Trace the glimpses of ‘Arthashastra’ in Indian Foreign policy.

 There has been a visible impact of Kautilyan thought on evolution of independent India’s foreign policy, although it has been a slow and gradual process. There has been an eclectic mix of idealism and realism in India’s foreign policy. India’s first Prime Minister, J L Nehru followed an idealist foreign policy with emphasis on themes like anti-colonialism, disarmament, non-alignment, Panchsheel etc. However, he followed a realist policy in India’s neighbourhood where he sought to project India as the main power in Indian subcontinent. The realist turn started in India’s foreign policy after the 1962 war with China. In 1971, under PM Indira Gandhi, India exercised wit and finesse by signing a Treaty of Friendship with the erstwhile Soviet Union to safeguard its sovereignty against the US-ChinaPakistan nexus and India successfully helped in bifurcation of Pakistan as an independent state of Bangladesh was born. India began to understand the value of military power in international politics and India’s acquired nuclear power in 1998. A state that does not back its diplomacy with military and economic power cannot protect its national interest. To increase its influence at the global level, India wants to be a permanent member of UN Security Council. India’s strategic partners like the US, France, Germany, Russia etc have been instrumental in getting India membership in three export control regimes except Nuclear Suppliers Group. China’s rise is a foreign policy challenge for India and New Delhi is building its defence capabilities keeping in mind the long-term threat posed by Beijing to India’s security. India takes pride in its civilisation and cultural heritage reflected in its multicultural and inclusive ethos. China, on the other hand, is driven by Middle Kingdom mentality to dominate the world. India is standing up against China and to do so in future, New Delhi will require substantial hard power to deter China. Some of India’s relations can be understood using Kautilyan thought. His famous saying that an enemy of my enemy is a friend is applicable to China-Pakistan relationship as both the nations see India as a common enemy. Since China is an enemy of India and Pakistan sees India as an enemy, hence, Pakistan has cultivated an all weather relationship with China. During the Cold War, China remained India’s adversary and the former Soviet Union became an enemy of China, hence, India and Soviet Union came closer. India’s membership in new groupings like the Quadrilateral Security Group or Quad is an attempt to balance China and alliance against a common enemy as was suggested by Kautilya.

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