After the second world war USSR emerged as a world power. The country conducted its first nuclear test in 1949 and that marked the beginning of the era of cold war between USSR and USA. Both the countries kept investing a lot in their nuclear capability and military research. The two nation conducted hundreds of nuclear tests, the most powerful being the Tzar Bomba test by Russians which was approximately 1500 times more powerful than the combined power of the atom bombs fired in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
There was competition between the Russians and Americans in space as well. The Russians were the first to send a satellite to space and the first man who went to space was a Russian name Yuri Gagarin. Ultimately the space race was won the Americans when they were able to land man on moon.
While the two nations were competing with each other on many fronts. The other countries of the world took their sides, some went with US while others supported USSR. India was a part of the non aligned movement. However India's relations with Soviet Union was very good.
When India attacked and annexed Goa in 1961, UK and USA moved a resolution condemning the act in United Nations. The resolution was however vetoed by USSR. Similarly in the 1965 and 1971 Indo - Pak wars, it was due to the Soviet Union that powers like UK, USA desisted from attacking India. In the 1965 US was a supporter of Pakistan and had supplied the latest tanks to the nation. In spite of having the latest tanks Pakistan lost the war.
In the 1971 India-Pakistan war that resulted in liberation of Bangladesh. The US, UK and China were in support of Pakistan but due to Soviet Union they were not able to take any drastic action on India. Russia has been one of the biggest military suppliers to India. We received a lot of help from Soviet Union in the initial stages of our space program. The cryogenic engines supplied by Russia were used in our GSLV till we developed our own cryogenic engine.
The world has changed a lot since then the attitudes of USA and UK has changed towards India. US in particular has realized its folly of supporting Pakistan after the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre and its aftermath where it had to spend huge amount of resources in tracking down laden in Pakistan and killing him. Many US soldiers have lost their lives in the last decade in the war against terror. US had to spend over $1.7 trillion (1,700,000,000,000) in the war against terror that started after the September 11 attacks.
The cold war ended with the division of USSR, the USSR was economically destroyed because it followed a socialist system which ended up breeding lot of corruption and made the nation bankrupt. The world was no longer polarized. The attitudes of US and UK towards India changed, maybe due to the big number of scientists, doctors, engineers, businessmen etc from India living in this countries might have played some role.
Even after USSR, Russia is a world power and a major weapons supplier to India. India is now militarily strong enough not to be bullied by other nations, India is also a nuclear power. However the first few decades after independence of India was tough. With a few key nations against it survival was difficult. Russia in spite of being a communist nation had helped India during those tough times. India must always maintain good long term relations with Russia which is now turning into a democracy with market economy.
There was competition between the Russians and Americans in space as well. The Russians were the first to send a satellite to space and the first man who went to space was a Russian name Yuri Gagarin. Ultimately the space race was won the Americans when they were able to land man on moon.
While the two nations were competing with each other on many fronts. The other countries of the world took their sides, some went with US while others supported USSR. India was a part of the non aligned movement. However India's relations with Soviet Union was very good.
When India attacked and annexed Goa in 1961, UK and USA moved a resolution condemning the act in United Nations. The resolution was however vetoed by USSR. Similarly in the 1965 and 1971 Indo - Pak wars, it was due to the Soviet Union that powers like UK, USA desisted from attacking India. In the 1965 US was a supporter of Pakistan and had supplied the latest tanks to the nation. In spite of having the latest tanks Pakistan lost the war.
In the 1971 India-Pakistan war that resulted in liberation of Bangladesh. The US, UK and China were in support of Pakistan but due to Soviet Union they were not able to take any drastic action on India. Russia has been one of the biggest military suppliers to India. We received a lot of help from Soviet Union in the initial stages of our space program. The cryogenic engines supplied by Russia were used in our GSLV till we developed our own cryogenic engine.
The world has changed a lot since then the attitudes of USA and UK has changed towards India. US in particular has realized its folly of supporting Pakistan after the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre and its aftermath where it had to spend huge amount of resources in tracking down laden in Pakistan and killing him. Many US soldiers have lost their lives in the last decade in the war against terror. US had to spend over $1.7 trillion (1,700,000,000,000) in the war against terror that started after the September 11 attacks.
The cold war ended with the division of USSR, the USSR was economically destroyed because it followed a socialist system which ended up breeding lot of corruption and made the nation bankrupt. The world was no longer polarized. The attitudes of US and UK towards India changed, maybe due to the big number of scientists, doctors, engineers, businessmen etc from India living in this countries might have played some role.
Even after USSR, Russia is a world power and a major weapons supplier to India. India is now militarily strong enough not to be bullied by other nations, India is also a nuclear power. However the first few decades after independence of India was tough. With a few key nations against it survival was difficult. Russia in spite of being a communist nation had helped India during those tough times. India must always maintain good long term relations with Russia which is now turning into a democracy with market economy.
