The article is accurate.Our ties with Russia have been an amicable and respectful one for over 50 years.Russia has been our support for energy and defence and 'brothers in arms'.I also believe that the general public in Russia love India through this long term nexus of mutual brotherhood and ofcourse 'Raj Kapoor'.This is not a bias,but a fact cause I lived in Moscow for 5 years and observed both faces of Russia- Communist and Free Market.I am sure that Mr.Putin has great anticipations from India and he will fortify this relation.It is also a critical move to establish multi-polar relations in the world today.At the same time,I differ to the notion of 'India as Intellectual Superpower' as a comparison to 'Russia as energy Power'.Many don't know that Russia has a very vast pool of Engineers and Scientists and they have not mushroomed like in India,but have existed over decades.It is only a language barrier and international exposure they need to attain so far.As this is also the case with China!
we should not forget that, russia helped us when, we were not so strong enough for fulfilling our own demands, let that be economic,military, diplomatic. he gave us mitilary help, in an era, when ussr was strong, and was not financially weak. miGs were the good fighter at the times, they were procure from russia, now after 25-30 years u cant expect them to work with same Efficiency, even when, our govt. does not want to updrage them with new part. considering today's new scenario, we can say that now it is give and take, since now russia also understand india global role and power. but we should respect the help and favour given to us in the past 40 years by russia.
I kept searching for the reasons why India matter to Russia. The most important point, political motives has been given little importance in the article. Perhaps the heading of the article should be...India & Russia - present, past & future.
Its nice to see a well written article about Indo-Russian ties at a time when the focus has shifted to Indo-US ties.A lot of our younger generation people and kids don't seem to understand the wonderful friendship we share with Russia,so I hope that the younger generation would read this article and understand the kind of relation we have had with the Russians over the years.
Though we have a good diplomatic friendship with Russia, we need a broader people to people relation with our old friend. This is a good article and says exactly that. Today, in the age where US is struggling to remain as a superpower and does not want that status to be transfered to anyone else, and where China would, in some days, show its true colours, we need to remain close to Russia. Not that we cannot defend ourself, but we need the international support.
RE:Why Russia and India matter to each other
by vikas Pal on Jan 24, 2007 09:36 AM Permalink
Mr. Sikri has given the perfect article and a good overview of current scenario of India & Russia.
RE:Why India and Russia.....
by Nishanth on Jan 24, 2007 01:30 AM Permalink
The Soviet Union never backed China during the Indo-China war.During the start of the war they chose to be neutral but later on they supported India,from then on they have always been on our side.
The Soviet Union's hand in Shastriji's death is just a story made by crazy people who claim that Mrs Indira Gandhi and the Soviets were involved in his death.Shastriji's autopsy was not done in India as the Indian officials did not find anything suspicious in his death.
If MIG fighter jets keep crashing then don't blame the Russians.Blame our politicians in power who did not replace these old war horses,which have served us well all these years and have won us wars.The Russians were and are always ready to give us their latest fighter jets.
RE:Why India and Russia.....
by Siddhartha Jain on Jan 24, 2007 02:49 AM Permalink
Lets be realistic. Definitely, the Soviet Union must've extracted its price for supporting us and the Soviets were hard negotiators. But its all give and take. The Soviet support in 1971 was what saw us through the threats of the US sending in its navy and China that might've taken the opportunity to attack us again. Those weren't small favours. Today, India needs energy to feed its growing economy and Russia has it. Also don't forget that Russia while weakened still is a significant military power and it is in our best interest to keep the neighbourhood tough guy happy. Geo-politically, IMHO, its better to align with a power closer home (read Russia) than a power across the seas (read the US).
RE:Why India and Russia.....
by vijendra singh on Jan 23, 2007 11:37 PM Permalink
very true Jay , what ever u say here , but still Russia we are in Love with , though I might not really go with the Presidents/Prime Ministers.
RE:Why India and Russia.....
by sumit batra on Jan 24, 2007 12:03 AM Permalink
Very well said. You pointed out the jarring notes... clearly shows that there is no free lunch in international affairs. We did pay for the Soviet support. Having said that, one must remember that at a time when India faced tremendous pressures on its territorial integrity, faced war from a puny neighbour boasted by the US - Soviets stood by us (even if we had to pay for that support indirectly). Internationally, India would have been isolated on Kashmir had it not been for Soviet interventions at the UN. Russia has been a pillar of support for us, and we need to evaluate the future benefits of this relationship objectively, just like we need to "study" the US desire to make us a "global power".
RE:Why India and Russia.....
by R J on Jan 23, 2007 11:19 PM Permalink
Agree with you on the TISCO, MIG etc, issues, but in the big picture, it still makes Russia a trusted friend in the past.
