Integrity Score 270
No Records Found
No Records Found
Prologue continues...
One of the great challenges India faced immediately after Independence
was drafting a proper framework of relationship with the rest of the world.
A world divided between two blocs was a treacherous area. The late Krishna
Menon used to say, “India’s foreign policy should not be foreign, it should
not be framed on the banks of the Potamac; it should be framed on the
banks of the Yamuna.” The foreign policy should reflect the inner strength
of a nation. Economic clout and military strength are key factors that help
a country determine on what terms it can deal with other nations. India
had none of these when it started out. Colonial rule over two centuries
had emasculated it.
Nevertheless, the freedom struggle under Mahatma Gandhi had enhanced the moral stature of India. Although the two power blocs led by the USA and the Soviet Union had virtually divided the whole world between them, it was difficult for India to be an appendage of either of them. Pandit Nehru articulated this position clearly and effectively on the world platforms and gave shape to the concept of non-alignment. Non alignment became a great movement with men of stature leading it.
The big powers with huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons, which could blow up the world many times over, had greatly complicated the world situation and created ever-new flashpoints through their mindless interventions. The non-alignment movement, which represented a peace-loving humanity could moderate the tensions to some extent using its tremendous moral force. It is a measure of the success of the concept of non-alignment that despite the fact that most of the nations belonging to this movement were dependent on the superpowers and other developed countries in the power blocs for economic and military aid, the leaders of non-alignment,particularly Nehru, were listened to and respected. India, though weakeconomically and struggling hard with serious problems of hunger and poverty, earned a certain respect in the world.
To be continued...