Another foreign policy success redounded to the credit of Prime Minister Modi with the successful conclusion of the India-Africa Summit in New Delhi on Thursday. Heads of state and government from fifty-four African countries gathering under one roof under the aegis of the Indian Prime Minister is no mean achievement. India is beginning to play its rightful role in global affairs. The African continent is slowly but surely putting aside its colonial past to build for itself a new future of economic and social opportunity and growth. Not unlike India, which served as the beacon for the entire continent when it too broke free from the yoke of colonialism, Africa is engaged in improving the socio-economic standard of its people, removing hunger and disease and laying the foundations of modern nation-states. It is here that India can play a most meaningful role without being in anyway exploitative. The Prime Minister underlined the importance this country attaches to Africa by announcing a credit line of $10 billion over the next five years. This is over and above the ongoing programme-based assistance of $600 million. Besides, the number of annual student scholarships for studies in India has been substantially raised to 50,000. Expectedly, each of these African students could become an unofficial ambassador of Indo-African friendship and goodwill.
The PM also emphasised Africa-India cooperation for the UN Security Council reform, for better regional security, etc. There were other common areas of interest, such as health, education, agriculture, climate change, etc. India was in a position to help Africa in certain key areas. For instance, in healthcare and education. Fighting sea piracy and equipping affected nations in counter-terrorism too was a common objective. Indian pharma sector was a big supplier of cheap, generic drugs. Indian businesses were now operating in a majority of the African nations. Unlike the Chinese who invariably import their own labour, Indian companies relied on locals for almost all unskilled work. Besides, China’s aggressive business practices were proving unpopular, beginning to cause a backlash in a number of African countries. Even Modi hinted at this facet when he told the delegates that the “best partnership is one that develops human capital and institutions; that equips and empowers a nation to have the freedom to make its own choices and shoulder the responsibility for its own progress…” Private Indian companies are particularly active in agriculture, industry and energy sectors, though the Chinese companies, a majority of them State-owned, are far more aggressive given their superior resources. As their economies improve, the newly emergent African middle class would have greater reason to feel confident about Indians since they do not threaten to control them in any way.
Unfortunately, where Indians seem to be helpless is in their seeming inability to change their attitude towards the black skin of a vast majority of the people born in Africa. This has often led to embarrassing situations, with the African officials occasionally complaining about the racist attitude of Indians. The charge is not far-fetched, given that a vast majority of Indians impulsively attach superiority to white skin. Cultural and educational re-orientation can help rid Indians of this colour bias. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and other ministers who participated in the 54-nation Summit ought to have noted, at least in passing, the contribution of the past Indian leaders in building ties of friendship and cooperation with the African nations. Nothing could have been lost if a tribute in this regard was paid to India’s first prime minister who, while pointedly annoying the West, sought out the newly-independent African nations to try and carve a role for himself in the global forums. Regardless of the flawed emphasis of Nehru’s foreign policy, not referring to him in the Summit was not proper. Some of the African leaders noted Nehru’s contribution and thus obliquely chided the present Indian leadership. On their part, the Congress leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, behaved most churlishly by boycotting the formal dinner hosted by the Prime Minister for the visiting delegates. Grace and propriety demanded their presence, casting aside for the moment their domestic animosities and quarrels.
