Third Decade of

Independence
(1967–1977)

Indian Foreign Policy

 POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

1. 1967 Fourth General Elections & Rise of Regional Parties

• Congress, led by Indira Gandhi, lost its dominance in many states.
• Regional parties gained power in multiple states, leading to coalition governments.
• This marked the beginning of the decline of the Congress party’s monopoly.

Split in Congress (1969)

• A power struggle between Indira Gandhi and senior Congress leaders led to a split:
• Congress (O) (Old Congress – led by traditional leaders like Morarji Desai).
• Congress (R) (Requisitionists – led by Indira Gandhi, which later became Congress (I)).
• Indira Gandhi strengthened her control over Indian politics.

2. 1971 General Elections – "Garibi Hatao" Slogan

• Indira Gandhi’s "Garibi Hatao" (Remove Poverty) campaign led Congress to a landslide victory.
• She pushed for pro-poor socialist policies like nationalization of 14 Private Banks including the Punjab National Bank, Union
Bank of India, Canara Bank etc. Objectives :
(i) Increased Rural Banking – More branches in villages and small towns.
(ii) Priority Sector Lending – Loans for agriculture, small businesses, and weaker sections.
(iii) Reduced Monopoly of Private Banks – Banking became a tool for national development.
3. 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
• India, under Indira Gandhi, supported the Bangladesh Liberation movement.
• War with Pakistan (Dec 3-16, 1971) led to the creation of Bangladesh.
• Shimla Agreement (1972) was signed between Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

4. Emergency (1975-77)
• On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency due to political unrest.
• Civil liberties were suspended, opposition leaders were jailed, and press censorship was imposed.
• Forced sterilization campaigns and slum demolitions led to public anger.

Factors that led to Emergency :

a) Growing Opposition Movement: The opposition, led by figures like Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, Morarji Desai, and others, launched a nationwide movement against Indira Gandhi’s government,
accusing it of corruption, authoritarianism, and economic mismanagement.

b) Allahabad High Court Verdict (June 12, 1975): The court found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices
in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections and disqualified her as an MP, ordering fresh elections in her constituency (Rae
Bareli).
c) High Inflation: Due to the oil price shock of 1973 and government policies, inflation reached nearly 30%.
d) Unemployment and Poverty: Economic mismanagement, stagnation, and failed government programs led to
widespread discontent.
e) JP Movement’s "Total Revolution" Call: Jayaprakash Narayan urged police and military personnel to disobey
"illegal" orders from the government, which was seen as a direct challenge to the state’s authority.

5. 1977 General Elections – Congress Defeat

• The Janata Party, a coalition of anti-Indira Gandhi forces, won the elections.
• Morarji Desai became India’s first non-Congress Prime Minister.

Economic Developments ( 1967-77)

1. Green Revolution (Late 1960s – 1970s)

• Led by M.S. Swaminathan, India became self-sufficient in food grains.
• High-yield seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation improved agricultural output, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and
Uttar Pradesh.
2. Nationalization of Banks (1969)
• 14 major private banks were nationalized by Indira Gandhi to boost rural lending and poverty
alleviation.

Social & Cultural Developments

Naxalite Movement (1967 Onward)

• A left-wing Maoist rebellion started in Naxalbari, West Bengal, spreading to other states.
• The movement was suppressed by the government but remained active in parts of India.

JP Movement (1974-75)
• Led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), the movement called for "Total Revolution" against corruption
and misgovernance.
• It gained massive youth support and led to protests against Indira Gandhi’s government.
Forced Sterilization Drive (1975-76)
• Under Sanjay Gandhi’s directive, millions of men were forcibly sterilized as a population control
measure.
• This created massive resentment and was one of the reasons for Congress’ defeat in 1977.

Scientific & Technological Advancements

• Pokhran-I (1974) – India’s First Nuclear Test

• May 18, 1974 – India conducted its first nuclear test, "Smiling Buddha (a fission bomb)," Rajasthan.
• This made India a nuclear-capable nation despite international criticism.
• Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, was launched in 1975 with Soviet assistance.
 GLOBAL EVENTS

1. Vietnam War Escalation & End (1967-1975)

• Tet Offensive (1968): North Vietnamese forces launched a major attack against U.S. troops in
South Vietnam, shifting public opinion against the war.
• Paris Peace Accords (1973): U.S. withdrew from Vietnam, ending direct involvement.
• Fall of Saigon (April 30, 1975): North Vietnam captured Saigon, marking the end of the
Vietnam War and unifying Vietnam under communist rule.

2. Six-Day War (1967) & Yom Kippur War (1973)

• The U.S. backed Israel, while the Soviet Union supported Arab nations (Egypt, Syria,
Jordan).
• 1973 Yom Kippur War led to increased Cold War tensions, as the U.S. and USSR nearly
clashed over the conflict.
Bangladesh Liberation War (1971)
• India (backed by Soviet Union) supported East Pakistan (Bangladesh) independence from West
Pakistan.
• U.S. and China supported Pakistan, creating further Cold War divisions.

2. U.S.-Soviet Diplomatic & Military Rivalry

• Nuclear Arms Race & Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I) (1969-1972)
• SALT I Treaty (May 26, 1972) signed by U.S. President Richard Nixon & Soviet Leader Leonid
Brezhnev limited nuclear weapons stockpiles.
• Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty prevented both countries from developing defense shields.

U.S.-China Rapprochement (1971-72)

• Ping-Pong Diplomacy (1971): U.S. and China eased tensions through sports diplomacy.
• Nixon Visits China (Feb 21-28, 1972): The U.S. officially recognized the People’s Republic of China,
isolating the USSR.
Watergate Scandal & Nixon’s Resignation (1974)
• Richard Nixon resigned (Aug 8, 1974), weakening U.S. influence in the Cold War.
• The Watergate scandal refers - illegal wiretapping of the headquarters of the Democratic National
Committee, in the Watergate complex by members of President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign,
and the subsequent cover-up of the break-in resulting in Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974

3. Cold War Space Race & Scientific Achievements

Apollo 11 Moon Landing (July 20, 1969)

• U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon, a
major Cold War victory for the U.S. over the USSR.

Soviet Space Progress

• 1971: The USSR launched Salyut 1, the first space station.
• Apollo-Soyuz Mission (1975): First U.S.-Soviet joint space mission, signalling a thaw in relations.
 INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY (1967-1977)

1. Non-Alignment with Greater Strategic Autonomy - period saw a more realpolitik-driven approach, balancing
relations with both the United States and the Soviet Union.

2. Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation (1971):

• a landmark agreement that deepened India's strategic and economic ties with the USSR.
• Soviet Union provided military and diplomatic support to India, especially during the Bangladesh Liberation War
• The treaty had a direct impact on the decisive battle between India and Pakistan in the eastern war theatre.
• The treaty expedited the Bangladesh War of Independence and brought about the surrender of 93,000 Pakistan
forces on December 16, 1971.
• The Indo-Soviet treaty was later adopted as India-Bangladesh Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 1972.

3. Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) :

Key events :
• Following the first-ever free, fair and credible elections in Pakistan in 1970, Pakistan’s head of state, General Yahya
Khan, was utterly dissatisfied with the large victory of the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• However, the ruling elite in West Pakistan, led by President Yahya Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, refused to
transfer power to Sheikh Mujib, despite his clear electoral mandate.
• The refusal to recognise the election results fuelled widespread resentment in East Pakistan.

Cultural and Linguistic Suppression

• The imposition of Urdu as the sole national language in 1948 was strongly opposed by Bengali-speaking
people.
• The Bengali Language Movement (1952) became a symbol of resistance against West Pakistani domination.

Operation Searchlight and Mass Atrocities

• Pakistan military unleashed a reign of terror under “Operation Searchlight” at midnight on March 25, 1971,
committing genocide with the intent to cleanse the land of Bangali and Hindu populations, who were deemed
as enemies of Pakistan and Islam.
• Pakistan’s General Yahya Khan had said that “if India made any attempt to seize any part of East Pakistan, he
would declare war and Pakistan would not be alone”. Well, former United States Secretary of State Henry A
Kissinger’s surprise visit to Beijing in July 1971 was indeed a morale boost for Pakistan.
• On the other hand, it was frustrating for India as it felt diplomatically humbled and strategically isolated.
• India could see the US-China-Pakistan axis as an emerging threat to regional geopolitical interests.
• China committed unqualified support to its “all-weather” friend Pakistan against India to stop interference
in the domestic affairs of Pakistan.
• During the parley between Kissinger and China’s Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, Beijing indicated that if war
breaks out between India and Pakistan over Bangladesh, China would make military intervention against India
on behalf of Islamabad.
• The US sympathised with Pakistan for obvious reasons. The US believed a victory for India would be
considered as an expansion of Soviet hegemony in South Asia.
• In this backdrop, Delhi and Moscow moved closer to ink the historic treaty to neutralise the emerging
Washington-Beijing–Islamabad axis and defend their vital geopolitical interests.
5. Refugee Crisis and India’s Involvement
• The violence and military crackdown led to millions of Bengali refugees fleeing to India (around 10 million
people).
• This created a severe humanitarian crisis, putting pressure on India's economy and security.
• India, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, decided to support the Bengali nationalist movement and
provided military, financial, and diplomatic support to the Mukti Bahini (Bangladeshi resistance
Creation of Bangladesh as an Independent Nation
• The most significant outcome was the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country on December 16,
1971.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the first Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Indo-Pakistan Relations and the Simla Agreement (1972)

• The war further strained India-Pakistan relations, leading to increased hostilities.
• In 1972, the Simla Agreement was signed, establishing that future disputes would be resolved through bilateral
negotiations rather than international intervention.

Geopolitical Shift in South Asia

• Pakistan suffered a major strategic and territorial loss, reducing its geopolitical influence in South Asia.
• India emerged as the dominant regional power, gaining international recognition for its military and diplomatic
efforts.
• The war solidified Indo-Soviet relations, while U.S.-India relations remained strained due to American support
for Pakistan.
The Signing of the Treaty
• On August 9, 1971, India and the Soviet Union signed the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and
Cooperation in Moscow.
• The treaty included military, economic, and diplomatic provisions, ensuring Soviet support to India in case of
external aggression.
• It provided India with a strategic deterrence against U.S. and Chinese threats during the impending Bangladesh
war.

NOTE:
Sheikh Hasina's Rival Party: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
• The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is the main rival of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL). The two
parties have dominated Bangladesh's political landscape for decades, often engaging in intense political rivalries.
Formation and Ideology of BNP
• Founded: 1978 by General Ziaur Rahman, Center-right, nationalist, pro-businessa former military ruler and the
husband of Khaleda Zia.
• Ideology:, and traditionally seen as more conservative and pro-Islamic compared to the Awami League.
• Support Base: The BNP has historically drawn support from business elites, conservative voters, and some
rural areas.