S Jaishankar on India's historical foreign policy: Patel warned Nehru against China, it was a 'bubble'
S Jaishankar on March 20 called former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's foreign policy stance towards China a "bubble". Speaking at the News18 'Rising Bharat Summit 2024', Jaishankar was critical of early India's foreign policy direction under then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. "This is a bubble we have created.
In the earlier years, it was very much a Nehruvian ideological bubble. Nehru was against America, so everybody was against America. Nehru says China is a great friend, everybody says China is a great friend.
Even today you have a concept called Chindia," he said. Speaking about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's caution to Nehru with regards to China, Jaishankar said the 'Iron Man of India' was sceptical. "Patel put in writing: 'The intentions of China cannot be taken in a positive way.
There is much that we have to apprehend', adding that the then deputy PM did not have a "rosy picture" of India's relations with its northern neighbour. Jaishankar added that Nehru's response was "I cannot conceive that anybody could undertake a wild adventure across the Himalayas", adding that this is exactly what China did in 1962. "So, if Jaishankar in 2024 says they got it wrong you're question is very valid.
It's not Jaishankar who's saying it, it's Patel saying it on China. It is Syama Prasad Mukherjee (India's first Minister for Industry and Supply) saying it on Pakistan. It is BR Ambedkar (India's first Minister for Law and Justice) who said, 'Why are you alienating the Americans?'" "We were alienating the Americans on behalf of China.
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