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Nehru a visionary

By Brij Bhardwaj. Dated: 11/18/2017 12:33:45 PM

A democrat, not a dictator

Why BJP is so keen to target first Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru who chose to be a democrat when he could have been a dictator. I am mentioning this because big daddies of the non-aligned movement became dictators after having started as popular leaders. This according to me was the real cause of decline of non-aligned movement as an anchor of foreign policy which implied maintaining equidistance from two blocks into which the world was divided that were led by Soviet Russia and USA.
The situation has changed today as we wait for every positive signal from USA or a reminder to Pakistan that it would have to do more to keep on getting U.S dollars against the terrorists living around Pak-Afghan border to keep on getting U.S. dollars. India overlooks the fact that U.S policy towards Pakistan or China is based on the extent of help that the two countries are willing to provide in dealing with situation in Afghanistan and North Korea.
I am making no attempt to suggest that India should not make efforts to be a friend of United States , the only major power in the world but keep in mind that no purpose will be served if we keep on hoping that U.S would use its influence to resolve problems that India has with these two countries relating to border dispute with China or encouragement given to militants by Pakistan to keep Kashmir on boil or indulge in terrorist strikes in different parts of the country. These problems will have to be resolved by us on our own.
Also gone are the days when India could depend on Russia for help on Kashmir issue. At one stage Russian leader declared at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, you only have to shout and we who are across the mountains will come to your help. Now Russia is keen to mend its ties with Pakistan and has opened a window to give Pakistan some equipment which can be used by civilians and Military. Another country on which we depend a lot and have invested in recent times is Israel. There is hope as Jews are threatened by Islamic Militants they should be keen to help us. In the process they have become a major supplier for our forces. Overlooking the fact that Israel is dependent on U.S and can not even sneeze without permission from U.S.
India in the past helped Palestinians because we supported freedom movements in different parts of the world. This has changed now as we work in self interest. Nothing wrong , but as a result it follows that a policy devoid of any moral principles or ideological content will evoke same sentiments elsewhere. I am mentioning all this because first Prime Minister is a target for having agreed to special status for Kashmir instead of insisting on total accession when raiders backed by Pakistan were knocking at doors of Srinagar.
These critics conveniently forget that for Nehru Kashmir's desire to merge with Hindu majority India instead of Muslim majority Pakistan was a vindication of Indian policy that religion can not be the basis on which a nation can be built. This was also the basis on which India was declared a secular country with everyone free to follow their own religion. This principle received further endorsement when Pakistan as a nation was broken with majority in East Bengal becoming an independent country.. Bangladesh is second to none today in fighting fundamentalists today and India enjoys friendly relations with them.
Supporters of Hindutav were never very happy with the first prime Minister of India who was forward looking, a secularist and a man with scientific temperament. He laid not only the foundations of a democratic country, but also laid foundations of progress by building steel plants, institutes of science and fundamental research. The result is that India is a nuclear power today and can stand on its own in the world.
Not to forget he also undertook rural development. I will leave it for another day the contributions of Indira Gandhi who made India self sufficient in food and Rajiv Gandhi who laid foundation stone to make India a super power in IT sector. As for Nehru he was opposed in his life time by Saffron brigade for introducing Hindu Code Bill to give equal rights to women. His critics are, however, keen to bring about reforms to help Muslim women which I support.
I have been no admirer of Nehru- Gandhi brigade having been a follower of Socialist fire brand Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. I was most happy when he declared that a large part of nation lived below poverty line earning only three and half Annas per day or calling Mrs. Gandhi "Gungi Goodiya", but making a compromise with all those who want to divide nation on religious grounds is not acceptable to me.
(Brij Bhardwaj is a veteran journalist and commentator).
—[IFS]