ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY.

 

By K P Paswan

 What is so special of foreign policy of India? Is Narendra Modi different from the PM of UK or the Chancellor of Germany or the PM of Japan. We will try to find a possible answer.

 Narendra Modi is neither an angel or devil. He is an elected PM of an open democracy. Indian foreign policy also demonstrates economic development.

 Modi is not the last man standing but certainly he is the last of the Mohican. No political figures in power is above criticism and Modi is not an exception.   Change of guard may shape Indian Foreign Policy. New global order is not understood by politicians in the opposition camp. With Caste Census, apartheid is now official in India. India is the only country in the world which survives on the caste-oriented politics. Modi is a popular political figure and to dislodge him from power, the opposition has formed a platform popularly known as I.N.D, I, A. A closer look at this strange platform with strange name reveal that almost every member is old jail bird and old sinner. Some are outside of jail while a good number of politicians are standing in Q to enter jail with smile on his face. NDA led by NarendraModi is also not above board but at least Modi is there to control them. 

There was a minister in the cabinet of Modi named Arun Jetli. He was an excellent English speaker; his honesty was unquestionable but he used to shield corrupt politicians belonging to the Grand Old Party. He was more popular amongst the Modi’s haters than in NDA. If Modi is to be replaced, he must be replaced by a seasoned politician and certainly not by a jail bird belonging to INDIA.

AGE OF HUMILIATIONS. ESSENCE OF INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY

Indian foreign policy has been drafted  as per prevailing international politics. At the time of independence, India was an underdeveloped country  Education was the privelege of a few Indians. Faster Dulles , the Secretary of State of US had a dig at India when he declared that countries which don’t support US are enemies of US. USSR supported India when the first PM introduced Five year plans, Soviet Unions helped India to establish heavy industries but at what cost? Mixed economy was the cornerstone of five-year plans, but it was not properly evaluated or tested. Steels mills were established like Bhilai, Bokaro etc all of them have become sick as new technology was not available in the Soviet Union. Stock market was not in operation and except Tata and Birla no private industries flourished, however small manufacturing units continued to flourish.

 DEVELOPMENT. Pt Nehru described new manufacturing units as new Temples of India, But Mixed economy was total failure. And by 1980 all the manufacturing and public undertaking except Indian Oil Corporation and Steel Authority of India,  were declared as sick. It was only after opening of Indian economy that gradually foreign investment starting pouring into India but not like China wher American investment reached at its zenith.

  Coming to Indian Foreign Policy,a former officer of Indian foreign service is holding the post of Foreign Minister of India. As expected, an experience hand in foreign affairs is in a position to understand the complex diplomacy which has emerged along with new global order. US is still a super power with capacity to explore the outer space  and introduce technology beneficial and destructive to the human race. As an economic power, China has reduced the hegemony of the US  and it is itself trying to expand its undefined political influence. India had cultural relations with China since the dawn of civilization but in modern times cultural relations is no more a binding force. China has humiliated India in 1962 and is still  trying to dictate politics of India. China is funding anti Indian elements who foment troubles for financial gains.  But China  is not in a position to humiliate India. With increase in foreign investment India has  achieved  sustained economic growth. Contrary to popular belief China has not grabbed Indian territory either in Galvan valley or somewhere else. Under such circumstance’s diplomacy may play an important role in averting trouble with China. Shadow diplomacy is undergoing between China and India, US has replaced China as the largest trading partner

  India has border disputes with China and Pakistan. India fought several war with Pakistan, After independence Indian foreign policy was shaped by Pt Nehru who was also the Foreign Minister  of India.  He did not allow Cold War to cloud the Indian politics. Being an underdeveloped country India had no effective role to play between two super powers , India advocated a policy of non-alignment  while Pakistan signed the Bagdad pact under which CEATO a defence organization was formed, it means Pakistan was protected by US. However in the case of China, India faced uncertain diplomacy. While India recognized Chinese suzerainty over Tibet, China was not allowed to draw Line of Control as per its own plan. The result was Indo China war in 1962 in which India lost a large swath in Tibet and in north frontier Agency. So, It was an era of Cold war in which brilliant  diplomats, both foreign and Indian like Else worth bunker Dean Rusk(Secretary of State  of US. S  Nagarkety, Y Gundevia  from India  were playing important roles. But humiliations of India did not end.

With opening of economy after 1990 Indian Foreign Policy was molded as per new  changing dynamics of diplomacy between India and other developed nations. Collapse of USSR mean not only the collapse of  Non Alignment  but also the end of closed economy  and in its place emerging economy in India started influencing foreign policy.

 ECONOMY. Whether Narendra Modi survives the next election or not but he is responsible for the present state of emerging economy, For a country like India beset with caste and creed, he realised that India could not generate a strong voice without an emerging economy. True the economic has returned to growth,  but a big part of it consists of restocking  after a savage down turn  that has left inventeries depleted but for that the brutal virus is accountable. In no point  over the coming decades  will the defecit be below  3-5% of GDP  This is itself a reflection of the economic policy which has shaped foreign policy.   The former Governor of RBI made a mess of Indian banking system. At present Indian banking system is highly praised by World Bank.

If N Modi is replaced than his successor  will inherit a strong economy if at the behest of incompetent economist, he may have the choice of bringing down the defecit to  to a sustainable  which means no more than 3% og GDP.. Taxation has to be increased and all kinds of Freebies are to be removed, No government dared to implement this deadly plan.

So there are indications that India may see humiliation if any change in economic policy pirsued by Modi is initiated, as it will badly impact  a rational foreign policy.

 Final Thought. A sustained growth has influenced foreign policy of India. The days of humiliations are over. Let us hope it will continue.