Relevance of Indo-Soviet economic relations

Indo-Soviet economic relations have played a big role in India's economic development since early 1950s. Thanks to the economic and technical cooperation with the Soviet Union, India now possesses a strong and powerful public sector comprising a whole range of basic and heavy industries and defence production units among others. This growing cooperation has enabled India to withstand

imperialist pressures and Western neo colonial designs. It is, to a large extent, due to our economic and technical cooperation that the country was able to fight out aggressions and invasions backed by the world's strongest power. The fast expansion in Indo-Soviet trade relations has lessened India's dependence on Western markets and has found better prices for its traditional exports because its bargaining position has improved.

While there has been wide popular support to growing economic and technical ties between India and the USSR, certain sections in the country have made them a subject of criticisms and, at times, of malicious attacks and, even vilifications. A number of books and articles have been published, some even in so-called learned journals.

The purpose of this monograph is to examine these criticisms and attacks on the basis of concrete facts and arguments drawn mainly from the published writings of objective experts. Since this monograph may be of use to laymen also, simplicity of style and of presentation of facts and arguments is one of the prime considerations in its drafting.