Chapter 11 India's External Relations

 Q.No.1:- Why did Nehru regard conduct of foreign relations as an

essential indicator of independence?

Ans: -According to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru independence consists

fundamentally and basically of foreign relations. That is the best of the

independence. All else is local autonomy.

1. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru followed the policy of non-alignment in fact. India

was the first country which initiated the policy of non-alignment. Pt. Nehru

said our general policy is to avoid entanglement in power politics and not to

join any group of powers as against any other group.

2. India adopted the policy of non-alignment as Indians were ambitious to

enjoy freedom in every sphere.

Q.No.2:- The conduct of foreign affairs is an outcome of a two way

interaction between domestic compulsions and prevailing

international climate? Discuss

Ans: - The above mentioned statement is true at a great extent in the

international forum. The main aim of the foreign policy of each country is to

protect national interests. Hence the determinants of foreign policy of any

country are both i.e. Domestic as well as international. We can take the

example of “Sino-Indian conflict” of 1962 which dented Indias image at

home and abroad. In Oct. 1962 china attacked India. India was not

prepared for war; India had to approach the USA and Great Britain for

military help to face the war. The Soviet Union remained neutral in this

conflict. In the war India was defeated and china was able to capture

thousands of miles of Indian Territory which is still in its possession.

No doubt nation was humiliated but at the same time spirit of

nationalism was strengthened. Pt. Nehrus policies were criticized in the

parliament and outside the parliament. Even vote of no-confidence was

moved against his government in the Lok Sabha. As a result defense

minister V Krishna Menon submitted his resignation. The Sino-Indian

conflict affected the opposition as well. Growing differences between China

and USSR also created difference within the communist party of India.

Ultimately, in 1964 there was split in the communist party of India.

Q.No.3:- Identify any two aspects of Indias foreign policy that you

would like to retain and two that you will like to change, if you were to

become a decision maker. Give reasons to support your position?

OR

What are the main elements of Indias foreign policy?

Ans: - The basic elements of Indias foreign policy today are the same what

they were previously. Two aspects of the Indian foreign policy are as

follows.

1- The main characteristic of Indias policy is non-alignment. Even today

policy of Non-alignment is very useful for India.

2- Much importance has been attached to the principals of united nation.

India should be made permanent member of the security council of U.N.

Two aspects of Indians foreign policy which I would like to

change are as follows.

1- For the security of the country it is very essential that India should

become a strong and powerful nation. India should go for more nuclear

arms.

2- Policy of Non-alignment is good but for world peace and security of the

country, India should actively participate in World affairs.

Q.No.4:- Write a short note on India’s nuclear policy.

Ans: - India is against the policy of nuclear experiment. In principal India

has stood for general and complete disarmament within the frame work of

the United Nations. Addressing the UN General Assembly Mr. Rajiv Gandhi

asked nuclear powers to eliminate all nuclear weapons by the year 2010.

India is the sixth country in the world enjoying the atomic power by having

undertaken successful atomic experiments in 1974. There are four atomic

power centers working in India. But this power is being utilized for peaceful

and creative purpose and not for making atomic bomb. After India

conducted nuclear tests in May 1998, United States and other countries

urged India to sign CTBT (comprehensive test ban treaty) unconditionally.

But India reiterated its stand that since the treaty is discriminatory it is not

accepted to the nation without any change.

Q.No.5:- Indias foreign policy was built around the principles of peace

and wars in a space of ten years. A rescue of international situation?

Ans: - There is no doubt that India’s foreign policy is based on the

principles of peace and cooperation. One of the basic determinants of India

foreign policy is world peace. India has always formulated its foreign policy

to promote World peace. India’s foreign policy is based on Panchsheel. But

unfortunately the country fought three wars in a space of ten years between

1962-72, however, we could not say that this was a failure of the foreign

policy. In fact this was a result of international situations. Actually

differences started between India and china, when china annexed Tibet in

1950. Border dispute was another issue of conflict between India and china

China claimed Aksai-Chin area in the Ladakh region of Jammu and

Kashmir and also claimed large area of Arunachal Pradesh. Thus

international situation was responsible for conflict between India and china,

war of 1965 between India and Pakistan is also a result of international

situations. Conflict between India and Pakistan started just after partition

over Kashmir. In 1971 India and Pakistan fought another war on Bangladesh issue.

Q.No.6:- Does India’s foreign policy reflect her desire to be an

important regional power? Argue your case with the Bangladesh war

of 1971 as an example?

OR

Write a short note on Indo-Pak war of 1971?

Ans: - It is true to some extent that Indias foreign policy reflects her desire

to be an important regional power. This was very much revealed during the

Bangladesh war of 1971. Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan and was

known as East Pakistan & emerged as an independent state in 1971. East

Bengal was not given fair treatment by the rulers of West Pakistan and it

was made virtually a colony. In an election held in early 1971, Sheikh

MujibS Awami league got majority in Pakistan parliament. But he was not

allowed to form the government and he was arrested. East Pakistan

declared independence and the liberation were started. India helped Awami

league in the war. War took place between India and Pakistan in December

, 1971 and Pakistan was defeated in the war. India was the first country to

grant recognition to the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh.

This shows that Indias foreign policy reflects her desire to become a

dominant regional power.

Q.No.7:- How does political leadership of a nation affect its foreign

policy? Explain this with the help of examples from India’s foreign

policy?

OR

Write a short note on Nehrus foreign policy?

Ans: - It is hard fact that political leadership of a nation has a great effect

on the foreign policy of a nation. The foreign policy of India has been

influenced by the individual traits of its great leaders. Jawaharlal Nehrus

ideology has sufficiently affected Indias foreign policy. He was deadly

against imperialism, colonialism, fascism and supported peaceful way of

solving problems. He favored friendly co-operation and peaceful co-

existence. Pt. Nehru formulated five principals of peaceful existence among

the nations of the world. These principals are known as “Panchsheel”. Pt.

Nehru the architect of India’s foreign policy, adopted non-alignment as its

base. He clearly pointed out that India, because of its manifold internal

problems, couldnt afford to snap its relations with either of the two blocs. A

country with newly attained freedom couldnt interfere in international affairs

.

Q.8:- What are the main detriments of India’s foreign policy?

OR

Give the factors which influence India’s foreign policy?

Ans: - Free India has adopted that foreign policy which is based on

national interest. The below given factors have contributed in determining

this policy.

(1) Geographical factors; - The geographical factors have contributed a

lot in determining Indias foreign policy. India has enormous coastal

dimensions. Any country dominating Indian Ocean can easily over power

Indian trade & can pose danger to India politically. That is why India has

friendly relations with Great Britain. India shares its boundaries with

Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bangladesh & Myanmar and is a big power

because of its geographical location.

(2)Historical Background; - India was ruled by British for more than 200

years, & as a result it has more contacts with Great Britain. Indias

exploitation & slavery because of imperialism has influenced its foreign

policy & now its main principle is to oppose imperialism & colonialism.

{3} Economy; - India depends on advanced countries for scientific &

technological assistance. India has trade links mainly with England & USA.

As PM. J.L Nehru once remarked, “The foreign policy of a country is the

outcome of her economic policy”.

{4) Population; - India is the second largest country in the world in terms

of population. Over population on the one side adds man-power to India

and makes the country strong but on the other side it slacks the progress of

a nation as it has to depend on other nations for assistance. Indias foreign

policy has weakened because of food crisis.

{5} Natural resources; - India is a rich country as it has vast natural

resources. These natural resources hold an important place in Indias

independent foreign policy.

(6) Technology; -

{7} National interest; -

(8) Impact of ideology; -

{9) Principles of non-alignment & Panchsheel.

Q.9:- What is article 370 of Indian constitution?

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Ans: - Article 370 gives special status to the state of J&K. Art 370 provides

a separate constitution for the state of J&K. Under this article residuary

powers belongs to the J&K state were as in case of other states of India it

belongs to union parliament. Several political parties including BJP are in

favour of removing of this article for protecting the unity & integrity of India.

Q.10:- Explain the basic principles of Indias foreign policy?

Ans: - Following are the main features of Indias foreign policy.

1) Non-alignment; - Non-Alignment is one of the main characteristic of

Indias foreign policy. Indias foreign policy is based on non-alignment. Pt. J.

L Nehru said-as far as possible, we dont want to associate with power

groups which caused two world wars which can take place in future also.

(2) Friendly relations with other states; - Second important principle of

Indias foreign policy is to improve its relations with the states of the world.

India not only improved its relations with neighbours but with the other

countries of the world also.

(3) Faith in UN; - 3rd important principle of Indias foreign policy is that it

has complete faith on U.N charter. India has always strived to make U.N

strong.

(4) Respect to human rights; - One of the important principles of Indias

foreign policy is that the country has full regards for human rights. Almost

all the important human rights have been included in the chapter of

fundamental rights.

(5) Panchsheel; - The first Prime Minister of India Pt. J.L. Nehru

formulated five principles of peaceful co-existence among the nations

of the world. They are.

(1) To respect the sovereignty & territorial integrity of each other.

(2) Non-aggression on each other.

(3) Non-interference in each others internal affairs.

(4) Peaceful settlement of disputes.

(5) To promote world peace.

(6) Faith in Dis-armament; - India considers race for armaments as a

grave threat to world peace. For the realization of this end, India has

pleaded for disarmament within & outside the U.N.

(7) Opposition to imperialism, colonialism & Discrimination; - India has

always raised voice against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism &

discriminations in the world.

(8) Unification of Afro Asian countries; - India tries to unite Asian &

African countries to strengthen economic & political relations & to create an

atmosphere for the freedom of other Asian & African countries.

Ans; - Comprehensive test ban treaty was signed on 24 September 1996

by124 nations at a UN chamber. This treaty bans any kind of nuclear

weapon test explosion. An international monitoring system is to be set up

for checking violations of CTBT. The seat of the CTBT organization would

be in Vienna (Austria). India along with Pakistan & Israel refused to sign the

treaty as they found it discriminatory.

Q.12;-Write a short note on NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)?

Ans; - The nuclear non-proliferation treaty was simultaneously signed at

London, Moscow, & Washington on Ist. July 1968 but it actually came into

force on 5th March 1970. This treaty allows only the nuclear weapon states

to have nuclear weapons & stops others from acquiring them. For the

purpose of NPT, a nuclear weapon state is one which has manufactured &

exploded a nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive device prior to Ist.

Jan. 1967.

Q. 13 :- Explain the following terms:

(1) Nehrus foreign policy.

(2) Foreign policy.

(3) Panchsheel.

(4) Sino Indian war of 1962.

(5) Indo- Pak war of 1965.

(6) insurgency.

(7) Achievements of lal bahadur shastri.

Ans (1) Nehrus foreign policy:- The major objectives of Nehrus foreign

policy are

(1) Non alignment

(2) To safeguard territorial unity & secure people living within the boundary

of India

3) To maintain & encourage international peace & security.

(2) Foreign policy :- According to Norman Hill, he defines “foreign

policy as the substance of Nations efforts to promote its interest vis-à-

vis other nations”

(3) Panchsheel:-The first Prime Minister of India Pt. J.L. Nehru

formulated five principles of peaceful co-existence among the nations

of the world. These principles were first accepted by the Chinese premier

Chou-En-Lai in 1954.

These principles are as under.

(1) To respect the sovereignty & territorial integrity of each other.

(2) Non-aggression on each other.

(3) Non interference in each others internal affairs.

(4) Peaceful settlement of disputes.

(5) To promote world peace.

(4) Sino-Indian war of 1962:-Till 1962, the relations between the two

countries were very cordial & friendly. China attacked both the western &

eastern sectors of Indian border on 20th Oct 1962. China declared unilateral

ceasefire on 21st November 1962. By waging a war , China was able to

capture thousands of miles of Indian territory which is still under

Chinese possession.

(5) Indo-Pak war of 1965:- In April 1965 Pakistan launched armed

attacks in the Rann of Kutch area of Gujarat. This was followed by a

bigger offensive in August, September 1965 in J&K. Indian P.M. Lal

Bahadur Shastri ordered Indian troops to launch a counter offensive on

the Punjab Border, in a fierce battle, the Indian army reached close to

Lahore (Pak) . The hostilities came to an end with the UN intervention.

Later, Indian P.M. Lal Bahadur Shastri & Pakistani President General

Ayoub khan signed the Tashkent agreement , brokered by the Soviet

Union in January 1966.

(6) An insurgency is a movement within a country dedicated to

overthrowing the government. An insurgency is a rebellion. Insurgencies

are movements to overthrow governments. The United States was founded

by an insurgency, when the colonies fought against England for

independence.

(7) Achievements of lal bahadur shastri :- Shastri joined the Indian

independence movement in the 1920s. Deeply impressed and influenced by

Mahatma Gandhi (with whom he shares his birthday), he became a loyal

follower, first of Gandhi, and then of Jawaharlal Nehru. Following

independence in 1947, he joined the latter's government and became one of

Prime Minister Nehru's principal lieutenants, first as Railways Minister 

(1951–56), and then in a variety of other functions, including Home Minister.

Shastri while a staunch supporter of Nehru, differed from his socialist

policies on Industry

Shastri as Prime Minister continued Nehru's policies of non-alignment but

disregarded socialism as he believed in ending license raj. He led the

country during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. His slogan of "Jai Jawan Jai

Kisan" ("Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer") became very popular during the

war and is remembered even today. The war formally ended with the

Tashkent Agreement of 10 January 1966; he died the following day , still in

Tashkent,the cause of death was said to be a heart attack.