Question

Explain India's participation in the Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Organization -

Role of India

Answer 1

1. In 1948, in the Congress Session at Jaipur in Rajasthan, Pandit Nehru took the decision of joining ‘Commonwealth’.
2. India became a member of Commonwealth as an equal and sovereign state. The factors leading to this decision were in the situation that prevailed then.
3. At that time England was the major supplier of arms and other defense material to India. England had granted the same facilities to India with regards to foreign exchange. Indian exported goods were partially free from customs duty.
4. More importantly India had an open platform at Commonwealth to counter the malpropaganda by Pakistan against India. By considering all these things India became a member of Commonwealth.
5. Apart from this India has always been on the forefront in Commonwealth Games. The sports competitions modeled after Olympics competitions used to be held for amateur sportsmen in the British colonies under the name, ‘British Empire Games’.
6. The idea of such games was introduced by Reverend Astley Cooper. Since 1950 these competitions came to be called as ‘Commonwealth Games’.
7. Commonwealth games were started at ‘Crystal palace’ to mark the coronation ceremony of King George V in 1911.
8. The Commonwealth Games of 1986 were of special significance. Thirty-two countries boycotted the games. These countries demanded that South Africa should change their racist policies.
9. However, United Kingdom did not pay any heed to this demand. Hence, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, India’s Prime Minister declared a boycott. Now, in the 21st century India has recorded a laudable performance in the Commonwealth Games.