ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
ENHANCING INDIA-AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION IN HEALTHCARE AND PHARMACEUTICALS
By Neeta Baporikar *
Milieu of the India – Africa Bond
At the outset , it must be noted that India is not a newcomer to Africa . On the contrary , India and Africa enjoy a long-standing historical relationship . It is also worth noting that contacts and trade between the two sides extend beyond the confines of British colonialism . In the year 1900 , Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , apart from beginning his professional career as a lawyer in Africa , debuted as an anti-colonialist nationalist campaigner for equality and justice in the continent . Gandhi once said that " the commerce between India and Africa will be of ideas and services , not of manufactured goods against raw materials after the fashion of Western exploiters " ( Serpa , 1994 ). Following independence , India adopted a powerful voice for justice in the international system , championing the fight against anti-colonialism and anti-racism . India played a critical role in the Bandung Conference of 1955 which led to the emergence of the Non-Aligned Movement , and used the occasion to promote and strengthen Asian – African solidarity . However , it was during the Cold War that both sides deepened their political solidarity with one another . Africa played a significant role in Prime Minister Nehru ’ s vision of creating a just international order .
With India pushing for the independence of African states from colonial domination , India and Africa seemed likely to become strategic allies during the Cold War years ; this was further supported by the existence of a large Indian diaspora in Africa . Yet , India ’ s role on the African continent remained marginal . India ’ s engagement with Africa at the time was also motivated by Cold War polemics and the border dispute with China in 1962 . Confronted with Africa ’ s mixed reaction to the conflict , New Delhi was forced to realise that it " did not have the strong ally it had hoped for in Africa and therefore actively worked towards countering Chinese penetration in Africa " ( Serpa 1994 : 187 ). This led to the launch of the
42 • Africa Day Special • 2018