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Indo-Soviet treaty
As you are all aware, friendship between the Soviet Union and India is neither new nor superficial. It has struck deep roots in the hearts of the people of the two countries. Even in the pre-independence era, there was bond of understanding between Tolstoy and Gandhi which transcended the barriers of geography and language. Gandhiji's high regard for Tolstoy can be seen from the fact that he named his farm in South Africa after Tolstoy. It is a fascinating coincidence in the unfolding of history that at about the same time when the Great October Revolution was sweeping away the old oppressive order in Russia, Mahatma Gandhi appeared on the Indian scene and transformed the struggle for freedom into a mass movement which, with its unique weapon of non-violence, ultimately led to the independence of India.
The birth and development of socialism under the leadership of Lenin has been truly an epoch-making event. The experience of Russia in building a multi-racial, multi-lingual State, which draws upon many ethnic and cultural strands, has its own relevance for India which also has blend of races, languages, religions and regional traditions. As early as in 1929; Nehru wrote about the Soviet Union in the following words:
"Russia interests us because it may help us to find some solution for the great problems which face the world today. It interests us specially because conditions there have not been, are not even now, very dissimilar to conditions in India. Both are vast agricultural countries with only the beginning of industrialization and both have to face poverty and illiteracy. If Russia finds a satisfactory solution for these, our work in India is made easier."
This historic understanding between India and USSR blossomed further after our independence.
We have always believed that the world is for development and not for destruction. The leaders of independent India have always raised their powerful voice in upholding the cause of peace.