Context
- The evolving situation in West Asia, particularly tensions involving Iran and the Gulf, has brought renewed focus on India’s strategic orientation towards the Arab Gulf region.
- India’s current approach reflects a revival of the Bombay School of geopolitical thought, which emphasises maritime engagement and economic linkages.
- This debate highlights two enduring strategic traditions in India’s foreign policy, namely the Bombay School and the Ludhiana School.
Bombay School of Thought
- The Bombay School emerged during the colonial period and was shaped by commercial and maritime interests of western India.
- It viewed India’s security as extending beyond its borders, particularly towards Persia and the Arabian Sea region.
- Thinkers such as John Malcolm and Mountstuart Elphinstone conceptualised the Gulf as the outer ring of India’s defence.
- The approach emphasised sea control, trade routes, and naval power as essential instruments of security.
- It promoted an outward-looking strategy based on diplomacy, commerce, and maritime connectivity.
- British expansion of naval presence in the Persian Gulf and alliances with coastal principalities reflected this thinking.
- The Bombay School considered ports, commerce, and economic integration as central to India’s geopolitical influence.
- In the contemporary period, this approach is reflected in India’s engagement with the Gulf through energy, trade, remittances, and diaspora linkages.
Ludhiana School of Thought
- The Ludhiana School emerged from continental concerns, particularly focusing on north-western frontiers and land-based threats.
- It emphasised defending India through forward positions in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
- The approach relied on military presence, tribal alliances, and political influence in frontier regions.
- The First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42) reflected attempts to operationalise this strategy.
- Even after Independence, this thinking influenced India’s focus on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and continental security challenges.
- It prioritised territorial defence, border management, and countering external invasions.
- The Ludhiana School remains relevant due to persistent challenges along India’s land borders.
Analysis
- India’s geopolitical strategy has historically oscillated between maritime and continental orientations.
- The revival of the Bombay School indicates a shift towards recognising the importance of the Indian Ocean and Gulf region in national security.
- Economic factors such as energy imports, remittances, and trade flows strengthen the case for maritime engagement.
- However, continental challenges, including tensions along borders and regional instability, continue to require Ludhiana School considerations.
- A balanced approach is necessary, integrating maritime outreach with continental security priorities.
- India’s current policy reflects this synthesis, where it seeks to anchor maritime influence while maintaining strong land-based deterrence.
Conclusion
- India’s geopolitical thinking is shaped by the interplay of the Bombay and Ludhiana Schools, each addressing different dimensions of security. A pragmatic strategy lies in combining maritime expansion with continental stability, enabling India to navigate an increasingly complex regional environment.
