India’s Neighbourhood First Policy
Unlike other countries of the World, India need not demonstrate as to where it stands. The name given to the Ocean around it by rest of the World simply states the fact. When the name Indian Ocean became known to the rest of the World, India’s share in the world GDP was more than 30%. The next country on the list was China.
That South East Asia had become the RAMAYAN LAND as testimony to the Indian story. China, Japan, Korea all got “ conquered “ not by the Indian Sword but the soft power of India’s Buddhism.
So when a US international affairs magazine, recently published an article “This is How India Plans to Keep Its Neighbors Away from China’s Influence.” It is not saying anything new.
However Its argument regarding the Indian policy of “neighborhood first “ policy is an attempt to counter the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and to maintain strong regional influence, is totally wrong. India has no need to counter any Chinese influence.
The policy of neighbourhood first has always been there and has been amply demonstrated, every time, whenever a need arises to provide humanitarian assistance of any kind. Whether it was the South East Asian Tsunami disaster, Nepal Earthquake, Indonesian Earthquake, Bangladesh cyclones, Mayanmar refugees, Maldives water crisis, Sri Lankan civil war, Gulf evacuation, Arabian sea piracy or Java sea piracy, India has always been there. Providing assistance to neighbours has been pivotal policy. Modi in his second term has been simply continuing with it.
Shortly after being reelected, Modi visited two neighboring countries – the Maldives and Sri Lanka, in his first trip abroad. Later he also visited Bhutan. This was to further cement the closer relations with these three countries.
India has also offered plenty of assistance to its surrounding countries. Bhutan remains India’s largest aid recipient in 2019. India’s financial assistance has also gone to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Maldives.
There are several reasons for India to attach importance on its “neighborhood first” foreign policy.
First, India is a geographic hub in South Asia, bordering almost all countries in the region. If other South Asian countries adopt “neighborhood first” policy like India, the move would reinforce India’s central position in South Asia.
Second, the majority of South Asian and South East Asian countries have always had very close relationship with India, since last 7 thousand years or more. It was only during the vile British interference in this area that Europeans had the upper hand. After becoming independent, India has been helping in dismantling all British influence in the region. Chagos Archipelago is one of the last bastion of imperialism left in this area, which needs to be dismantled.
Third, India shares many similarities with other South Asian countries with regard to culture, language, religion and customs. India is not only the geographic and political hub, but also a cultural center in the region from time immemorial. Except for Islam, other religious cultures originated in India. Even Islam had come to India for the first time in most peaceful manner.
Against this backdrop, India’s “neighborhood first” policy does not refer to prioritizing ties with neighboring countries in its diplomatic agenda. Instead, it hopes other South Asian and South East Asian countries also reaffirm the “neighborhood first” as India and relations between all South Asian and South countries and countries should be stronger than ever.
Other Countries have also been foraging in this area since last few hundred years.The way they carried out their activities were not consistent. Initially they came in nothing much than petty traders and many a times more like opportunist pirates.
The British finally got thrown out but by that time had looted $ 71 trillion from India alone. Even in these times bullying is a tactic which is often used by them. USA and China and like other Europeans, have often meddled in the affairs of small and medium-sized neighboring countries. This has to stop.
