https://sputniknews.in/20230614/our-assertiveness-is-no-surprise---indias-been-standing-up-to-foreigners-for-years-says-historian-2462542.html
Our Assertiveness Is No Surprise - India's Been Standing Up To Foreigners For Years, Says Historian
Our Assertiveness Is No Surprise - India's Been Standing Up To Foreigners For Years, Says Historian
Sputnik India
As the West appears hard-bent to affect Russia over its ongoing special operation in Ukraine, India is unreservedly pursuing its independent foreign policy as per its national interests.
2023-06-14T11:15+0530
2023-06-14T11:15+0530
2023-06-14T11:15+0530
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India's assertiveness in the past year has surprised many around the world, especially after it chose not to submit to Western expectations including as regards Russia.But Indian academic Professor Ajay Patnaik is unsurprised and he points out that since Indian independence in 1947, the country has stood up to the West and taken many steps which have been contrary to the West's wishes.In an interview with Sputnik, the former Dean of the School of International Studies at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, talks of India’s spirit of independence during critical historical moments.Sputnik: In your opinion, has the Indian-Russian bond managed to withstand the test of time in the wake of the unprecedented sanctions regime and Western pressure?Patnaik: The friendship between India and Russia has existed for decades and is on a strong footing. It’s now a Special Privileged Partnership. So, Modi has taken everything forward. Especially in the defense sector. We now have different mechanisms such as joint production and transfer of technology.But what is a strong point now in the India-Russia relationship is the sanctions against Russia. These sanctions are, in a way, intended to cripple the Russian economy and weaken Russia so that it cannot play any global role or pose a challenge to the Western hegemonic world order.Given all this background, the position that India has taken during this war [is consistent with its earlier stance]. I think, in 2014, for example, India didn't vote against Russia when Crimea was reintegrated.But under the Modi government, this has gone ahead. So it's like what happened with the S-400 missile: despite sanctions, India went ahead and bought it.The past one-and-a-half years have taken this [friendship] to a new level.It’s because India was on the side of those who did not condemn Russia - some supported and many abstained, especially the BRICS nations and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members. So, this neutral position has become helpful.Second, despite the sanctions, India has not stopped buying Russian oil. Russian oil is about one-third of India's oil purchases, from less than one percent before the operations to now nearly 33 percent.And the trade which was [once] worrying because it was the weak link in the India-Russia relationship is now very high. It has reached, I think, more than $44Bln.Sputnik: What role did anti-Russia sanctions play in Indo-Russian trade? Do you think it was something Western governments had not expected?Patnaik: India is trying to, in a way, stand with Russia economically by buying its oil. And [Russia] has become the largest supplier to India, overtaking Iraq and the Saudis. For Russia, India comes at the top of friendly nations to Moscow as New Delhi is buying so much Russian oil in the face of the sanctions.India is also putting in place mechanisms to trade with Russia. Since using the dollar is problematic as Russia doesn't have much need for dollars now - trade will take place either in rubles or in UAE's dirhams.So, many other currencies are being worked out. And we have a Nastro account, which is a foreign account in Russia. The State Bank of India (SBI) has it. And Russia also has similar bank branches operating in India.They are trying out various mechanisms for how - in the face of sanctions - to carry on with trade and payments for export and import.Sputnik: Has the Modi Government really been robust in the face of unprecedented Western pressure?Patnaik: India faced this pressure when the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was created, when the entire West was against India on the issue of Kashmir... or many other issues such as the Bangladesh War when India stood firm and went ahead sending its army into Bangladesh.India did the nuclear tests under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (1974) and under Prime Minister (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee (1998).So, India has always taken a stand because of its history of independence, fighting colonialism and imperialism. It has always also tried to remain neutral at that time.Because of the Soviet Union, the NAM could be founded. Since the Soviet Union was a strong partner of India, the NAM could not be crushed by the West.Similarly, in the past 20 to 30 years, we have moved so much economically. Because of India’s emergence in the global economy, it has gained a lot of economic power globally. So, India is economically strong enough to stand out.So, you have to give credit to Narendra Modi because he is the leader while the present situation has played out. But since independence, India has stood up to the West and taken many steps which have been against the wishes of the West.For instance, during Nuclear Tests, the Bangladesh War, and sending the army to liberate Bangladesh - these are all these steps India has taken in the past. Our history is our legacy.
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Our Assertiveness Is No Surprise - India's Been Standing Up To Foreigners For Years, Says Historian
As the West appears hell-bent on trying to make Russia bend to its will over its ongoing special operation in Ukraine, India is unashamedly pursuing its independent foreign policy according to its own best national interests.
India's assertiveness in the past year has surprised many around the world, especially after it chose not to submit to Western expectations including as regards Russia.
But Indian academic
Professor Ajay Patnaik is unsurprised and he points out that since
Indian independence in 1947, the country has stood up to the West and taken many steps which have been contrary to the West's wishes.
In an interview with Sputnik, the former Dean of the School of International Studies at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, talks of India’s spirit of independence during critical historical moments.
Sputnik: In your opinion, has the Indian-Russian bond managed to withstand the test of time in the wake of the unprecedented sanctions regime and Western pressure?
Patnaik: The friendship between India and Russia has existed for decades and is on a strong footing. It’s now a Special Privileged Partnership. So, Modi has taken everything forward. Especially in the defense sector. We now have different mechanisms such as joint production and transfer of technology.
But what is a strong point now in the India-Russia relationship is the sanctions against Russia. These sanctions are, in a way, intended to cripple the Russian economy and weaken Russia so that it cannot play any global role or pose a challenge to the Western hegemonic world order.
Given all this background, the position that India has taken during this war [is consistent with its earlier stance]. I think, in 2014, for example, India didn't vote against Russia when Crimea was reintegrated.
But under the Modi government, this has gone ahead. So it's like what happened with the
S-400 missile: despite sanctions, India went ahead and bought it.
The past one-and-a-half years have taken this [friendship] to a new level.
Because of the kind of pressure that was put on India, the kind of information war propaganda that is going on against Russia in the context of Ukraine - given that background it was so difficult for a country such as India (which has a very good friendship with Western countries, including the USA - it is a partner in the Quad, and in the G20), to take a position of neutrality favorable to Russia.
It’s because India was on the side of those who did not condemn Russia - some supported and many abstained, especially the BRICS nations and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members. So, this neutral position has become helpful.
Second, despite the sanctions, India has not stopped buying Russian oil. Russian oil is about one-third of India's oil purchases, from less than one percent before the operations to now nearly 33 percent.
And the trade which was [once] worrying because it was the weak link in the India-Russia relationship is now very high. It has reached, I think, more than $44Bln.
Sputnik: What role did anti-Russia sanctions play in Indo-Russian trade? Do you think it was something Western governments had not expected?
Patnaik: India is trying to, in a way, stand with Russia economically by buying its oil. And [Russia] has become the largest supplier to India, overtaking Iraq and the Saudis. For Russia, India comes at the top of friendly nations to Moscow as New Delhi is buying so much Russian oil in the face of the sanctions.
India is also putting in place mechanisms to trade with Russia. Since using the dollar is problematic as Russia doesn't have much need for dollars now - trade will take place either in rubles or in UAE's dirhams.
So, many other currencies are being worked out. And we have a Nastro account, which is a foreign account in Russia. The State Bank of India (SBI) has it. And Russia also has similar bank branches operating in India.
They are trying out various mechanisms for how - in the face of sanctions - to carry on with trade and payments for export and import.
Sputnik: Has the Modi Government really been robust in the face of unprecedented Western pressure?
Patnaik: India faced this pressure when the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was created, when the entire West was against India on the issue of Kashmir... or many other issues such as the Bangladesh War when India stood firm and went ahead sending its army into Bangladesh.
India did the nuclear tests under Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi (1974) and under Prime Minister (Atal Bihari)
Vajpayee (1998).
So, India has always taken a stand because of its history of independence, fighting colonialism and imperialism. It has always also tried to remain neutral at that time.
Because of the Soviet Union, the NAM could be founded. Since the Soviet Union was a strong partner of India, the NAM could not be crushed by the West.
Similarly, in the past 20 to 30 years, we have moved so much economically. Because of
India’s emergence in the global economy, it has gained a lot of economic power globally. So, India is economically strong enough to stand out.
So, you have to give credit to Narendra Modi because he is the leader while the present situation has played out. But since independence, India has stood up to the West and taken many steps which have been against the wishes of the West.
For instance, during Nuclear Tests, the Bangladesh War, and sending the army to liberate Bangladesh - these are all these steps India has taken in the past. Our history is our legacy.
And now with the country's economic and military potential, India is going to play a very strong role in global politics. It has partners in BRICS and the SCO. They are going to grow in numbers, too - the list of members is likely to increase in the near future.
