Fundamentals of Indian Foreign Policy Principles
1. World Peace Nehru's belief in world peace was not merely because he was born in the country of Buddha and Ashoka or was a staunch disciple of the non-violent Mahatma Gandhi. There was no dearth of personal courage of Nehru. Many episodes in his life tell him to be audacious. World peace His fascination for it stemmed from his personal experience in which he had seen the affluent countries of Europe scorched and destroyed in the fires of war. At the time when India became independent,the whole world was bearing the burden of the destruction of the Second World War. Nehru understood very well that if world peace could not be kept intact, then countless countries of Africa and Asia would not get a chance to become independent. As long as the great powers continue to struggle, they will have to strategically create their respective spheres of influence according to the imperialist strategy.The small nation-poor societies falling under these spheres of influence cannot even imagine independence in such a condition. Nehru had long ago assimilated the point that there is a deep inter-relationship between development and destruction. As long as the clouds of war continue to hover over the world, the resources of nation-building may not be available to the developing budding nations. Nehru understood very well from his personal experiences of the Great War in Europe and the Civil War in Afro-Asian countries that the pressures of war supersede all other social priorities. It in cites the animalistic side of man and promotes authoritarianism. Fascism The rise of Nazism would not have been possible without the debris of the First World War. The invention of nuclear weapons further strengthened Nehru's pacifist thinking. World peace was essential to make India's independence meaningful and to keep the pace of development fast. That is why Nehru gave priority to world peace in his foreign policy planning.
2. Non-alignment- The concept of non-alignment was an important initiative for the establishment of world peace. After the Second World War, there was a ceasefire but peace did not return.The Allies split and the Cold War emerged. After the invention of nuclear weapons, the traditional balance of power was replaced by the balance of terror. After the Second World War,the international situation became extremely tense and dangerous. Was. Nehru ji very wisely put forward the suggestion of adopting non-alignment policy in front of the emerging nations. Obviously,non-alignment did not mean passive indifference, neutrality or opportunism. The real non-alignment was the real non-alignment by asserting its independence and choosing the options uited to its national interest according to its own conscience. To stick to this policy was not fanaticism, but an act of courage.
3. Disarmament- Just as non-alignment was linked to world peace, similarly the issue of disarmament was intertwined with non-alignment. As long as the blind race for arms continued,world peace could not be considered safe. The process of armament essentially strengthened the war mentality, in which it was difficult to avoid military organization,enemy siege, effort etc. The invention of nuclear weapons opened the problem of armament to even more dangerous dimensions. Many also believe that world peace and disarmament were not separate issues for Nehru. Nehru ji spread the message of disarmament from every available international forum. For this, he never hesitated to collide with his intimate friends. His encounter with Sucans at the Belgrade Summit of Non-Aligned Countries (1961) was about disarmament versus neo-colonialism. Some other scholars also believe that Nehru's faith in the United Nations was deep because he understood that sovereign nations without a practical collective security system would not give up arms voluntarily. Nehru's attraction to disarmament did not stem from any weakness. Nehru had no hesitation in using arms for self-defense on a just subject. The incidents of Goa, Kashmir and China provide examples of this
4. Opposing Imperialism, Colonialism and Apartheid- World Peace Despite favoring non-alignment and disarmament, the principles of Indian foreign policy set by Nehru included staunch opposition to imperialism, colonialism and racism. On the surface it may seem like a contradiction, but in reality it was not. Nehru ji said this long ago from racism. Nehru ji's historical studies and political experience had also made it clear to him that the biggest crisis of world peace had been made by imperialism, colonialism and well assimilated that racism and colonialism could not survive without imperialist support. Nehru ji really struggled because of Indian experience. But he did not hesitate to extend Indian support to the armed people's liberation struggle when needed.
5. Afro-Asian Unity Nehru ji had well tied the knot earlier that the interests of all the poor and deprived nations and societies of the world are common. Whether it was opposition to imperialism, colonialism and racism or the question of advancing world peace and disarmament through the conduct of the Non-Aligned Movement, the affirmation of Afro-Asian unity was essential for this. Thus, Nehru's talk of Afro-Asian brotherhood was not a mere emotion, but a rational move.
6. Faith in the United Nations Similarly, Nehru's attraction to the United Nations was not inspired by any idealism, but due to the possibility of transformation in practice of the above 'inter-related principles'. Nehru knew very realistically that a situation of stubbornness between the two superpowers due to veto could give an opportunity to a non-aligned country like India to play a constructive role in the United Nations.And with the increase of Afro-Asian countries in the group of member countries, this platform can be used well for the establishment of world peace, the spread of disarmament and the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and racism.
7. Panchsheel-The presentation of the five principles of Panchsheel is also a sign of India's peace-loving.From 1954 on wards, the principles of Panchsheel gave a new shape to India's foreign policy.provided direction. Panchsheel means five principles of conduct This principle is as follows 1 . A sense of mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and supreme authority 3. Non-interference in each other's affairs.2. Attack.4. Equality and mutual benefit.5. Peaceful Coexistence
8. Friendship and Coexistence India's foreign policy has been that of peaceful and friendly coexistence. It has been the belief of India that there should be a feeling of co-existence among the conflicting ideologies in the world. If coexistence is not accepted, then nuclear weapons will destroy the whole world. For this reason, India has made friendship treaties and trade agreements with more and more countries.
9. Establishment of harmony between the opposing factions, India has been working as abridge between the conflicting factions through its foreign policy. Due to its non-alignment policy,India has been acting as a link between the two factions. During the Cold War, although the two factions
India's economic and military position has been very weak in India, however, due to the balance(of power) between the two factions, India's position has been very suitable from the point of view of acting as a mediator in the resolution of various international disputes between them.. Due to this position, till now he has made significant contribution in the solution of problems like Korea, Indochina, Congo etc.
10. Policy of purity of means- India's policy has not been opportunistic and immoral. India has always believed in the sanctity of means. India's foreign policy has been continuously influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's principle of purity of means. India has been making constant efforts that only peaceful and non-violent methods should be adopted in solving international problems.
