How India's first Prime Minister, Nehru drifted India away from United States after Independence?

Post India's independence, US was ideologically inclined to develop close and strategic ties with India. US perceived India to be a natural partner since both the countries shared democratic values.

During the same phase, Mao Zedong, leader of CCP, took control of China in a military coup in 1949. This meant a drastic shift in China's political ideology in favor of Communism. Such transition wasn't acceptable to Americans, who then became desperate to expel China out of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and were willing to give this seat to India.

As a result, then US secretary of state, John Foster, made the offer of UNSC seat to Indian Ambassador, Vijay lakshmi Pandit. When the US offer was communicated to Nehru, he declined it terming it as a trap by Americans. Despite America's friendly overtures, Nehru remained adamant over allowing China to retain the UNSC seat, under the pretext that not doing so would hurt Chinese sentiments.

Apart from UNSC seat, US was willing to include India in its prestigious Marshall Plan which was a dedicated economic recovery package for the entire Europe and Japan after World War II. Acceptance of this offer would have propelled India into the league of developed nations within 10-15 years. However, Nehru declined this offer under the garb of Non-aligned movement, rather he chose to adopt Socialist economic model of five years plan.

Nehru failed to see US preference of India over China, which could have catapulted our country to world stage. On the contrary, he preferred to restrict India's role as that of a regional power in Asia. Nehru's reluctance to accept American friendship convinced US that India is most likely sitting in Soviet camp.

Therefore, developing relationship with rogue nations like Pakistan became a geo-political compulsion for US. In an era, where world was waking up to a Cold war between two strong blocs, establishing presence in South Asia was essential for US. Consequently, Pakistan became a US ally and received considerable financial aid and weaponry in return, which was grossly misused.

Nehru's restricted vision and affinity towards socialism stagnated India's economic, political and technological stature in the world. Hope history doesn't repeat!

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