India's Impact on the United Nations
India's Impact on the United Nations
India was among the original members of the United Nations that signed the Declaration by United Nations at Washington on 1 January 1942 and also participated in the historic UN Conference of International Organization at San Francisco from 25 April to 26 June 1945. India viewed its membership at the United Nations as an important guarantee for maintaining international peace and security at the height of the Cold War, especially by working towards eliminating the causes of war and conflict. UN membership also served as an opportunity for leadership in world affairs.
India has been elected six times to the UN Security Council, (1950-52, 1965-67, 1970-72, 1976-78, 1983-85 and 1990-92) and is the country that has served for the most number of years as an elected member. India is the third largest contributor of troops to United Nations Peacekeeping missions which aims to help countries torn by conflict to create conditions for lasting peace. In the U.N’s early years, India was the first choice in UN peacekeeping operations, including Lebanon (1957) and the Congo (1960). In 1954, India took a leading part in securing political sanctions against the racialist regime of South Africa. In 1965, it supported the UN sponsored economic boycott of Rhodesia. It gave full support to the Angolan liberation movement and to the cause of the Independence of Namibia.
Indians who have rendered service to the U.N are Mrs. Vijay Lakshmi Pandit as President of the UN General Assembly in 1953; Abul Kalam Azad and Dr. Radhakrishnan as Chairman of UNESCO; Mrs. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur as Chairperson of WHO (World Health Organisation); Sri V.R. Sen as President of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation); H.J. Bhaba as Chairman of Atoms for peace Commission; B.N. Rau and Nagendra Singh as Judges of the International Court of Justice. India also played an active role in setting up of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and calling for the creation of a New International Economic Order (NIEO). Krishna Menon, the Defence Minister of India from 1957- 1962, is known for giving the longest speech ever delivered at the U.N in 1957, where he led the Indian delegation to the United Nations. His speech was eight hours long and aimed to defend India’s position on Kashmir. India is also one of the main contributors to the UN regular budget. Indian contribution to United Nations Democracy Fund was USD $15 million for 2009, which was higher than what most other donors with the exception of the U.S gave.
India has strongly pleaded for the expansion of the Security Council to give representation to African and Latin American countries. India has demanded that in the changed international system with 191 states (as against 51 members at the time of founding of UN), more states should be made permanent members of the Security Council. India announced at the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 that it is prepared to accept the responsibilities of permanent membership. India has favoured the inclusion of countries like Germany Japan, Egypt, Brazil and Nigeria as permanent members of the Security Council. It feels that it will serve the international community well if it is part of the Security Council as it is the largest democracy in the world; it is one of the leading economies of the world and has the potential to play an increasingly important role in the evolving international economic and financial architecture. India's long-standing participation in UN peacekeeping operations also signifies the political will of the government to actively contribute to these operations. Three permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, Russia and France - have supported India's bid for the permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council. The US has supported Japan's claim, but has yet to come out unambiguously in support of New Delhi's candidacy. China has expressed support for India's bigger role on the international stage, but has kept its options open. Support for India’s candidature is growing and India works hard with like minded countries especially those in Africa, towards this end.
