CLASS-2
NEHRU’S ROLE IN SETTING THE NATIONAL AGENDA:
- As PM+FM (1946-1964), he exercised profound influence in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy.
- Three major objectives (3 P: He wished to achieve through the strategy of NAM) of Nehru’s foreign policy were:
- Preserve the sovereignty.
- Protect territorial integrity.
- Promote rapid economic development.
- But some parties (Bhartiya Jan Sangh, Swatantra Party) & groups (Ambedkar also) were pro-US foreign policy because that claimed to be pro-democracy.
Distance from two camps:
Why India did not join either of the two camps during the Cold War era ?
- India wanted to keep away from the military alliances (NATO or Warsaw pact) and take an independent stand on various international issues & got aid and assistance from members of both the blocs.
- It was a difficult balancing act and sometimes the balance did not appear perfect because:
- In 1956 when Britain attacked Egypt over the Suez Canal issue, India led the world protest against this neo-colonial invasion.
- But when the USSR invaded Hungary (1956), India did not join its public condemnation.
- India advocated non-alignment as the ideal foreign policy approach & convinced other developing countries. But Pakistan joined the US-led military alliances.
- USA relations during 1950s (Unease; Because: independent initiatives, Policy of NAM, growing partnership with USSR)
- India’s strategy of planned economic development emphasized import-substitution which limited India’s economic interaction with the outside world.
AFRO-ASIAN UNITY
- Nehru envisaged a major role for India in world affairs and especially in Asian affairs. SO he established contacts with newly independent states of Asia and Africa.
- Asian Relations Conference in March 1947: India convened, Under his leadership of Nehru.
- international conference in 1949: to support freedom struggle of Indonesia from the Dutch.
- opposed racism, especially apartheid in South Africa.
- supporter of the decolonisation process.
- The Afro-Asian conference-1955 (Bandung in Indonesia)- marked the zenith of India’s engagement with LDC.
- The Bandung Conference later led to the establishment of the NAM (First Summit-Belgrade in September 1961, Nehru; co-founder)
- PEACE AND CONFLICTS WITH CHINA
- ISSUE OF TIBET
- THE CHINESE INVASION, 1962
- SINO-INDIAN RELATIONS SINCE 1962
- WARS AND PEACE WITH PAKISTAN (1948, 1965, 1971, 1999)
- BANGLADESH WAR, 1971
- INDIA’S NUCLEAR POLICY AND PROGRAMME
PEACE AND CONFLICTS WITH CHINA
India’s relationship with China after independence: Very friendly (How?) unlike Pakistan.
- One of the first countries to recognize the communist government after Chinese revolution (1949).
- Nehru helped new government on international forums so that it can come out from the western domination.
- Even some colleagues (Patel etc.) of Nehru were worried of Chinese aggression, Nehru was disagree for such attacks that’s why para-military forces (not army) deployed on Chinese border.
- joint enunciation of Panchsheel (5 Principles of Peaceful Coexistence) by Nehru & Zhou Enlai (Chinese Premier-April 1954)
- Visits of leaders from both countries where large crowd came for welcome.
THE CHINESE INVASION, 1962:
This friendship strained because of two causes:
- CHINA ANNEXED TIBET (historical buffer) (1950): Initially India didn’t opposed but when more information came about the suppression of Tibetan culture, Indian government grew uneasy.
- 1959 : Dalai Lama (Tibetan spiritual leader), sought and obtained political asylum in India; This be seen by China as anti-China activities.
- BOUNDARY DISPUTE: Colonial decisions about boundary, China unaccepted. China claimed two areas within the Indian territory:
- Western End: Aksai-chin area (Ladakh): Chinese occupied this region & built a strategic road (1957-1959).
- Eastern End: NEFA (Arunachal Pradesh)
- These differences could not be resolved after long correspondence and discussion among top leaders.
- Skirmishes between the armies also took placed.