Read this passage and answer the questions below :
“Broadly, non-alignment means not tying yourself off with military blocs... It means trying to view things, as far as possible, not from the military point of view, though that has to come in sometimes, but independently, and trying to maintain friendly relations with all countries. ” —Jawaharlal Nehru

(a) Why does Nehru want to keep off military blocs ?

(b) Do you think that the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty violated the principle of non-alignment ? Give reasons for your answer.

(c) If there were no military blocs, do you think non-alignment would have been unnecessary ?

Solution

(a)Nehru wanted to keep off military blocs to maintain friendly relations with all countries. His aim was also to get aid and assistance from members of both the blocs.

(b) No, Indo-Soviet friendship treaty did not violate the principle of non-alignment because it did not prevent India to have good relations with the US. Moreover this treaty was signed to counter the US-Pakistan-China axis at that time.

(c) Even if there were no military bloc, the non-alignment would have been necessary.Non-alignment was based on a recognition that decolonised states share a historical affiliation and can become a powerful force if they come together.

Some More Questions From India’s External Relations Chapter

Match the following :

Why did Nehru regard conduct of foreign relations as an essential indicator of independence ? State any two reasons with examples to support your reading.

“The conduct of foreign affairs is an outcome of a two-way interaction between domestic compulsions and prevailing international climate”. Take one example from India’s external relations in the 1960s to substantiate your answer.

Identify any two aspects of India’s foreign policy that you would like to retain and two that you would like to change, if you were to become a decision maker. Give reasons to support your position.

Write short notes on the following :
(a) India’s Nuclear policy

(b) Consensus in foreign policy matters.

India’s foreign policy was built around the principles of peace and cooperation. But India fought three wars in a space of ten years between 1962 and 1972. Would you say that this was a failure of the foreign policy ? Or would you say that this was a result of international situation ? Give reasons to support your answer.

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.

How does political leadership of a nation affect its foreign policy ? Explain this with the help of examples from India’s foreign policy.