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By Inder Jit<\/strong><\/p>\n (Released on 12 November 1985)<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n India has won several new friends among the top world leaders and greater credibility and influence, thanks to Mr Rajiv Gandhi\u2019s recent two week visit of six nations. Important links have been forged, fresh meaningful equations struck and old relationships consolidated at CHOGM in Nassau and at the UN in New York \u2014 as also during the bilateral official visits to Britain, Cuba and the Netherlands. (I have already written about the closer friendship with the Soviet Union last week.) Praise for a Prime Minister tends to be generally misunderstood at any time in a country basically rooted in feudal culture and ethos. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Mr Rajiv Gandhi made a great impact at Nassau, New York, London, Havana and the Hague, giving me and others accompanying him on the tour a sense of pride in India and its leader. His handsome looks and geniality made him an instant hit. His sincerity and statesmanship easily earned him friends. Indeed, he proved to be at CHOGM what Dr Shridath Ramphal had predicted earlier in New Delhi: \u201cThe star of the show\u201d.<\/p>\n Some of the top Commonwealth leaders whom I had occasion to meet at Nassau spoke warmly about Mr Gandhi on their own. Compliments paid by two summiteers deserve to be recalled initially \u2014 one from the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Brian Mulroney, and the other from the President of Bangladesh, Gen H.M. Ershad. When I asked Mr Mulroney about the secret of successfully persuading Mrs Margaret Thatcher to go along with them on the Accord on South Africa, he replied: \u201cSimple. I was working with your Prime Minister. He is very good. We were bound to succeed.\u201d I also spoke to President Ershad after India and Bangladesh had signed the fresh accord on the Ganga waters at Nassau and asked him how he felt? He replied: \u201cVery happy\u201d. And then after a brief pause, he said: \u201cSee, my prediction has come true.\u201d A little puzzled, I asked: \u201cWhich prediction?\u201d He smiled and replied: \u201cRemember, my talk with you the other day at the Secretary-General\u2019s reception for meeting friends of the media. I then told you: \u201cRajiv Gandhi is a man of vision. He has proved me right with this new agreement!\u201d<\/p>\n President Fidel Castro went into raptures over Mr Gandhi after driving him around attractive Havana and spending eight hours together. At a lavish reception hosted by him in the beautiful air-conditioned reception hall of the Foreign Ministry, Mr Castro described the Prime Minister not only as an \u201cexcellent person\u201d, but said: \u201cHe has an open mind. He is noble, very humble, very honest and very intelligent… He has clarity and talent and human qualities… I knew his grandfather Nehru and his mother Indira Gandhi well. I speak the truth. I never lie…\u201d At New York, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mr Premadasa who has been a hawk vis-a-vis India in the past, went on record to say that Mr Gandhi had made a \u201cbig impression\u201d on him and added: \u201cI see a new phase in Sri Lanka\u2019s relationship with India\u201d. Unexpected praise also came to Mr Gandhi from Gen Zia days after the former had publicly questioned the sincerity of the General\u2019s assurance on Pakistan\u2019s nuclear programme. Addressing the Press in Cairo on November 5, Pakistan\u2019s President described the Prime Minister as a \u201cforthright and honest statesman\u201d.<\/p>\n Of great importance was the friendly equation struck between Mr. Gandhi and the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Zhao Ziyang, at their hour-long meeting in New York. The meeting was marked by cordiality and candour. Mr. Zhao pleasantly surprised Mr Gandhi by warmly announcing in so many words: \u201cI bring to you Mr Prime Minister from our Politbureau an important message. The Politbureau looks forward to reviving the old and traditional friendship with India and resolving all outstanding problems between our two countries in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation.\u201d Mr Gandhi appropriately responded and, before long, both agreed to a discussion of the substantive border issue at a high non-official level at a later date in the best pragmatic interest of a settlement. Both recognised that officials had necessarily to function within certain constraints and could not bring about a solution requiring a political decision. (Significantly, President Reagan told Mr Gandhi in New York that top Chinese leadership had told Vice-President Bush during his visit to Beijing of their keen desire for friendship with India).<\/p>\n Not only that. Nassau and more especially the week-end retreat at Lyford Cay, an exclusive millionaire\u2019s resort, saw Mr Gandhi, Mr Mulroney, Mr Robert Hawke of Australia, Mr Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Dr Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia develop close friendship and a spirit of camaraderie and informally address each other by their first names. This group not only played a crucial role in successfully corralling Mrs Margaret Thatcher on South Africa but laid the foundations for closer cooperation in the future on crucial global issues concerning both disarmament and economic order as \u201ca ginger group\u201d. In fact, Mr Gandhi told me on the flight back from Moscow that he looks forward to building \u201ca closer working relationship with both Brian Mulroney and Bob Hawke as also with the other leaders.\u201d (Mr Gandhi accepted at Nassau, Mr Hawke\u2019s invitation to visit Australia some time in February) Importantly, Mr Gandhi also told me that his meeting with the Chinese Prime Minister was \u201cmost positive\u201d among his many meetings in New York.<\/p>\n \n Some of Mr Gandhi’s critics have accused him of pursuing global fame and ignoring basic issues. The truth, however, is that encomiums came his way on the tour because he did not subordinate fundamental issues and spoke without fear or favour. At CHOGM’s inaugural function, he spoke briefly but went straight to the heart of the matter: “We have today three principal concerns the challenge of world poverty, the avoidance of nuclear war and the elimination of racialism.”<\/em><\/p>\n \n Some of Mr Gandhi\u2019s critics have accused him of pursuing global fame and ignoring basic issues. The truth, however, is that encomiums came his way on the tour because he did not subordinate fundamental issues and spoke without fear or favour. At CHOGM\u2019s inaugural function, he spoke briefly but went straight to the heart of the matter: \u201cWe have today three principal concerns the challenge of world poverty, the avoidance of nuclear war and the elimination of racialism.\u201d He then concentrated on apartheid and said: \u201cLet not the Commonwealth be charged with cowardice in action and bravery in words. The Nassau CHOGM must demand comprehensive and mandatory sanctions. The question cannot be deferred…\u201d Mr Gandhi\u2019s speech set the tone \u2014 and the goal. At Lyford Cay, which incidentally provided the backdrop for some scenes of the James Bond film, Thunderball, Mr Gandhi went into quiet action and, together with Mr Mulroney, Mr Hawke, Mr Mugabe and Dr Kaunda, eventually corralled Mrs Thatcher. Mr. Gandhi\u2019s Villa 18 became the centre of activity during the retreat. Callers included none other than Mrs Thatcher herself.<\/p>\n \n Mr Gandhi appears clear about what India needs to do to secure results. New Delhi has already taken the initiative to form a six-nation group comprising Argentina, Mexico, Greece, Tanzania, Sweden and India to persuade the super-powers to cry a halt to the insane arms race. Now he proposes to try and enlarge the area of active cooperation and form an effective ginger group of middle powers.<\/em><\/p>\n \n Britain\u2019s Iron Lady put up a hard fight. Eventually, she yielded as she faced total isolation when Swaziland, a known supporter, kept discreetly \u201cmum\u201d and Singapore\u2019s Mr Lee Kuan Yew forcefully told Mrs Thatcher: \u201cThis cannot go on. This cannot go on.\u201d Curiously, some in India have chosen to accept Mrs Thatcher\u2019s claim that she had yielded only \u201cjust a wee bit\u201d. They ignore overwhelming reality, as summed up by New Zealand\u2019s Prime Minister, Mr David Lange, who said \u201cMrs Thatcher has made significant concessions.\u201d True the Accord does not use the word sanctions. But, as Mr Lange put it brilliantly: \u201cOne man\u2019s sanctions are another, or if you like, measures!\u201d The truth is Mrs Thatcher was forced to start going down a road on the South African issue which she would not have considered going a few months ago. Undoubtedly, the series of measures which are proposed to be taken if no progress is made in six months are voluntary. Nevertheless, one fact stands out. Mrs Thatcher has put Britain\u2019s name to it. This, as a leading British commentator remarked at Nassau, is a \u201cpsychological breakthrough\u201d.<\/p>\n Mr Gandhi seems determined to see India do its best to pull the world back from the brink of economic disorder and nuclear disaster. Great urgency was lent to his efforts and those of the other Commonwealth leaders at Nassau by the thought-provoking report on the global scene by Mr Ramphal entitled: \u201cA Testing Time\u201d. (Sub-Saharan African countries, according to the report, are likely to be paying the IMF one billion dollars more than they receive in the next three years.) Mr Robert MoNamara, former World Bank chief, has since warmed that the international community must prepare itself for \u201ca scenario of suffering, starvation and economic collapse in Africa, beyond anything we have seen thus far if urgent steps are not taken to stem the danger.\u201d Mr Gandhi appears clear about what India needs to do to secure results. New Delhi has already taken the initiative to form a six-nation group comprising Argentina, Mexico, Greece, Tanzania, Sweden and India to persuade the super-powers to cry a halt to the insane arms race. Now he proposes to try and enlarge the area of active cooperation and form an effective ginger group of middle powers.<\/p>\n Happily, some other powers are also willing to join Mr Gandhi in his crusade. New Zealand and the Netherlands are two cases in point. Importantly, many of the nations today are represented by the new generation, which has an open mind and is unencumbered by ideological baggage and other hang-ups. India is not the only country with a young Prime Minister as the visit both to Nassau and New York showed. If Mr Gandhi is 41, Mr Mulroney is 46, Mr David Lange of New Zealand 43, Maj Gen Ibrahim Babangida of Nigeria 44 and F1 Lt Jerry Rawlings of Ghana 38. France, which was conspicuous by its absence from President Reagan\u2019s recent summit consultations in New York with the \u201cbig economic seven\u201d, has in Mr L. Fabius a Prime Minister who is barely 40. Mr Hawke of Australia is no doubt 54. Gen Ershad is 55. Both Mr Mugabe and Dr Kaunda are 60. But they are young in spirit and have the required zest to fight for their convictions. Mr Gandhi\u2019s forthcoming visit to Japan is part of the same exercise to persuade Mr Nakasone to extend his country\u2019s powerful support for a North-South dialogue and a new international economic order.<\/p>\n \n India’s image also soared by the rebuff given by Punjab to terrorism in the elections. Both Britain and Canada responded more than ever before to India’s demand for firmer action against terrorists during Mr. Gandhi’s visit to London and later in his talks with Mr Mulroney.<\/em><\/p>\n \n Finally, two things stand out. First, Mr Gandhi\u2019s debut in multi-lateral diplomacy turned out to be a personal triumph. Second, India is now seen not only as the world\u2019s largest democracy but also the most vibrant. There was admiration everywhere for the maturity with which India faced the crisis posed by Indira Gandhi\u2019s assassination \u2014 and the dynamism and statesmanship with which Mr Gandhi resolved the Punjab and Assam problems and is now giving a new thrust to the country\u2019s economy. (Bouquets especially came from members of the Commonwealth Press Union attending their biennial conference at Nassau, led by Lord Rothermere of the Daily Mail group and Sir Edward Pickering of The Times, London.) India\u2019s image also soared by the rebuff given by Punjab to terrorism in the elections. Both Britain and Canada responded more than ever before to India\u2019s demand for firmer action against terrorists during Mr. Gandhi\u2019s visit to London and later in his talks with Mr Mulroney. Much in regard to the global issues will now depend upon the follow up action. All in all, the visit was timely \u2014 and fruitful. \u2014 INFA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Inder Jit (Released on 12 November 1985) India has won several new friends among the top world leaders and greater credibility and influence, thanks to Mr Rajiv Gandhi\u2019s recent two week visit of six nations. Important links have been forged, fresh meaningful equations struck and old relationships consolidated at CHOGM in Nassau and at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-260278","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-features"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260278\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=260278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=260278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}