India’s Anti - Colonial Policy

India’s Anti - Colonial Policy:

India is acknowledged as a great democracy in the world. It had protested against imperialism in world politics even during pre-independence days. Soon after independence, India adopted the policy of active non-alignment in international politics. It does not mean that India would distance itself from the vital international issues but it would always strive to establish global peace. India would not tolerate foreign intervention in its internal matters. India shall respect the regional unity and sovereignty of other countries. India emphasises the principle of ‘live and let live’ supported by peaceful co-existence. The following examples are worth citing in this regard.

In the post-independence period, in 1949, a conference was held in Delhi in which support was declared to the issue of Indonesia’s independence. It was demanded that the Dutch should leave Indonesia before 1950 and grant its independence.

India and Indonesia officially opened diplomatic relations since 3 March 1951. In 1955, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Indonesian President Sukarno were among the five founders of the Non-aligned Movement. Throughout their shared history, most of the relations between India and Indonesia were harmonious and peaceful, except during the 1965 war with India. At that time, Indonesia offered to provide Pakistan with military help, and 'to seize Andaman and Nicobar Islands' of India so as to distract it from the Kashmir front, eventually mobilising submarines to help Pakistan. A maritime boundary agreement between the two countries was issued in New Delhi on 14 January 1977. President of Indonesia Sukarno was the first chief guest at the annual Republic Day parade of India in 1950. In the year 2011, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was the chief guest for the same event.

The position India took in the case of Africa is also very important. India took a very strong initiative in demanding the independence of the African countries, especially the protectorates of European nations. India insisted that the foreign rulers (colonialist European countries) should leave the colonies, at the earliest. India also insisted that various institutions associated with the United Nations should expand their work fields and facilitate Africa to benefit from it. India spoke in the United Nations about the atrocious treatment meted out to the native Africans. India cared about Africa because of its long-standing relations with African countries. Thousands of Indians had migrated to Africa for trade and to work on the sugarcane plantations, since long ago. In 1896, Indian workers had gone there to work on the Kenya-Uganda railway project. Mahatma Gandhi showed Africa the path of satyagraha for getting independence. Thus, India had been on the forefront in the struggle against colonialism.