Movement (NAM) in 1961

Movement (NAM) in The term ‘Non-alignment’ was coined by V.K. Krishna Menon in his speech at the United Nations in . Non-alignment has been regarded as the most important feature of India’s foreign policy. It aimed to maintain national independence in foreign affairs by not joining any military alliance. The Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) was formed with a membership of countries and states as observers and international organisations. It has transformed from a political movement to an economic movement. The founding fathers of Non-Aligned Movement : Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Tito of Yugoslavia, Nasser of Egypt, Sukarno of Indonesia, and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana were the founding fathers of NAM. India's Foreign Policy during Cold War Era The Non-alignment roots did not prevent India from entering into an alignment with the Soviet Union by the Indo-Soviet treaty of ( -year pact of ‘peace, friendship and co-operation’). Then India embarked on a substantial programme of military modernisation. In , India also conducted its first nuclear test at Pokhran under Subterranean Nuclear Explosions Project, in response to China’s nuclear test in at Lop Nor. Changing global conditions determine the foreign policy details. India got her political freedom in the aftermath of a disastrous Second World War, and India had to be redeemed from acute poverty illiteracy, and chaotic socio- economic conditions. Hence our new nation could not afford to military entanglements and military alliances. Avoidance of military blocs was then not an option but a necessity. Non Alliance did not mean neutrality, but the freedom of nations to decide on issues independently. Non-alliance did not mean demilitarisation of nations. It was meant to ensure de-escalation of conflicts and tension. Even wither discarding the ‘Non-Alliance’ India could enormously strengthen her defence system and could become a nuclear power. Flaws or faults in details of foreign policy executions have been addressed time and again but India’s basic policy of non-Alliance is still in force. First Nuclear Test at Pokhran (Rajasthan) New Developments: in the 1990s and the 20th Century