Would like to mention a note on Russian help... The first IIT in India, (India's showpiece item infront of the world) was founded by Russian assisstace. ...IIT Kharagpur...!! Today it is the largest & with maximum no. of departments among all other IITS... We don't forget you...Russia...!!! --Shalu
Very Well written!Thanks to rediff&the writer who have closely experienced the life in Russia himself. Lets not forget onething ,just like Yeltsin ignored us,even we ignored our old friend in our chase &obsession for the US.Remember the cold welcome given to President Putin during his previous visit,because our ministers were toooo busy in entertaining Mr Bill Clinton,the then US President,as both of them visited INDIA almost during the same time.So its time to forget the hardships and move further. This is the perfec visit for Putin-as the "CHIEF GUEST FOR INDIA'S REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS"what better way to honour its true friend. "Welcome Mr Putin,We Indians salute U&UR countrymen-Long live our friendship"
Really I enjoyed the article, this is from his 36 years experience,also young generation will come to know about our relations with Great Soviet. Our official should respect the relation and people should not forget the help we received from Soviet Russia ,India has to give the Highes respect to Russia
This is indeed a very informative article that highlights the association of two countries for such a lonf time. This article really made us aware about so many things unheard and un-realized as yet.
I convey my thanks and regards to Rediff and the writer for such informative stuff. Truely Russia a great friend for India as unlike US, they are very clear of their stand and have always stood with India.
Russia has always been a true friend of India even since before India's Independence. "A friend in need is a friend indeed" applies well for Russia. I salute to a good friend and hope that we will enhance ties with Russia in future.
After living nearly half of my life in USSR, Russia & other CIS countries, I always think that till now we have not explored all the possible cooperation between us. Jointly we can do much more than we have done. Russia has biggest deposit of natural resources & India has largest deposit of human resources. After long friendship, now we know each other better & so now we should try to explore other fields & directions of cooperations also.
I think the article higlights the true facts which are logical enough to prove that since the past 60 years Russia has been a True Friend for India not just POLITICALLY but also in terms of Defence, Technology & various other issues.
Its a known fact that Russia has stood by us on every issue where it matters. For Example- after the Pokhran-II Tests, Russia was one of the few countries who dint not put any sanctions on us.
Mr.Sikri makes a very valid point at the end of the article that this visit wil genertae the much needed interest among the citizens of both countries to take this relationship to another level in the coming years which will see NEW leadership in both the countries.
The strategic relationship between India and Russia is very important for not only these two countries, but also to the world which is now under the hegonomy of USA. As I previously mentioned in other post that USA would never give something without gaining more, and this friendly at per realtionship with Russia matters most to India. I have less very less idea about the undisclosed Indian relationship with Russia, but all the current and past experience in time of crisis proved Russia to be a friendly and most dependable(may be) partner of India (as described in the above article). And about my own opinion forgetting the reality, personally I like President Putin as a head of Russia. I hope this relationship will bring a lot more things in favour of the both countries and the the rest of the world.
