Introduction
Even in the midst of the hours of war, man has craved for peace. Desire for peace is innate in human nature as the instinct of pugnacity is a part of human psychology. Falling a victim to circumstances, man, from time to time, has indulged in violence. But as soon as he is satisfied with his indulgence in violence, the idea of peace has flashed into his mind. The First World War continued for nearly four years and devastated humanity in many ways. As soon as it came to an end, the world under the guidance of President Wilson formed the League of Nations to establish peace in the world. The Second World War continued for nearly five years and created havoc in the world. After its termination, the tormented nations of the world formed the United Nations to establish permanent and lasting peace in the world. Thus, several attempts have been made for establishing international peace. But all these attempts have been futile and still the world is living under the perpetual dread of the global war.
The two power-blocks in the world
The modern world is divided into two power-blocks-the American block and the Russian block. It is not a secret to anybody in the world. This is a conflict between democracy and communism. America and Russia with their own tactics and methods are doing their best to cut each other from different regions of the world. The gulf between the two powerful nations is being widened day-by-day and there is no hope of it being abridged because they have their own conflicting interests and these interests have so prevented the drawing up of a formal peace treaty.
Russia-American tension and direct clash
Russia American tension is not a very happy thing. It may possibly take the shape of an open warfare in the future. Nevertheless, the immediate prospect is not very gloomy. Russia and America growl and snarl back at each other, but they are not in a mood to bite. Whenever, any contingency arises of coming into a direct clash, they very diplomatically avert the unhappy situation. On the occasion of the Cuba crisis, John Kennedy was in a mood to fight but Khrushchev, like a cool-minded statesman, averted the clash. At the time of Suez Canal crisis, Russia was burningly willing to fight and to the port Egypt but the Western countries retreated most silently from sup the arena. In fact, the U. N. is a convenient platform for barking and letting off one’s steam of revenge and anger. Russia has indulged many times in a lot of empty talk and does not seem to supplement it with action. She has kept herself in the background and has declined, more than once, to give open aid to the adversary to America.
The modern world is an arena of conflicting claims
In inter national diplomacy, there are not permanent friends and foes; there are convenient pacts. Besides the two power-blocks, there is one powerful nation in the world, China, which has increased her military power to the anxiety of peace-loving nations of the world and which is playing the role of a mischief-monger or Satan in the international politics. China and Russia both are Communist countries but there is a vast gulf between their practical ideologies. Russia believes in co-existence while China believes in complete extinction of others. They dislike the American block but they also dislike each other. America is willing to accommodate Russia to some extent but she cannot tolerate the existence of China. We have seen a horrible scene in Korea and a much more horrible scene in Vietnam. In Middle-East or Western Asia, we have seen a very interesting scene or war for existence between the Arab countries and Israel. Really it is a strange world in which there are selfish ends and conflicting claims but there is no change of hearts and no spirit of dedication and no sense of sacrifice. Even the Arab countries, like Syria and Iraq are not friends from within but they seem to be one against Israel.
India’s role in international affairs
India is a peace-loving nation. India wants to live in peace and wants let others live in peace. India has tried to maintain peaceful relations with her neighbors even at the cost of her territorial sovereignty. India’s claim for one-third of Kashmir, is still hanging like a pendulum between certainty and uncertainty but India is not willing to take cudgle against Pakistan. India accepted sovereignty of the Communist China over Tibet only to maintain good relations with China, though it picked her conscience. Numerous examples can be quoted to substantiate the argument that India is a peace-loving nation in the true sense of the term. India believes in the policy of non-alignment because India wants to play the role of a balancing factor between the warring blocks. India has always condemned and oppose colonization and racial distinction and the policy of expansion is For the small suppressed and tormented nations of the world, India is the only sheet-anchor. Sometimes, India is dragged into one of the power-blocks as it happened in the case of the conflict between An countries and Israel.
Conclusion
True peace cannot be established by Governmental bodies or organisations, for peace is not the absence of war but the adoption of goodwill by the individual towards others. This aim can be achieved only by an appeal to the common men and women of the world to find out the causes which breed war and to remove them. Pacifists of the world should combine and carry on ceaseless propaganda, and hold meetings to create an atmosphere which may change hatred into love, fear into confidence and right into duty and exploitation into service. And to bring about such a change of heart, the world needs princes of peace like Gandhiji or Christ. The world has suffered not so much from our love of wealth or possession as from the appetite for power.