15
Roots in History and Tradition
India's commitment to the policy of non-alignment had evolved years before she finally won her independence in 1947. Non-alignment was born from the throes of our freedom struggle, from the realisation that our independence would be meaningless if we aligned ourselves with or sought the protection of one or the other power bloc.
The concept of non-alignment is rooted in Indian history and tradition, and there are many strands which were brought together in the enunciation of this policy as formulated by its founding father, the late Jawaharlal Nehru. The precepts of non-alignment constitute not merely an ingredient of our foreign policy but represent the very essence and pervading spirit behind the evolution of this policy. Above all, non-alignment has served its purpose as a policy designed to safeguard and further our national interests.
Non-alignment is not an idealistic and romantic international posture, as some would like to believe. It is actuated by the very real objective of world peace, freedom and equality for all peoples and countries, and the need for equitable economic development on a global basis. Non-alignment implied neither non-involvement nor neutrality. It is an assertion of our freedom of judgment and action. The policy of non-alignment acquired particular relevance in the fifties for the newly-emerging independent countries of Asia and Africa. It was relevant as an assertion of these countries hard-won sovereignty in the context of safeguarding international peace, which was an essential condition for the economic, social and political development of India and the other newly-independent countries.