Nehru as the Sole Arbiter of Indian Foreign Policy: An Analytical Review of the Years 1947-64

Author(s) : Dr. Musarrat Jabeen

Abstract:

Jawaharlal Nehru was the architecture of modern India after its independence in 1947.Apart from handling the domestic situation, Nehru’s major contribution lies in the area of external relations as he kept foreign affairs under his strict control over seventeen years and made all the major foreign policy decisions himself merely getting consultation from his advisers and aides. Constructing the conceptual frame work of foreign policy, Nehru abrogated to himself the role of the sole arbiter of Indian foreign policy. His policies were characterized by ideological perspective including Panchsheel, nonalignment, colonialism and racism. Formulating the foreign policy, Nehru not only considered the other states’ foreign policies but also observed the trends in contemporary world politics. These two traditionally discrete realms known as inter-domestic politics increasingly influenced the Indian foreign policy jointly highlighting the need for the leader to integrate his domestic and foreign policies. All activities occurring beyond India’s borders structured the choices of Nehru’s policymaking. He wanted India to have an identity without overt commitment to either power bloc; the USA and the Soviet Union. The paper is to analyze the internationalist approach of Nehru in foreign policy-making, which led him to find solution in non-alignment and Punjsheel. Despite these peaceful looking policy, the question is Indian clash with its neighbors; Pakistan over Kashmir and China over the border. Keeping in view, these two opposite direction, Nehru’s foreign policy has been analyzed discussing different issues and occasions.