Monday 4 November 2013

The Non-aligned Movement

Points: The world divided between two super-powers — India and the non-aligned movement — The role of the non-aligned movement in the present world.

            The world is now divided, into two power blocs. One is led by U.S.A. and the other by U.S.S.R. America and Russia are two superpowers. Their rivalry causes anxiety. It may, we fear, lead to nuclear war, and total destruction of mankind.
            The non-aligned nations are a third force between the two power blocs. India, for example, does not belong to any power bloc. It is non-aligned. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the first spokesman of the non-aligned movement. Today more than one hundred nations are members of the non-aligned movement. Our Prime Minister is the present chairman of the Non-aligned Conference. The growing strength of the nonaligned nations is a great hope for mankind. It can keep off war and strengthen world peace. The nations freed from colonial rule are all joining the non-aligned group. For, they need peace for the reconstruction of their countries and for their rapid economic development.
            It is not correct to say that non-alignment means maintaining equidistance between the two super-Powers. During the Viet-Nam War, India was not last aloof, she condemned the America intervention.

            About Afghanistan, too, India does not support the presence of foreign troops indefinitely. The non-aligned nations take their stand judging each case on merit. The countries that are bound by military pacts like the NATO and the Warsaw Pact have no option. But the non aligned countries have their options. The non-aligned nations together command a great moral force in the world today.