Post-colonial Indian foreign policy, shaped by the internationalist ideals of the anti-colonial struggle, stood firmly against colonialism, militarism, apartheid, neo-colonial economic practices, and imperialist hegemony. The concept of Non-Alignment was first articulated at the United Nations by India and Yugoslavia during the Korean War, signaling a refusal to be drawn into the bipolar politics of the Cold War. This idea soon evolved into the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a global forum in which India played a leading role—championing decolonization, peaceful development, democratisation, and global solidarity.
NAM was never a passive stance of neutrality. Rather, it represented a proactive opposition to colonial and capitalist domination, apartheid, and military alliances. Representing over 55% of the world’s population, the movement promoted a democratic, peaceful world order based on justice and non-alignment. These foundational principles deeply informed Indian foreign policy, combining moral leadership with strategic national interest.
Even after the Cold War, the values of peace, cooperation, and conflict resolution remained cornerstones of Indian diplomacy. NAM continued to advocate for multilateralism and equality, with India emerging as a key voice in defending the interests of the Global South.
However, the rise of Hindutva politics under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has marked a sharp departure from this legacy. Aligning closely with U.S.-led imperialist agendas and embracing a narrow, majoritarian worldview, the current government has eroded India’s strategic autonomy. Modi’s close alliance with the Israeli state and India’s involvement in the U.S.-led Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)—often seen as an “Asian NATO” to contain China—reflect a shift that has compromised India’s independent foreign policy.
Framed as a "multi-alignment" strategy, these alignments have weakened the foundational principles of India’s foreign policy and diluted the relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement. What once stood for anti-colonial solidarity, peaceful coexistence, and global justice has been replaced by transactional diplomacy driven by short-term geopolitical interests. The foreign policy of Hindutva-led governance appears increasingly opportunistic and morally unmoored, jeopardizing India’s credibility and influence on the global stage.
While no Indian Prime Minister has undertaken as many international trips as Modi, foreign visits alone do not define the effectiveness or values of a country’s diplomacy. Modi’s travels have often prioritized personal branding and spectacle over substantive diplomacy. Far from advancing India’s core interests, they have fostered a personality cult and weakened the country's traditional diplomatic stature—one that was built on principled leadership and global solidarity.
The current trajectory of Indian foreign policy under Hindutva reflects a directionless and incoherent approach, characterized by erratic choices and ideological rigidity. By aligning with imperialist and Zionist regimes, the Modi government has distanced India from its historic role as a leader of the Global South and a champion of oppressed peoples. Nations that once looked to India as a moral and strategic ally now view it with increasing skepticism.
This decline demands a robust response from Indian citizens. The international reputation and foundational interests of the country must not be bartered away to serve American imperialism or neo-colonial European trade interests. Too often, India is seen by Western powers as merely a market—its people reduced to consumers—rather than as equal partners in shaping a fair and just global order.
As Henry Kissinger once remarked, “It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal.” In this context, the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement remain as relevant as ever. Reviving them is essential to reasserting the independence of Indian foreign policy and promoting a democratic, equitable world order—one not dictated by the imperatives of global capitalism or corporate interests.
India must reclaim its moral compass. An independent, non-aligned foreign policy—rooted in peace, justice, and solidarity—is key to restoring its global standing. The ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family), long central to India’s philosophical and civilisational vision, must be revived not merely as rhetoric, but as a guiding principle.
Let the following verse from the Maha Upanishad once again illuminate India’s global outlook:
"The world is a family
One is a relative, the other is a stranger—say the small-minded.
The entire world is a family—live the magnanimous.
Be detached, be magnanimous,
Lift up your mind and enjoy
The fruit of universal freedom."
In the broader context, our freedoms, peace, prosperity, and security are inherently interconnected. When these values are divided by national interest, religion, race, or ideology, they are ultimately diminished for all. Foreign policy must rise above divisive politics and reflect a commitment to human dignity, justice, and liberation from all forms of inequality, exploitation, and reactionary thought. That is the only truly global and humane path forward.
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