By Dr. Sawraj Singh

          Since independence, there have been two pillars of India's domestic and foreign policies: Secularism and Nonalignment. However, now India seems to be retreating from both of these. The main reason for this phenomenon is that the BJP feels that these policies were started by the Congress party under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India; and these policies have outlived their usefulness and have now become a liability from an asset for India. The BJP seems to feel that secularism has worked against the interests of the Hindu majority and has prevented the Hindus from fully asserting their religious identity. Similarly, the policy of nonalignment has prevented India from aligning with America and stopping China from becoming a superpower and the dominant power in the region. Therefore, the BJP seems to have decided to abandon both Secularism and Nonalignment.                                                                                                                                                                                    

                I feel that secularism and nonalignment are not policies of a particular party, they are the policies most compatible with the ground realities of India. Pluralism is the hallmark of the Indian society that is culturally and religiously a very diverse society. Moreover, unlike other religions, pluralism is the essence of the Hindu religion. India can only stay united if we follow the concept of Unity in Diversity. We should also differentiate between the western and the eastern concepts of secularism. The western secularism is anti religious. However, the eastern secularism is based upon respecting all religions. The problem of the Indian secularists has been that they have failed to differentiate between the western and the eastern concepts of secularism and they have generally followed the western concepts.                                                                                                                                                                                    

                Non alignment can also be considered an extension of secular policies. Besides not joining any country or group of countries in an alliance, it also means respecting different systems and values of different countries and no country tries to impose its system or values on the others. Relations between the countries are based upon equality and mutual respect, and no country tries to interfere in the internal affairs of the other countries. These principles are relevant even today and cannot become irrelevant. Another argument to abandon this policy is that India needs to check China's growing influence in the region by allying with America. Still another argument is that India can gain from the America-China rivalry . For example, the American corporations leaving China can move to India.

                However, all these arguments are ignoring the bigger picture of the shifting of power balance in the world. Generally, the Indian media is giving the impression that America is succeeding in isolating China and by sending its air craft carriers, America has cornered China. When we closely look at the global and the regional scenarios, then we get a very different impression. There is a general perception in the world that overall, America is losing influence and China is gaining influence. China does not seem to be isolated in the world or in the region.                                                                                                                           

                Russia has made it quite clear that in case America starts a war in the South China Sea, it will open another front in Europe. China's new deal with Iran can lead to a realignment of the countries of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries) and an eventual split with the weakening of Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states that are leaning toward America. Countries like Iran, Pakistan and Turkey may be able to line up the majority of the countries of the OIC against these countries. In the case of a war in the South China region, countries like Iran and Turkey may open a third front in the Middle East. Therefore, America may have to fight three wars at the same time. The traditional European allies like Germany and France have made it clear that they are unwilling to join in a war against China.       

                 America has suffered a major setback in the South East Asian region. America had hoped that it will be able to line up the countries such as Vietnam and other ASEAN countries that have a conflict with China over the sovereignty over the Islands in the South China Sea. However, these countries have made it clear that they would like to stay neutral if a war starts between America and China. China has become the largest consumer market in the world. Whereas the economies of most of the countries have shrunk due to corona pandemic, China's economy grew 3.2%. This gives China a big economic clout that prevents many countries to take an anti China stand.                                                                  

                 We can look at India's immediate neighbors and get the feeling that most of the countries are leaning toward China and their relations with India are showing strains. Pakistan has been in China's camp for a while. Now we can see the same trend in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. All these countries are showing the signs of long term economic integration with China.                                                                                 

                  It seems that by aligning with America, instead of isolating and containing China, India itself is facing isolation among its neighbors. We have also not seen any tangible economical benefits yet. India should seriously reconsider the policy of abandoning nonalignment and joining the American camp. I feel that India will realize that its traditional policies of secularism and non alignment are still its best bet.     

Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at sawrajsingh@hotmail.com.