Concept of Leadership: Nehru the Peacemaker

Event Details

Ambassador Kaul, the former Indian Ambassador to Iran, the Soviet Union, and America gives a forum on Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He argues that Nehru's role as a peaceful political activist was strongly aroused by his understanding of Marxism. Ambassador Kaul discusses Nehru's relationship with Gandhi touching on both their aggrements in political protest and their dissaggrements in India's path to development. He explains how Nehru adhered far more to Gandh's ideals after the latter's death. In particular, Kaul emphasizes the policy of non-alignment and India's role in various international crises including the Indo-China War, the Suez Crisis, and the Congo Crisis. Furthermore, he credits Pundit Nehru with taking an active role in decolonization throughout the world. Additionally, Ambassador Kaul commends Nehru's call for nuclear disarmament in 1954, and reluctance to the testing of India's nuclear weapons early on. Next he moves to discussing Nehru's relationship with America in which he avoided all aid that would be binding. The American Military Aid supplied by President Eisenhower to Pakistan strained relations between the two countries. Next he discusses Indo-Chinese relations, the war of 1962 between both powers and the subsequent Indian defeat. He explains how relations were never severed with either China or Pakistan and national chuevanism was avoided. He also notes that Nehru dealt with the Kashmiri conflict with political skill and sought out a peaceful solution via the United Nations and through friendship, non-aggression, commerce and other treaties with Pakistan. The issue of Goa, Kaul notes, was also dealt by Nehru calmly, peacefully but also resolutly. He exlains that only when Portogal consistantly refused did Nehru resort to forceful action. He speculates that the current threat of thermo-nuclear war might be avoided if Nehru's ideals were adhered to throughout the world. He concludes that Nehru's greatness lies within the democratic and peaceful legacy he has left. During the questioning sesson he adress the Sikh sepratism in Punjab, nuclear reduction, and religious conservatism in India.