THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Understanding the historicity of Russia-India relationship
Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Great visuals of #russian President #VladimirPutin in India are being seen with great ‘curiosity’ and ‘disappointment’ in the West, Europe in Particular. As #PutinVladimir landed in India and was accorded a grand welcome, #ukrainian and their supporters in the west started abusing India. Actually, this reflect little understanding of India as a nation and the historicity of #RussiaIndia relations.
#Russia and prior to that #ussr are not merely partners in India’s growth but have been a great influence on India’s journey after independene. A number of our freedom fighters actually found #Moscow, the place where they carried their activities when the British government was hunting them or wanting to kill them. Russia for India is an emotion, a nation that inspired each one here except the right wingers.
The Russia India friendship grew since #Nehru‘s time who categorically felt that the path to India’s progress is via #Socialism and #ScientificThinking. A majority of Indian freedom fighters including #NetajiSubhashChandraBose, #BhagatSingh were always inspired by the #Russian revolution. #periyar too was greatly influenced by the progress made by USSR. Dr Ambedkar too was impressed with Soviet model except its form of governance but the real strengthening of Soviet India Relationship happened during Mrs #IndiraGandhi‘s tenure. The rise of #Bangladesh, the #nationalisationofBanks, the focus on #publicsector and pro poor welfare state show the greater influence of #sovietunion on broader Indian psyche
But India’s policy shift started after 1980s though we saw #LeonidBrezhnev visiting #India and accorded the highest welcome. I still remember listening the live commentary on #AllIndiaRadio by #JasdevSingh on his arrival at the #Palamairport.
After the death of Indira Gandhi, the new India under #RajivGandhi was instrumental in giving this shift as he was praised by the #Westernmedia and #UnitedStates. Rajiv’s speech at the #USCongress was widely appreciated by all and President #Reagan wewlcomed him at the #whitehouse. Frankly speaking, Rajiv was echoging the sentiments of a large number of Non Resident Indians who have been living in the Western world for years. The opposition parties particularly the #JanSangh and later #BJP was not very comfortable with dependency on #Russia. After the demise of #USSR, a number of Indian experts particularly the #Lalamedia was enjoying this as a defeat of not merely USSR but also of #communism. Frankly speaking, all those who who disintegrated were too small a country at least in population size of #Delhi, except #ukraine. Indian leadership and #Baniamedia felt that it means disappearance of #Russia. They would discuss as if people were suffering in #Hunger in Russia, like that in #SubSaharan region or any other poor country. Russia’s image was created as if it is standing with a begging bowl to save itself. The Guptas, Sanghvis, Puris were impressed with the glamor of #london, #paris, #Rome and #Washington. Growing middle classes too jumped in and ‘investment’ became a big word.
In the meanwhile, Russia was just silently rebuilding. It did not had the pressure of taking care of all those ‘republics’ who now ceded from it. It was still world’s biggest country in size, almost five time bigger than India. It was not told to us that Russia has the biggest natural wealth in the world. The #rareearth and #energyresources needed by every one. It still has the largest #NuclearArsenal and one of the most effective and destructive #militaryhardware.
The image of #Russia in India was created by this media who were being paid heavily by the Western Media houses like #BBC, #CNN, #WashingtonPost, #NewYorkTimes. All these ‘experts’ get a tag of ‘global’ expert sitting on these places where they discuss about ‘us’ but they in their arrogance forgot the growing global realities.
The Western world was happy to see a weak Russia and despite categorical assurance of no eastward movement of #NATO, it continue to encircle Russia through engaging and involving more and more former Soviet Republics. Ukraine was the last straw in this regard which crossed the Russian Red line but the collective west felt that Russia cant do anything. The whole agenda was actually to slowly and silently destablise Russia and break it into pieces. The result was that President Putin ordered a Special Military Operation in February 24, 2022. The Russian might have thought that they would finish the entire thing in a couple of days and they succeeded in encircling Kyiv but suddenly withdrew and returned to bring Ukraine at the negotiating table at Istanbul. It was clear that an agreement between Russia and Ukraine was reached there but a sudden trip of Boris Johnson, the then Prime Minister of UK, to Kyiv, ensured that Ukraine withdrew from it unilaterely. The British prime minister was the real villain in this peace accord as he realised that Ukraine would return to its old big brother, Russia. Geopolitics of the former imperialists felt that Russia should not have good relations with its former ‘cousins’ as they could be used to create disturbances and unrest inside Russia. A powerful Russia is the biggest threat for the military industrial complex led global imperialists who intervene everywhere they wish in the name of ‘democracy’, ‘human rights’ and everything. The western backers of Ukraine thought that they will demolish Russia by pumping their money and weapons in Ukraine but to their dismay Ukraine has lost a large part so far, its front lines are crumbling as per reports and if its forces do not surrender then it might allow the Russian to capture even Kyiv though Russians have categorically said that they are not interested in annexing Ukraine but they want to protect the interest of Russian speaking people, their language and culture. The change of government in US created this atmosphere of a possible pact with Russia which so far has not succeeded simply because European leaders are determined not to allow this peace deal without their involvment. Frankly, it is the money invested by Americans and Europeans corporations that is causing concern. Americans know it well that the more it delay the peace deal, the bigger are the chance of them losing their ‘invested money’. Europe feel that they had higher stakes as they invested more and all of them know it well that if Russia win then they will lose everything. So, this Ukraine war is not merely between Russia and Ukraine but between NATO and Russia in which big coprations are involved since the beginning and any deal between Russia and America is going to leave European corporations and govermments high and dry.
The Ukraine war might have created issues for Russia but it also made them realise that their country face an existential threat from the West and that Putin is bringing their confidence back and making Russia great again. Attempt to isolate Russia have failed as because the corporate led imperialist agenda have got exposed everywhere. Africa, Latin America and Asia have virtually revolted against this bullying politics emerging from the West and Russia is seen as a country standing proudly against these manipulating forces.
#RussiaUkraine conflict actually exposed the entire western propaganda in this regard. The language of arrogance by the #European and #American leaders against Russia was unprecedented. They would use as if #VladimirPutin is some kind of a street person. The countries smaller population size of that of a street of Delhi, were being given charge to mock and abuse at Russia. This is what European Union is still doing by giving importance to those bureacrats from #baltik and former #sovietrepubic and mock at Russia. Can you imagine when the #EU official were suggesting that Russia cant repair its refrigerators leave alone aircrafts. Everyday, they were imagining collapse of Russia either economically or politically. That has not happened and Russia grew stronger and stronger. As Europe face its own economic crisis and Americans too face the crisis at home, it was #DolandTrump and his team which realised that they need to talk to Russia to create a stable world order but by that time the champions of #MilitaryIndustrialComplex who seems to ready for war with Russia for thousands of year without realising that in such a situation, none of us would be there to witness the outcome of it.
The hatred for #Russia comes from its success story and a rival power centre. The West actually promoted #China to counter #Russia but even when China has immense economic power, it is still not that powerful as Russia in terms of global influence and military, nuclear and space technologies where Russia has very few rivals.
The world would have been in a deeply difficult situation if a powerful Russia was not there. The shamelessness of the Western elite to control the rest of the world through their neo colonial ways of economic and military control got exposed and a rival in Russia acted as a balance of power. Russia was demoralised in 1991 but it has risen again under Vladimir Putin who can be termed as a leader of century. Today, due to this power balance, #Multipolarity is rising with countries like #China, #India, #brazil have risen and other countries too are joining and enjoying their true soverinity. Already, #African countries have revolted against dominance of #France.
The rise of #Russia is a lesson for all. A superpower like Russia does not disappear just because you want it to be. It will remain. It has its own method of working things and its economy is not purely based on speculative stock exchange though it want good relations with the West.
The global issues will settle if the Western World stop thinking about others as their colonies. They had their empires and we respect that but times have changed. The new partnership will be based on equality. Second, the Europeans must come out of breaking Russia syndrome. This hatred must go and it will be good for all of us. Russia and Europe must sit together to resolve all their issues. The US can play a role in it but as long as the Europe want to keep the war going in Ukraine, they will only provide Russia to annex more places.
For Indian media, they must come out of their arrogant attitude. Putin’s visit to India was a big news but dont reduce it to personal gossips of how he eat, his wife, children, his toilet, his vehicle and such things. One of India’s leading channel got an opportunity to speak to Vladimir Putin but it send two juvenile reporters to speak to him. You need a big understanding and study to interview a person like Vladmir Putin but instead they are asking him, ‘ who is the best prime minister of India’, or which is the greatest ‘intellegence system’ or ‘what are his views on Donald Trump’ or what about writing a memoir’ ? Frankly speaking, despite all that, one can see the huge difference between his responses and that of the Western leader. Vladimir Putin comes out a well read, seasoned and reasoned political leader who speak with great clarity and does not provide ‘character certificate’ to rival leaders of the world. That was a classic.
Long back, I was reading a fascinating account of interview done by a French journalist to that of #FidelCastro, the #Cuban revolutionary leader. The journalist wrote in his introduction that he knew #Castro was well read and that is why he researched on all aspect of his speeches and it took nearly six month to do all the research that got him prepared to speak to Castro which finally came out as a lengthy book. It is not easy to interview leaders particularly those who are well versed with governance and have strong ideological understanding.
Vladimir Putin has brought Russia back to international stage along with the idea of multipolarity which will be good for all. All countries are looking for their own interests and India should also do the same but it need stronger partners too. A true India Russia relationship will be a win win situation for both the countries.
