The Soviet Peace Offensive and Nehru’s India, 1953–1956

Abstract

This chapter historicizes the intellectual changes that took place in the Indo-Soviet relationship between 1953 and 1956. An account of the view from New Delhi, the chapter's central argument is that this period should be studied as one of intense politicization of relations. The chapter has a discussion of the flurry of diplomatic activity that took place back and forth from Moscow during these year and comments on Nehru’s attempts at reciprocating the thaw, and to extend it from a purely bilateral relationship to a multilateral one, and indeed to institutionalize these relations by pushing forth his advocacy of the UN as being as accessible and amenable to the Soviet Union as much as it was to other powers.