“The twin policies which have guided us since independence are, broadly, democratic planning for development at home and externally, ‘non-alignment’. Like the basic policies of most countries, these are not the product of any inspiration or arbitrary choice, but have their roots in our past history and way of thinking as well as in fundamental national exigencies. India’s over-riding and most urgent task is to raise the standard of living of her people, and in order to achieve this, to carry out structural and organizational reforms not only as speedily as possible but with maximum popular support and participation. In foreign affairs, we had no interest other than to cultiate friendly cooperation with all countries and to help to keep world peace as the sine quo non of everything else. Our approach to these problems our attitude and ideas had inevitably been shaped by our own recent struggle for freedom, as well as by the accumulated experience of centuries and above all by Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings.”
I think I have said enough about. non-alignment.
Shri B. V Naik (Kanara) : Does it not come in conflict with the Asian Collective Security scheme ?
Shri Y B. Chavan : No; do not confuse the issues. I am coming to the question of Asian identity. It is better I deal with this problem of Asian identity that has been mentioned by Shri Dinesh Singh. I think he is right there, because it is a very important concept, a very important issue about which we should constantly by aware at least and it is our responsibility to play our role whenever it is possible. As he knows, whenever any occasion has arisen we have tried to play our role.
The Government of India has always supported the concept of Asin solidarity. In 1946, India sponsored the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi and subsequently convened a conference of all independent Asian countries to mobilise them against Dutch police action against Indonesia. However, unlike other regions, Asia has to contend with many divisive forces - religious, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political. Asia is also too vast a continent to be readily responsive to a sense of solidarity which would encompass the entire continent from Beirut to Tokyo. She has also been the cockpit of imperialist rivalries in the era of Western dominance, which has left varying cultural impacts in various regions and, thus destroyed pre-existing links and alienated one region from another.
However, there is no doubt that the goal of Asian solidarity, which should express itself in terms of a distinct Asian identity and an Asian voice on international affairs, should not be given up. In concert with other countries and with a sense of cautious realism, India should actively pursue this objective through encouraging pan-Asian meetings, inter-governmental or non-governmental, in all fields where the Indian experience and the experience of other Asian countries are relevant and useful to each other. Such an exchange of experience would, in due course, form the core of the Asian personality. Recent initiatives in economic fields, such as the creation of the Pepper Community, the Cocoanut Community, the Association of Producer of Natural Rubber and, in a sub-regional context, the ASEAN, constitute steps in the right direction. As you know, we are also interested in many other Asian institutions like the Asian Clearing House, the Asian Development Bank etc.
So, I concede this concept, but let us not forget the point which I have made, namely that there are some contradictions which we cannot just wish away and hence our present approach, which I think is valid and wise and will yield results, is to make efforts for bilateral co-operation, both in the political and the economic fields.
