Independent but not alone (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:International Relations 
Prelims level: Not much 
Mains level: Bilateral agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Context:

• For India, August 15 is first and foremost Independence Day. 
• But, the U.K. mark 75 years since peace was achieved in Asia. This is also U.K’s opportunity to thank India for their immense contributions and, in particular, the campaign in Burma.
• From Asia to Africa, the Mediterranean to the Pacific, millions fought for freedom in the six-year long struggle to rid the world of the tyranny and evil of Axis aggressors. 

Largest All-Volunteer Force:

• The statistics alone are astonishing. On land, at sea and in the air, Indians formed the largest all-volunteer force in the world, with over 2.5 million fighting in Europe, North Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong and, Burma. 
• What is more, India provided almost 200 million tonnes of coal, six million tonnes of iron ore and more than one million tonnes of steel to the Pacific war effort, and countless Indian non-combatants secured supply lines.
• Those numbers can’t possibly do justice to their bravery. At Imphal, Indian forces fought even after the siege was lifted. 
• Rao Abdul Hafiz Panwa became the youngest Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross — overrunning Japanese positions despite mortal wounds. 
• At Kohima, an Indian-British force numbering 1,500 men held its own against 15,000 enemy troops for two weeks despite phosphorous bombardments and ferocious infantry attacks. 
• The celebrated “Black Cat” 17th Infantry Division of the Indian Army were in continuous combat during the three-year long Burma Campaign. 
• In total some 87,000 Indians paid the ultimate price. But their efforts also turned the tide of the war. 
• No wonder the commander of the 14th Army in Burma, Field Marshal Slim, described his Indian divisions as “among the best in the world”.

Challenges and opportunities:

• Today’s challenges are different and our relationship has also evolved. But we face shared dangers, whether from pandemics or piracy, extremism or enemies operating below the threshold of conventional conflict. 
• We hold shared values and commitments to justice, stability and free markets. 
• We are on the same side and have a mutual interest in standing together – it is our alliances that give us the ultimate edge.
• And the India-U.K. partnership has plenty of room to grow. 
• UK has already have seven Royal Navy vessels operating in the Western Indian Ocean.
• UK and India’s Armed Forces exercise together biannually and our Defence and International Security Partnership is opening up collaborations in everything from jet engines to cyber technology. 
• And, as India pursues Atmanirbhar Bharat vision India will find Global Britain is eager to work together in a range of areas from defence modernisation to maritime technology. 
• We are determined to elevate our partnership to the next level.

Conclusion:

• We are living through a new era of uncertainty but eight decades ago, our great forebears showed us the way ahead. 
• Seventy-five years on, India is a proud independent nation but you are emphatically not alone. 
• Our common history proves that we are stronger facing adversity together and now is the time to write our shared future in the interests of peace, purpose, and prosperity.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the International Day of Friendship, consider the following statements: 
1. The International Day of Friendship is being celebrated on July 30, 2020.
2. The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1)Highlights the scenarios of India-UK bilateral relations.  What are the recent developments and challenges to their relations?