NON-ALIGNMENT AND INDIA

                                         

Non-alignment has remained an integral part of our foreign policy. Despite  changes in governments, it was not allowed to be eroded. When India became free in 1947, the world politics was bipolar with the erstwhile USSR and the USA at opposite ends. By mid-fifties, the accumulating tensions between both the nuclear superpowers became known as cold war. Both the groups, either by persuasion or force tried to bring maximum number of countries in their camps. Even our next door neighbor, Pakistan joined the military groups known as NATO and SEATO, led by the USA. Despite acute political pressures from both the rival camps, India preferred to maintain equi-distance, christened as non-alignment.

However, in the wake of the aggressive border skirmishes with China in 1962, it became clear that non-alignment also somehow meant a state of friendlessness. Since then, this type of foreign policy has been getting vetted from different angles. It has been realized that even without joining any camp, we can have friendship and bilateral affinity with different countries. Our old friendship with the then USSR was fostered with this end in view. It is this remarkable change in attitude that of late we adopted a proactive policy of befriending US and sidelinig their close friend Pakistan.

In this backdrop, fresh power games have started to carve out new power centres. Today four major countries are in the race, namely USA, Russia, China and India. Some other second line stakeholders are Japan, Brazil and South Africa. China has been known for its aggressive foreign policy. Even today it has border disputes with neighbours like India, Japan and Vietnam. With its huge military might, china wants to emerge as the leader of Asia with an important role in the international politics. As a result, its neighbouring countries are feeling disturbed. As a matter of fact, at present China is being seen with suspicion about its bullying tactics. Russia, USA and India are not its friends. She wants to befriend the USA to remain unchallenged in the region. She sees india as a competitor in matters of population, polity, military, economic progress so on and so forth. So through violations of the international borders, she wants to demoralize india.

In this background, India wants the support of at least Japan and Vietnam so that it can capably take on China. In his just completed Japanese state visit, Narendra Modi lamented that even in 21^st century, when development was the need of the hour, there are some countries resorting to the expansionism of the 18^th century. His pointed efforts to impress the Japanese rulers and ensure their support are bound to leave a clear message for China. Thus, it appears quite pragmatic to follow non-alignment only to the extent that India, in the hours of need, was not left friendless.