Influence of Mahatma Gandhi on India’s Foreign Policy

The key elements of Gandhi’s philosophy included ideals of truth, nonviolence, tolerance and Idealism mixed with notion of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam. All these elements continue to inspire India’s foreign policy even today. Some of the key features unquestionably inspired by Gandhi were:

• Right to follow an independent foreign policy {Non-alignment}
• Deciding foreign policy issues on merit
• Moral, diplomatic and economic support for the struggle against colonialism, racialism and apartheid;
• Non-violence and the quest for nuclear disarmament; and
• India’s role as an international peacemaker.

Elements of Gandhi’s philosophy helped India to gain rare moral clarity and courage on world issues. It also gave India an influence in world affairs out of proportion to its real economic and political strength and made it the leader of the developing countries.

However, the Indian Foreign Policy based on elements of Gandhi’s philosophy was considered as naive and idealistic, divorced from ground realities. India also made mistakes by following Gandhi-inspired foreign policy, for example these referral of the Kashmir issue to UN in 1948, the ‘bhai-bhai’ policy towards China and the missed opportunity to fully integrate Nepal it into the Indian security system.