Nationalist Indian Attitudes Towards Asia: A Troublesome Legacy for Post-Independence Indian Foreign Policy

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ONE PERSISTING article of faith among nationalist Indians during decades of independence struggle was belief in an inherent unity of Asian countries-a common identity stemming from a shared aspiration of their peoples for political independence from West and rooted in their cultural and religious similarities. The idea of Asian unity evolved late in nineteenth century conjointly with emergence of Asian nationalist movements. Indeed, Pan-Asianism was basically international expression of incipient domestic demands for freedom and of growing consciousness of Eastern peoples of their intrinsic Asian identity. Thus, theme of unity of Asian states was by no means solely an Indian conception. In fact, not surprisingly, its initial prominent flowering was in Japan, first Oriental country to reassert its political independence from West. In particular, 1905 Japanese victory over Russia was seen in Japan and elsewhere in as symbolic of regeneration of East.' Politically, it gave rise to Japanese cry of Asia for Asiatics, and to idea of a united Asia, under Japanese leadership, cooperating in liquidation of Western imperialism. The Japanese resurgence was also responsible for encouraging notion of an Asian unity that transcended common political bond of subjection and was founded on alleged mutual concern of Asian countries with spiritual values and attainment of global peace and harmony. Japanese scholars, of whom Okakura Kakuzo had highest reputation in India, began to write at this time that was a single entity, since love for ultimate and universal was the common