五十四, India
In 1947, the crown jewel in the British crown broke off. India was now an independent country. It would immediately become the world’s largest democracy (and would remain so for most of the rest of the 20th century). It faced unique challenges upon independence, however. Much of the former British colony was now under the rule of Pakistan, which would be a constant rival of India. The partition of India had left many Hindus in Pakistan and Muslims in India, and religious tensions remained. India and Pakistan went to war, a war which ended in neither side getting what they wanted. India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was committed to keeping India a secular country, though not all saw things his way. In addition to secularism, Nehru would promote socialism (but not communism) as well.
(Jawaharlal Nehru)
India, perhaps even more than China, represented a third way in the Cold War. Under Nehru, India would seek a middle approach in the economy and in foreign policy. The Indian economy would be different from both American capitalism and Soviet Communism. His vision for India was one where the public and private sector would exist side-by-side. India would receive aid from both the US and the USSR, and sought to maintain good relations with both. Nehru’s economic policies would continue to govern India after he was gone. The “License Raj” as it was called, a system of regulations on businesses in India, lasted until the 1980s. India did experience some economic growth during this period, but it was slow when compared to China or Japan.
India was an early leader within the non-aligned movement, consisting of countries that sided with neither the west nor the Communist world. Jawaharlal Nehru was at one time good friend of Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek, but later the two would have a falling out. Nehru was a strong supporter of democracy. By the 1950s, Nehru was convinced that Chiang was not a true supporter of democracy, and wrote to him to try to get him to change. He also protested China’s invasion and annexation of Tibet. This never led to any conflict, however, despite China claiming territory ruled by India. China would briefly support the Indian National Party, a secular nationalist party, to oppose the INC. The Indian National Party made no meaningful impact on Indian politics, and the party disbanded shortly after funding was cut in 1962. After that, China sought to maintain better relations with India. Nehru died in 1964, and his two successors, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi, were good friends of China.
(Jawaharlal Nehru)
India, perhaps even more than China, represented a third way in the Cold War. Under Nehru, India would seek a middle approach in the economy and in foreign policy. The Indian economy would be different from both American capitalism and Soviet Communism. His vision for India was one where the public and private sector would exist side-by-side. India would receive aid from both the US and the USSR, and sought to maintain good relations with both. Nehru’s economic policies would continue to govern India after he was gone. The “License Raj” as it was called, a system of regulations on businesses in India, lasted until the 1980s. India did experience some economic growth during this period, but it was slow when compared to China or Japan.
India was an early leader within the non-aligned movement, consisting of countries that sided with neither the west nor the Communist world. Jawaharlal Nehru was at one time good friend of Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek, but later the two would have a falling out. Nehru was a strong supporter of democracy. By the 1950s, Nehru was convinced that Chiang was not a true supporter of democracy, and wrote to him to try to get him to change. He also protested China’s invasion and annexation of Tibet. This never led to any conflict, however, despite China claiming territory ruled by India. China would briefly support the Indian National Party, a secular nationalist party, to oppose the INC. The Indian National Party made no meaningful impact on Indian politics, and the party disbanded shortly after funding was cut in 1962. After that, China sought to maintain better relations with India. Nehru died in 1964, and his two successors, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi, were good friends of China.
