tilted towards the West. Such
were obliquely made by Soviet media.
But, once India demonstrated
allegations
of its will, and strength
independence of decision making during Korean and
crises, the Eastern bloc began Suez
appreciating our
imminent war with Pakistan in 1971 when Indo-Soviet position. In fact, in view
of
Treaty of
Cooperation was concluded, the West became critical of our Friendship and
and alleged pro-Soviet policy of India. non-alignment
For sometime after
independence, India was
armed forces followed British tradition militarily a weak nation. Our
and strategy. India's
personnel were trained in Britain and our naval ships as well as senior defence
mostly manufactured in Britain. India's weapons were
security
dependent on the West, particularly Britain. But, after the needs made us
largely
India-China border war, Indian 1962 debacle in
foreign and defence
policy could
complacent. We decided to be on our own in matters of not remain
the scope of market to defence. India broadéned
buy weapons. Our defence
meet any situation from
any quarter. Within a short
personnel were trained to
defence forces, using tanks and period of time, India's
the Pakistan attack in planes made in India, successfully
American and other
1965. While Pakistani
armed forces were
repulsed
weapons obtained from the US as mostly using
showed that its officers, men and
well as
China, India
challenge. India did not seek any weapons had the capacity to meet any
non-alignment as we became
military alliances, and followed the
energy, gave it an self-sufticient. India's decision to policy of
world that she couldopportunity to conduct a nuclear test in develop nuclear
After keeping its
soon become a
nuclear power, if she 1971, and tell the
chose to
finally conducted five nuclear option open (1974-98) for severai do so.
nuclear tests inin 1998.
India to be a nuclear wea ycars, India
years, India
ld s Prime Minicto
Minister
any more tests. weapon state, and also
committed India Vajpayee declared
Vajpayee Government's bold not to conduct
community, but India had decision surprised the
countries, including USA exercised its
sovereign right. international
a nuclear was Condemnation
India, whether or notshort-lived and world powers came to by many
counties formally recognised India as a terms with
nuclear
 India's Foreign
Policy 23
Factors Shaping
the
deal with India,
in 2005 on civilian nuclear
Weapon state. Even after agreeing "state with advanced nuclear technoiogy.
US continued to describe India as a
is generally influenced
by
Tdeological Factor: Shaping of foreign policies Hitler
commitment of the concerned leadership. For example,
and 1acological
tne Mussolini formulated their foreign policies, during inter-war perioa,
nationalism and ant
accordance with their commonideology for aggressive Germany
socialism. The formation ofa bloc ofthree 'Fascist Powers', i.e., Italy,
and Japan, or Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis, was preceded by the signing of Antl
Comintern Pact. Similarly, involvement of Germany and Italy in the Spanish
the
Civil War (1936-39) on the side ofGeneral Franco was aimed defeating
at
On the other hand,
pro-Soviet (pro-Communist) regime of President Azana.
This again
Azana and his Communist Prime Minister received Soviet support.
the
was done on basis." Earlier, Comintern had encouraged
"ideological
formation of popular fronts in France and Spain. In the Cold War period foreign
ot US Bloc countries formulated on anti-communism, Just as
were
policies
Soviet Bloc states shaped their policies on anti-capitalist ideology.
Indiais no exception.However our leadership was never committedto
any extreme ideology. Nehru, the founder of
India's foreign policy,
was deeply
he was
impressed by liberal democratic ideology of the Western countries, yet
wanted to
also influenced by the Soviet Union's economic policies. Nehru
and the
incorporate a synthesis of the virtues of Western liberal democracy
Soviet socialism. He wanted to keep away from the evils of both. He, therefore,
decided not to blindly follow the principles of foreign policy of either of the
two. Nehru was deeply impressed by British LabourParty leaderand a professor
of Political Science HJ. Laski. Laski'sideology was asynthesis of ILiberalism
and Marxism. Nehru tried to follow Laski, and often gave indications of
contradictions. Indirectly, the policy.ofnon-alignmentwas alsoa result of the
synthesisof Liberalism and Marxism.
But, it may be an oversimplification to believe that India's policy was only
influenced by Nehru's ideology. It was also influenced by Indian philosophy
of humanism and universal brotherhood. It is this ideology which must get
credit for India's attempts at friendship with both the power blocs during the
Cold War days.
As mentioned earlier, Gandhiji's ideals oftruth and non-violence were also
sought to be incorporated by Nehru while shaping India's foreign policy.
Charisma of Jawaharlal Nehru: The foregoing discussion on factors
shaping India's foreign-poliey leads to the conclusion that, besides many
otherdeterminants,the personality of Nehru had a deep impact on ourforeign
policy. As the basic tenets of our foreign policy have generally remained
unchanged during the last sixty years, the charisma of Nehru is all the more
Significant. What is charisma? It is defined as "the aggregate of those special
gifts of mind and character which are the source of exceptional personal power,
24 Foreign Policyof ndia exe.
the allegiance
of, and
exercise
J a w a h a r l a l Nehru
Nehru was
secure
to
and upon which depends the capacity was
of people.""
decisive authority large masses
over, the darling
or
naian masses and
was not only
eader of unusual stature who Foreign Allairs Departme
head of ment
but also
chosen heir of
Mahatma Gandhi,
a
combination
of patriotism and
and of Gandhianideal.
He was
of Indian
National Congress. lism
and liberal democrgcy, in the twentie
intermationalism, ofsocialism wrote:Few
stalesimen
th
realismMichael Brecher Nehru. As the pre-emi ninent
and Churchill's stature of
Jawaharlal
attained the witn Roosevel and
have comparison
century he bears
lndia's era of
transition
and guided
figure in who towered
abOve their colleagues
and Mao, men was said to have
Churchill, Lenin national crisis.Nehru
peoples through
a period of of the times. Nehru h
their lead the trend
and form and power for
foreseen, helped to shape integrily who wanted
charm. He was man of "Hlere isa
great courage and described him thus:
himself. Even Winston Churchill ot him much before
causeno for Gandhi had
said
and withoutfear"
man wjthout malice truthful beyond suspicion
he is '
independence: "He is as pure as crystal;
is safe in his hands."l6
The nation both on domestic policy and
left its impact
Jawaharlal Nehru's leadership and administration, he buil
while in internal policy
on foreign policy. But, the British rule, in
on an existing system
that had evolved during
essentially formulate its basic principles
the foundation and
foreign policy he had to lay service, formulated
states, created a foreign
He built up contacts with sovereign
the United Nations and the
relations with
evolved India's
toreign policy and
Commonwealth of Nations. Hecooperated with
thepeoples ofthecountries of
Asia and Africa who were stillunder colonial
masters.
was the shaping
of a foreign policy,
An outstanding contribution of Nehru
"national policy." Its
has grown into the
above party considerations, which
the parties and
basic outlines had the approval
and support of almost all
N.G. Ranga, the Swatantra Party leader,
indeed of thinking masses. In 1958, almost complete
fortunate position that there is
wrote: "India is today in a
over its foreign policy.
The Panchsheel
unity among all its political parties all." The basic principles
international affairs is accepted by
approach towards have been supported by the
anti-colonialism and non-alignment
of peace.
entire country.
India's
in the Cold War context was
Non-alignment with power-blocs and within
international relations. Nehru originated it,
distinctive contribution to
His second contribution,
well over 100 states to this policy.
years attracted without
should carve out its own destiny
Panchsheel, meant that each country
of India's foreign
others. These and several other principles
intervening with in detail in the
Nehru era, will be analysed
policy, essentially evolved during
next chapter.
 25
Factors Shaping India's Foreign Policy

International Situation: References to the international situation have

been made throughout this chapter. Even then, and at the risk of some repetition,
o ramework of the prevailing international environment may be briefly
mentioned here. When India attained
and the world was
independence, the Cold War had begun
getting divided into two hostile power blocs. It had its direet
impact on the
shaping of India's policy of non-alignment. The process or
decolonisation began simultaneously with India's independence. Anti-
colonalism and
anti-imperialism became the main focus of international milieu.
India fell in line with the efforts for
acceleration
of the process of
and opposition to all forms
of colonialism,
imperialism and racial
decolonisatto
Second world War had ruined the discrimination.
economies of several countries. Efforts were
already initiated for economic reconstruction and
advantage and decided on its rapid economic development India took
freely sought help from the institutions like thedevelopment.
For that purpose
it
World Bank and International
Monitory Fund created towards the end of Second World War.
conflicts were responsible for Ideological
disputes, aggressions and wars. Conflict between
Fascism, and Communism, between democracies and
totalitarian states were
replaced by ideological clashes between Liberal democracy and Marxism. India
opted to remain out of these ideological conflicts of post-war period.
Later, when the Cold War ended and new international
to emerge with environment began
emphasis on liberalisation in economies of
countries like
even
China, India was inspired to shift
emphasis from
controlled economy to liberalisation, reduction public sector and partially
of state control
encouragement to foreign investments in private and joint sectors. The and
of reconciliation that began after the Cold process
War in areas such as Israel-Palestine
dispute opened the doors for negotiated solution of
parts of the world. India, also tried to accelerate bilateral disputes in different
resolution of its disputes with
China, Bangladesh and even Pakistan. Thus
international milieu had, and still
has, its impact on the shaping of India's
foreign policy.
There indeed was direct impact on India's
1990s. The disintegration foreign policy of the events of
of the Soviet
after the collapse of communism; fall of
Union into 15
independent republics
socialist (communist)
East European countries and
their transition to governments in
Germany; emergence of the United States as the democracy; reunification of
sole super power and end
bipolarity all these factors did influence India's foreign of
development was India's vet» to the CTBT at Conference policy. One of the major
on Disarmament
(CD) and later refusal to sign the CTBT as
Finally, India conducted 5 nuclear tests inadopted by the UN General Assembly.
May 1998 (see Chapter 8) leading
Pakistan also to conduct such tests.
26
Foreign Policy of India
NOTES
Jawaharlal Nehru's broadcast to the nation, September 7, 17*.
andopadhyaya,
3.
7he Making of India s Foreign Policy Allied, I970, p. 5.
Ibid.. p. 4.
4. Ibid.. pp. 8-9.
.Constituent
.
Assembly Debates, Vol. 2, Pt II, 8 March 1949.
V.P. Dutt, Indias Foreign Policy, Vikas, New Delhi, p. 3.
7. Ibid., p. 1.
8. Nehru, 'Lok Sabha Debate', December 9, 1958.
9. Mahatma Gandhi, Hindu Dharma,
10. Ahmedabad. p. 8.
mplying peaceful co-existence despite different
.
Rajagopalachari (Tr.), The ideological commitments,
12. Sacred Book of Kural, 1937 Madras.
Appadorai, Domestic Roots of India 's
13. Ibid.. p. 215. Foreign Policy, Delhi, p. 37.
14. Brecher, Nehru, p. 595.
15. Quoted by Appadorai.
op. cit., p. 219.
16. Ibid.