India joined the UN before it was even a sovereign nation
In short: In a move that defies modern logic, India became a founding member of the United Nations while still under British rule. This early commitment shaped the nation's identity as a global advocate for decolonization, human rights, and the voices of the developing world.
India signed the Declaration by United Nations on January 1, 1942, as British India. It was represented by Girija Shankar Bajpai, the Indian Agent-General. The nation officially joined the UN in October 1945, two years before gaining full independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. This unique status meant that India was one of four original members—alongside Belarus, the Philippines, and Ukraine—that were not independent states at the time of admission.
Once independent, India leveraged its founding status to become a leading voice against colonialism and apartheid. In 1946, it was the first country to raise the issue of racial discrimination in South Africa at the UN. Indian delegates also played a pivotal role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights between 1947 and 1948. Notably, Dr. Hansa Mehta successfully advocated for changing the text from 'all men are created equal' to 'all human beings' to ensure gender equality was reflected in the document.
Despite its progressive stance on human rights, India's approach to the UN's structure was fundamentally conservative. New Delhi accepted the distribution of power and the Security Council veto, viewing them as necessary checks on the numerical dominance of the United States and its allies. However, this pragmatism often clashed with reality. For instance, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's decision to refer the 1948 Kashmir conflict to the Security Council is often criticized by modern commentators who argue he failed to realize the UN was an arena of power politics rather than an impartial police force.
Following a military defeat in the Sino-Indian War, India's global role shifted. The post-Nehru leadership adopted a lower profile, moving toward a policy of bilateralism. While the UN remained an arena for maintaining contacts, India began to prioritize direct strategic victories and bilateral relations over the slow, often indecisive processes of the United Nations Security Council.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: India and the United Nations
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