S Jaishankar, India’s external affairs minister, has recently expressed his views on China and its relations with India. In his book, The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World, and in his interviews, he has contrasted his approach with that of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, who had a more idealistic and optimistic vision of China. Jaishankar has also aligned his perspective with that of Narendra Modi, India’s current prime minister, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first deputy prime minister, who had a more realistic and pragmatic outlook on China.
Nehru’s Romanticism vs Jaishankar’s Realism
Nehru, who was a leader of the Indian independence movement and a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi, had a deep admiration and affinity for China and its culture. He believed that India and China shared a common history and destiny, and that they could cooperate and coexist peacefully in Asia and the world. He advocated for the Panchsheel, or the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, as the basis of the bilateral relationship. He also supported China’s admission to the United Nations and its claim over Tibet.
However, Nehru’s romanticism was shattered by the 1962 Sino-Indian War, which was triggered by a border dispute and China’s aggression. The war resulted in a humiliating defeat for India and a lasting trauma for Nehru, who died two years later. The war also created a deep distrust and hostility between the two countries, which persists to this day.
Jaishankar, who is a career diplomat and a former foreign secretary, has a more realistic and nuanced view of China and its intentions. He acknowledges that China is a rising power and a strategic competitor, but also a potential partner and a neighbor. He argues that India and China have to manage their differences and find a modus vivendi, or a way of living together, without compromising their core interests and values. He also asserts that India has to balance its engagement with China with its alignment with other like-minded countries, such as the US, Japan, and Australia.
Modi’s and Patel’s Pragmatism vs Nehru’s Idealism
Jaishankar’s view of China is also in sync with that of Modi and Patel, who had a more pragmatic and cautious approach to China than Nehru. Modi, who is a nationalist and a populist leader, has pursued a dual policy of engaging and containing China. He has tried to improve the economic and cultural ties with China, but also to strengthen the defense and security cooperation with the US and its allies. He has also stood up to China’s assertiveness and expansionism, especially in the border areas and the Indian Ocean region.
Patel, who was a statesman and a freedom fighter, had a similar stance on China. He was skeptical of Nehru’s idealism and warned him of China’s ambitions and designs. He also advocated for a strong and united India, and a robust and independent foreign policy. He was instrumental in integrating the princely states into the Indian Union, and in resisting Pakistan’s aggression in Kashmir. He also foresaw the threat of China’s occupation of Tibet, and urged Nehru to take a firm and clear stand on the issue.
Conclusion
Jaishankar’s China view reflects a shift from Nehru’s romanticism to Modi’s and Patel’s pragmatism. He recognizes the challenges and opportunities that China poses for India, and advocates for a realistic and balanced strategy to deal with them. He also emphasizes the need for India to enhance its capabilities and leverage its partnerships, in order to safeguard its interests and values in a changing world.
