India and Neighbours: Need to improve relations

 

India and Neighbours

 Need to improve relations

Till the beginning of 21^st century general perception of the Indians was that the security and military threat for India would come from India’s western neighbour, Pakistan. But, in the present scenario one has to say that instead of Pakistan, China is throwing major challenge for India in this regard. No doubt, China has invaded India in 1962 and totally killed the slogan of ‘Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai’. The things started improving at least on certain extent since the times of Deng Xioping. His successors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao also more or less followed the policy initiated by Deng. Since 2013 when Xi Jinping took over as the Chinese President things are changing drastically. He is following aggressive foreign policy not only in respect with India but also other neighbours such as Vietnam and Taiwan and Western Powers like United States of America and select European countries. The relations between China and Canada are also deteriorating very fast. China is creating artificial islands in South China Sea. It is not only a major security threat to the countries located in that area but also may lead to environmental problems. It would  definitely endanger marine life in South China Sea in the years to come.

For any country it is quite crucial to maintain and promote cordial relations with neighbouring countries. It is necessary for promoting one’s own economic and overall development.  When a country enjoys peaceful relations with its neighbours then it can cut down on military spending and could use that money and resources for developmental purposes. If, a country does not have healthy equation with surrounding countries then always there is a looming danger of either invasion or military disturbances from them. This hypothesis is hundred percent correct in respect with Pakistan. Since, the creation of Pakistan in 1947 it has not left a single moment for creating trouble for India. India was forced to fight three major wars by Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and 1999. In 1965 the Prime Minister of India was Lal Bahadur Shastri, when 1971 Indo-Pak war was fought Mrs. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India and in 1999 when Kargil war erupted Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India. Apart from these three full-fledged wars Pakistan has imposed continuous proxy war on India by exporting terrorism. India has always tried and is still  trying its level best to not to disturb Pakistan. But  our western neighbour is not giving up any chance to create troubles for India, especially by carrying out terrorist activities on Indian soil. In order to deal with Pakistan it is needed to put tremendous pressure of international community and put economic sanctions on it. If, done so then only it would stop to bother India. In order to do it India needs to work overtime and convince the international community and agencies like UNO and alliances like European Union, of course USA also should help India in this regard because the relations between India and America are steadily improving during the Narendra Modi era.

India’s immediate neighbours are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. As far as these countries are concerned they don’t pose direct military threat to us, at least for the time being. But, we face other issues vis-à-vis these countries. For instance, in respect with Bangladesh we have the problem of lots of Bangladeshi migrants coming to India. Sri Lanka since last few years is going closer to China and whenever there is instability or some disturbance in this island country many Sri Lankan refugees arrive in India. Nepal is also moving closer to China rapidly and building strategic relationship with Dragon. Definitely, it is alarming situation for us. Nowadays Nepal is talking about border disputes and we have some differences about water resources (rivers) with Nepal. In order to navigate these problems India needs to devise a long term policy to deal with its neighbours and bring them back in Indian fold. One has to convince these countries about the benefits they would reap by having healthy and harmonious relationship with India, especially the economic advantages. By promoting economic cooperation, investing in developmental projects in these countries and giving economic aid to them this goal could be achieved. It would definitely be one of the best ways to woo these countries and to attract them in Indian camp.

The Great Depression of 1929 : Economic Shock to the World

 

 

The Great Depression of 1929

 Economic Shock to the World

The Great Depression of 1929 is one of the worst economic problems faced by the western economies in particular and world in general. It started in 1929 and according to experts lasted up to 1939. The economy of United States of America (USA)  was severely affected by the Great Depression. It would not be an exaggeration if we say that it destroyed an era of prosperity which was existing in America in 1920s and reversed the economic development of USA.

The effects of Great Depression were quite fast and very negative. It brought severe miseries and poverty for lots of people in America. Many Americans lost their jobs and become unemployed during the Great Depression. Some economists say that there were abundant goods available in the market but the purchasing power of the people had decreased. People were desperate to sell their belongings like cars and homes but there were no buyers as most of the Americans had become penniless.

The 1920s set in unprecedented economic prosperity in United States of America. The Republican Party was successful in sending its representative in White House when Warren G. Harding won the Presidential elections in 1920. Harding was a Republican from the state of Ohio. He remained President from 1921 to 1923. During his tenure there were quite a few scandals including Teapot Dome scandal. But, it is said that he was sympathetic towards the condition of minorities and women. He was also open for accepting new technologies.

The slogan of Warren Harding during Presidential Election Campaign was ‘Return to normalcy’  and he believed in the philosophy of ‘Less government in business and more business in government’. In spite of scandals prosperity returned to America after First World War during Harding years. He died in 1923 in the Californian city of San Francisco and his Vice President Calvin Coolidge became the President as per the provisions in the United States Constitution.

Calvin  Coolidge was born in Plymouth in the state of Vermont located on eastern coast of United States. He went on to become the Governor of the state of Massachusetts. During his tenure Americans witnessed spectacular prosperity. His popularity was quite high in 1924, hence, he got elected as the President of the United States in that year. His statements like ‘The man who builds a factory builds a temple, that the man who works there worships there and to each is due, not scorn and blame, but reverence and praise’ inspired the Americans further who worked hard and accelerated the economic property. The hallmark features of Coolidge Presidency were tax cuts, strong economic growth, increase in wages, decreasing unemployment and inflation.  Thus, Americans had jobs and more money to buy things including car.

In 1928 Calvin Coolidge chose not to run for the Presidency, hence, his Secretary of Commerce Herbert Clark Hoover was nominated as the Republican nominee during Presidential Elections. Herbert Hoover was born in Iowa but spent his constructive years in Oregon. He was engineer by training.

Before becoming the US President Hoover had contributed in various capacities. He was in London when Germany declared war on France in 1914. Hence, he had to carry out the great responsibility of taking out the tourists from Europe which was under the cloud of war. President Woodrow Wilson gave a responsibility of ensuring the steady availability of food to the Americans and their allies during the First World War by appointing him as the In-charge of Food Administration. Hoover proved to be an excellent administrator in this capacity and took care that the food needs of both American people and overseas friends of United States of America were taken care properly. One of the fantastic examples of extending help to enemies as well on humanitarian ground is that Hoover saw to it that the Soviet Russia gets help in 1921 even though Russians and Americans shared opposite ideologies. At that point of time he had taken the stand that irrespective of political differences one should not allow twenty million people to starve.

Hoover served as Secretary of Commerce for both Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge and thus played crucial role in bringing prosperity in the lives of Americans. But, it is irony of history that when he himself became the President the whole edifice of prosperity and economic development came down crushing when Stock Market started collapsing in 1929.

The Great Depression of 1929 as mentioned above resulted into increase in unemployment, starving, steep decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), many banks lost their deposits, lots of factories were closed down and mines were abandoned. Americans faced extreme difficulties during the Great Depression. It is said that even people were searching for food in garbage beans. People were ready to sell their houses and cars for raising money but there were no buyers. It not only affected the American economy but the Europe and other parts of the world also experienced the effects of this great economic shock directly or indirectly.

Ultimately, in the Presidential Elections of 1932 Herbert Hoover was defeated badly by Democratic Party nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Franklin Roosevelt brought the economy of USA back on track with the help of his New Deal Policy.

 

 

Reza Shah Pahlavi: The Man who modernised Iran single-handedly

 

Reza Shah Pahlavi

The Man who modernised Iran single-handedly

We read in the history books that Mustafa Kemal Pasha reformed and modernised Turkey. One can say that in the similar manner Reza Shah Pahlavi of Iran transformed his country by attempting to bring positive changes.

Reza Shah Pahalvi’s original name was Reza Khan. He was born on 15 March 1878 in the city of Alasht located in the province of Mazanderan near Caspian Sea. His father’s name was Major Abbas Ali Khan. He went to Tehran along with his mother after the death of his father. He got military training under the supervision of Russian trainers. Iran was having presence and influence of two European powers during those days. One was Russia and the other one was England. Personality of Reza Khan was striking and very much suitable for military service. He was strong and tall man with sharp intelligence. He had developed utter disliking for his Russian superiors and Russia as such.

He wanted to bring changes in Iran, then known as Persia. He and many others like him had started thinking that bringing an end to the rule of Qajar dynasty in Iran would usher into a new beginning in the life of their nation. Qajar monarchs were ruling Iran from 1794 onwards. They had proved to be a failure as far as promoting modernisation and new-age development of Iran was concerned.

Reza Shah had experience of working with Russian military commanders in the beginning. He did not have high opinions about them. Rather, he disliked them. The precarious political conditions in Iran in the opening decades of 20^th century had disturbed this patriotic army officer. He wanted to bring the political change in his motherland. He got able partner in this endeavour in the form of Ziauddin Tabatabi. British played an important role in bringing these two Iranian nationalists and in turn overthrowing the government of Ahmad Shah, the then king of Iran. Reza Shah and Ziauddin Tabatabi with the help of army forced Ahmad Shah to step down as the king of Iran on February 21, 1921.

In the beginning Reza Shah was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of armed forces and Ziauddin Tabatabi became the Prime Minister. But, later on Ziauddin Tabatabi resigned as the Prime Minister and in 1923 Reza Khan became the Prime Minister of Iran. Ultimately on December 12, 1925 Reza Khan was made the king of Iran by a constitutional amendment. From this time onwards he came to be known as Reza Shah and his dynasty was called Pahlavi.

After declaring himself as the king of Iran Reza Shah started his ambitious Reform Programme. The intent of his reforms was to develop his country and modernize it. Important reforms introduced by him were as following:

Reza Shah took firm action against the law breakers and law violators. He wanted to make peasants, traders and common people to feel safe. He established the strong central government in Iran and took swift action against bandits and marauders. By doing so, one can say that he brought law and order back on track in Iran.

One of the goals of Reza Shah was to achieve economic development of the country. He realised that an expert advise is needed in this regard, hence, he appointed an American viz. Dr. Arthur Millspaugh as economic adviser to his government. The financial condition and revenue collection system was improved and industries were promoted. Textile, cement and sugar factories were established. National Bank was formed in Iran. These efforts indeed paid rich dividends.

Due attention was paid towards improving communication and transport facilities. Wireless service was brought under the control of Iranian government. He built good roads and most importantly an ambitious Trans-Iranian railroad project was completed with indigenous funding without taking foreign aid. The Trans-Iranian railroad definitely became the engine for promoting further economic development of Iran.

Reza Shah knew very well that Iran was lacking proper judicial system and modern laws. Hence, he  introduced a new judicial system based on French model. The proper Penal Code made way for age-old Iranian laws. A special act was passed making it mandatory to register the marriages as well as divorces taking place in the country. The Waqf properties were taken over by the government and nation and national issues were given more importance over religious aspects.

Reza Shah endeavoured to give modern, liberal and most importantly secular education to Iranian students. In Tehran, the capital of Iran an University was established. Primary education was made compulsory. In order to make illiterate adults to read and write adult education programme was designed. The schools started by European and American Missionaries were allowed to give education to Iranian children. Iranian students interested in going to Europe for taking education were supported and helped by the government.

His intention was to modernise as well as westernise the Iranian society. Hence, he asked Iranian men to wear western style clothes and women to stop wearing veil. Law against polygamy was made. It was a fantastic step towards giving justice to women. He gave up lunar calendar and accepted the solar calendar. He made systematic efforts to purify Persian language from the influence of Arabic language. Western literary genres, films, music and architecture was promoted. He considered Persia, the name of his country as western sounding and changed it to Iran.

The Second World War resulted in to the downfall of the progressive regime of Reza Shah. England was controlling the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company located in Iran. But, Reza Shah started taking help from French, German, Italian and other European experts in the years to come for technological advancement of the country. During Second World War Reza decided to remain neutral not taking side of either allied or axis powers. He also refused the suggestion of British to ask German technicians to leave Iran on the allegation of being German spies operating in Iran. He refused to allow the use of Trans-Iranian railroad to allied powers like England and Russia during Second World War. These bold decisions of Reza Shah were disliked by England and Russia and they attacked Iran and ultimately he was forced to step down as the king of Iran in 1941. In his place his son Muhammad Reza Shah was appointed as the ruler of Iran. Reza Shah was sent to Mauritius and afterwards to Johannesburg. In Johannesburg this great leader and king of Iran died on July 26, 1944.

Reza Shah undoubtedly remains one of the greatest rulers in the history of modern Iran. He single-handedly brought vivid changes in Iran and certainly modernised and westernised his country.