From the Vantage Point: India and Russia.

Since I have taken birth, and gained conscience, I can say that, deep inside I respect Russia. Well this feeling can be reflected by many people inside India. In fact according to a survey 45% Indian says positive things about Russia or Russian Federation. And 78% in Russia or Russian Federation feels positive about India.  

Most of us know Russia because of the support she had provided since India gained independence. But the friendship lies deep with in diverse culture of India and Russia. These two countries enjoy the close friendship, strategic partnership in key areas, and good business across sectors.

It was in late 15^th century when first Russian named Afansasy Nikitin, who was a merchant arrived in Indian Subcontinent and published his travelogue. In 17^th century Indian Businessmen settled in Astrakhan, from where they traded goods across Russia. And from there onwards the trade picked up between two countries, but it soon led to clashes in Modern Day Afghanistan where British Empire and Russian Empire had clashes and disputes over trade and territory.

The great Bolshevik revolution, which also consist of an appeal of Bolshevik leaders to world against Colonial rule had a deep impact over India’s Struggle of freedom. Moreover Lenin was also interested in India, which is evident from his Collected Works, which contains observation on India from 1900-1903.

His exact words in which he praised the Indian Freedom Movement.

“I am glad to hear that the principles of self-determination and the liberation of oppressed nations from, exploitation by foreign and native capitalists, proclaimed by the ‘workers’ and peasants ‘Republic' have met with such a ready response among progressive Indians, who are waging a heroic fight for freedom. The working masses, of Russia are following with unflagging attention the awakening of the Indian workers and peasants. The organization and discipline of the working people and their perseverance and the solidarity with the working people of world are an earnest of ultimate success. We welcome the close alliance of Moslem and non-Moslem elements. We sincerely want to see this alliance extended to all the toilers of the East. Only when the Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Persian end Turkish workers and peasant, join hands and march together in the common cause of liberation only then will decisive victory over the exploiters be ensured. Long live a free Asia'.”

And in my opinion, this was the first step towards modern era of friendship between India and Russia. In 1918, The Commissariat of Foreign Relation of Soviet Russia released a Blue Book, which was on the condition of India under British Empire or British India. In the exact words of its editer K. M. Troyanovski

“There can be no general peace without a free independent India .... India is the center of Western activity in the east. India will, therefore, be the first fortress of the Revolution on the Eastern Continent. We, Russian Revolutionaries and inter-national Socialists, feel it our duty to rejoice at the announcement of a revolution in India but also to support this revolution by direct or indirect means and with art our powers.”

It establish the fact that Russia was helping India, even before we (general public) knows it. Moreover Mr. Nehru had great respect for Lenin which was evident in his policies, which was pro socialistic or I can say was almost socialistic in its approach (for more reference to Prime minister Nehru’s policies you can visit National Archives in Delhi).

In the report corresponding to the effect of October revolution in 1918, Secretary of State of India, Edwin Montague and Viceroy of India, Lord Chelmsford admitted that the freedom fighter of the country is inspired by the uproot of Czarist regime of Russia and consider the Soviet Russia as its Friend and not its Enemy.

The influence of Soviet Russia was continuing on Indian Political leadership in 1920’s and 1930’s as well. The visit of Mr. Nehru in to Russia on the occasion of 10^th Anniversary of Bolshevik Revolution proved fruit full as he was able to win the admiration of Russian Leadership. Mr. Nehru had a strong image of Russia, in to his mind and he considered Russia to be an Anti-imperialistic, and is a fortress against war and aggression, ignorance and obscurantism. From his maiden visit he concluded, USSR is a powerful country and it was in best interest of India to be Friendly with this country.  

In 1930’s Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore visited to Russia and he was impressed with the Russia and stated that Indian future depends upon USSR as it is fundamentally against the exploitation of Man by Man and state by a state.

In Second World War the heroic struggle of USSR inspired even Gandhi-ji, who wrote (from his collected works) as

“The Power of the Viceroy is no way less than that of the Czar. We, too, can resort to the Russian remedy against tyranny. The movement in Bengal for the use of Swadeshi goods is much like the Russian movement? Our shackles will break this very day if the people of India become united and patient, love their country and think of the well-being of their motherland disregarding their self-interest. The governance of India is possible only because there exist people who serve.  We also can show the same strength that the Russian people have done”

It has been evident through archives that despite of the offer made by the Indian National Congress to Britain about full support in War if and only if India be granted full freedom, Leaders have sympathy towards USSR and they relied on the constant support of USSR to work forward.

Also it should be noted that formally Indian and Russian Delegates first met in April 1945, in San Francisco Conference of UN. It was there when Vice- President of Interim Govt. Mr. Nehru expressed his interest in cultivating the friendly and favorable relations with both USSR and USA. But the response from US was cold. Also it was evident there itself that India was not going to be in any of the Sides of soon to be polarized world.

On 21^st September 1946, approx. 11 months before the Independence of India, PM Nehru forwarded a letter of formal Diplomatic ties to Moscow, on which a reply came back on October 2^nd, 1946 with warm and positive response.

Mr. Nehru then took the help of V .K. Krishna Menon and K.P.S. Menon (two seasoned Diplomats of India) to establish the Diplomatic relations with USSR. By November, 1946 Mr. Nehru got confirmation from Foreign Minister of USSR V. M. Molotov, for the same.

In April 1947, USSR formally announced the establishment of Diplomatic ties and Exchange of Diplomats, which was seen as approval of Indian Freedom policy.

Mr. Nehru appointed his sister Vijay Laxmi Pandit to be the first ambassador to USSR. On the eve of 15^th, August 1947, USSR greeted India with Freedom message and formally recognized the Indian Govt. and State.

So history tells us that even before common people know, leadership was already in talks with each other and there starts an era of Trust which is still working despite of recent heart-breaks.

In the coming parts of this series you would learn the betrayal of West and how USSR helped India to stand on its own feel.

It will include the Kashmir dispute as well.

Like always, I hope that (essay) was able to improve your knowledge or entertained you, if you feel bored you can always switch back to the Bollywood masala site or play games or kill a few corrupt politician. 

The Love - Hate - game of India and America (USA)

If you are Indian, then this is the most interesting topic for you probably, as I have seen most of people obsessed with how US agencies (spy), can do things in India. In fact if you were in India in the 90's decade and anything goes wrong, Political statement would have come as "This has foreign element in it". Funny is not it, how political leaders, react to cover their in-competency?

But not many people know that, India was a strategic location for Chinese Burma India Theater (CBI) front in Second World War. It was in WW II when American soldiers came to India with lots of money and advance weaponry systems. Moreover it was President Roosevelt who pushed Britain’s Prime Minister Churchill for India’s Independence (partially), but when Churchill threatened him with his resignation, he (Roosevelt) backed out. Also US’s primary interest in India was to Aid China after Second World War. This position of USA was only due to its principal opposition of Colonialism only.

India and America goes way back in 1940's. But the real game Started just after the non alignment movement by Pt.Jawahar lal Nehru,  Sukarno,  Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kwame Nkrumah and Josip Broz Tito.

The Inclination of India towards Russian Federation (then USSR) started when USSR backed the Claim of India over Kashmir, and in year 1955 the Visit of PM of India to USSR and return Visit of USSR's President Khrushchev to India irked Prople’s Republic of China (PRC) and Pakistan. Moreover close alignment of India and Russia was always a problem to USA. And this had serious effects on Indo-American relationship. Moreover even as of day, India is second biggest defense market to Russia.

Soon after the Independence India was busy in its internal development and NAM while Pakistan took this opportunity and joined West Bloc in 1954. Since USSR used this opportunity to back Indian claim over Kashmir, The India- America relation became thorny due to both; backing of Pakistan by USA and India-USSR closeness.

Soon the India China War erupted in 1962 and that was the breather for India as by that time US was trying to counter China Strategically, and gave Support to India in order to Counter China, as She (America) was inclined to stop the socialism from spreading and if India lost very badly against China then it would be serious Blow to US interest in South Asia.

As in 1961-1963 President Kennedy said as

 “Chinese Communists have been moving ahead the last 10 years. India has been making some progress, but if India does not succeed with her 450 million people, if she can't make freedom work, then people around the world are going to determine, particularly in the underdeveloped world, that the only way they can develop their resources is through the Communist system.”

But soon after Kennedy, the relation went back to the cold and thorny as a result of President Nixon’s close working relationship with Pakistan and India’s then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s Inclination towards USSR. To add to the chill, US not only supported openly in 1971 Indo-Pak ware but also deployed its aircraft carrier to attack Indian Army base (according to recently declassified papers). Due to that the relation was more of Hate than love and It remained like that till President Clinton came to visit India in 2000.

IN 1998, when India did the nuclear test, there was severe sanctions on India by US. But it has little effect on India as at that point of time Indo – US trade only contributed around 2 % of overall GDP of India. Moreover India was a growing economy and only JAPAN aided with US to impose direct relationship with India.

But due to Economic reasons these sanctions was lifted soon, but high tech was still out of Reach from India.

Meanwhile as usual Russia and India maintained their close alignment in defense field and was also increasing it to economic and other areas.

In 2000 President Clinton visited India, and it was marked as a new era of working relationship with US. From 2000 to September 2001 the relation was neutral as both country was cautious about what to do.

But the after math of the 9/11 attacks over world trade tower changes the perspective and by 2005, India was recognized as the strategic partner of US. Both US secretary of Defense and Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India to cut several deals of defense as well as civilian nature.

The presidency of G.W.Bush II was marked with its foreign policy to work with India and iron out the differences and to increase the bilateral trade, which is as of now stands as 20 billion of imports and 30 billion as export to US. In 2006 when Bush visited India, it was a different season already.

The long winter of hatred had passed and now was the spring of friendship. His initiative of nuclear deal was really a tough thing to implement as it generated lot of resistance in India.  But at the end the pact was signed and way was clear to import nuclear materials for power plants.

Since the change in the Presidency of Bush to Barak Obama, the whole affair has been stagnant or can be called as maturing, as no special initiative was taken from Obama Administration to form a better working relationship with India.

Still while two nations are walking hand in hand for the curb of terrorism, Human Trafficking and certain other issues. It needs to noted that US still supplies Pakistan a Huge Aid , while that money has been routed to Extremist and used against India.

The though India and US has signed a pact for sharing intelligence but the agencies lack the coordination and motive to do that. The partial stand on the Islamic Extremist in Taliban and that of Seria along with Stance on Tehran (Iran) has also created its difference between two nations,

Moreover the Recent US slowdown, and second attempt to raise the Debt ceiling has profound effect on New Delhi. Today in this situation, the demand is of close collaboration and it is evident that both could not do without each other.

At the end I could say that the story of India – America started like a traditional Bollywood movie, first the hatred, then attitude and then converted into friendship.