p On January 26, 1980 India marked the 30th anniversary of its Constitution in keeping with which it was proclaimed a republic.

p For many years the Indian people fought heroically against British colonialism. Headed by Mahatma Gandhi 351 this struggle for national independence culminated in a victory in August 1947.

p In 1950 another major step was taken to strengthen national independence and the Indian state. Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru India reorganised its state system, abolished feudal fragmentation and introduced the first stages of the agrarian reform. Nehru worked to promote the country’s industrialisation and planned economic development. The state sector that was set up on his initiative now occupies the dominating position in a whole range of economic branches. It accounts for nearly 40 per cent of India’s gross industrial output. The state controls the entire railway and air transport, 85 per cent of all bank assets, 80 per cent of the import and 25 per cent of the export.

p Nehru laid the foundations of the policy of non-alignment. He was a staunch opponent of colonialism and racism and actively worked for world peace and security, for relaxation of international tensions, and for closer friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union, These principles became the groundwork of India’s peace-loving foreign policy. And today they are consistently implemented by India’s outstanding political leader Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

p Since independence the 650 million strong people of India have made great strides. A country which thirty years ago imported practically all industrial goods now builds modern ships and aircraft, sophisticated machinetools and equipment, develops its electronic and chemical industries and has made very considerable progress in science, culture, education and health service. Indian scientists have developed and put into orbit two earth satellites with the help of Soviet booster rockets and are conducting research in the peaceful use of atomic energy. In terms of industrial output India is now among the world’s 10 leading industrial countries.

p There has been marked progress in agriculture. It is very important Tor a country which was frequently plagued by famine in the colonial period to increase the production of food.

p Now India annually grows 120 million tons of grain, that is, more than double the amount harvested thirty 352 years ago. This is a result of the great attention paid to agriculture, the large capital investments, and the dedicated labour of the Indian peasants. In the past five years allocations for agriculture increased more than six-fold as compared with the first five-year plan period, and totalled more than 40 billion rupees. In keeping with special plans the government introduced agricultural techniques, built industries manufacturing farm machinery and carried out electrification and irrigation projects. More than 350,000 tractors, or several times as many as a decade ago, now service India’s farms, and over 220,000 villages have been electrified.

p The Indian people have made serious progress in the development of health service. In thirty years the number of doctors in the country increased by more than 2.5 times, and that of junior medical personnel by more than five times. Special attention is being paid to health service in the rural areas. In 1950 there was not a single medical station in the countryside, whereas now their number is close to 45 thousand. For many years already there have been no disastrous epidemics of cholera and malaria which used to take a toll of thousands of lives. Since 1975 not a single incidence of small-pox has been registered in the country.

p A great deal of attention is also attached to education. Today compulsory primary education has been introduced practically throughout India. Children are guaranteed free primary, and in some provinces, also free secondary education. Universities and senior colleges have approximately 9 times the number of students they had in 1950.

p A major role in strengthening India’s economic independence is played by Soviet-Indian economic, scientific and technical cooperation. In February 1980 it was 25 years since the conclusion of the Soviet-Indian agreement on the construction of a metallurgical plant at Bhilai, which was the first step in establishing mutually beneficial economic links. Since then more than 70 industrial projects have been either completed or are in the process of construction or design. They include smeltries, machine-building plants, oil refineries, power stations and other large enterprises which make up the foundation of the Indian industry.

p The gains of the Indian people are obvious. But there are still many urgent socio-economic problems confronting the country. These problems and .also those associated with stability and law and order occupied a prominent place during the recent election campaign.

p The parliamentary elections which took place at the beginning of 1980 and brought the Indian National Congress headed by Indira Gandhi to power showed that it enjoys the broad support of the voters who believe that it will be able to help the country to overcome economic difficulties, raise the standard of living and safeguard the legitimate rights of the religious minorities and the former members of the lower castes.

p Left-wing forces have also strengthened their positions in parliament. For the first time in the past 15 years both parties of the Indian Communists acted in a united front. In many respects this was due to their identical attitude on many questions of domestic policy as well as to the fact that they are beginning to draw closer to each other in terms of their appraisal of a whole range of international events. Both parties criticised the Sino-American alliance, condemned Peking’s aggression in Vietnam and supported the just struggle of the peoples of Angola, Kampuchea and Afghanistan against imperialist provocations. The Communist Party of India regards the growing unity of the left-wing forces as an important condition for the further successful struggle for the interests of the working people, for India’s advance along the road of peace, democracy and social progress.

p India’s foreign policy principles which were formulated by Jawaharlal Nehru, namely, the policy of non-alignment, consistent struggle against all forms of racism and colonialism, efforts to strengthen international security and peace are supported by broad sections of the Indian people. The entire nation approves the course of further strengthening friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union which in time of need has unfailingly rendered the Indian people economic, political and other support.

p The Soviet Union is India’s true friend, said Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It helped India in its economic development and supported its stand on many important international problems. It has always helped the 354 Afro-Asian countries in their struggle for freedom.

p The close, friendly relations between the Soviet Union and India have been reliably bulwarked by the SovietIndian Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation.

p Soviet-Indian friendship and cooperation are developing and strengthening to the benefit of the peoples of both countries and play an important role in consolidating the forces of peace, democracy and national independence in Asia and throughout the world.

“Close political and economic cooperation with the Republic of India is our constant policy,” Leonid Brezhnev told the 25th Congress of the CPSU. “Soviet people appreciate and, more, are in solidarity with India’s peaceloving foreign policy and the courageous efforts of her progressive forces to solve the country’s difficult socioeconomic problems.”  [354•*