Strengthening the ties of friendship between student and youth organizations of India and the USSR in the 1960–1970s

After the beginning of the Khrushchev “thaw”, relations between the Soviet Union and the other countries underwent some changes. The borders opened, and young people were able to get to know life in the USSR with their own eyes. Student and youth organizations forged links with the foreign associations, including Indian ones. At that time, the Soviet Union established not only political, but also cultural and scientific contacts with India. Cooperation between scientists and students provided an opportunity to share the latest achievements, and also create a solid basis for further collaboration between scientific communities and governments. The VI World Festival of Youth and Students became the first event attended by ordinary Indian citizens. Despite the complicated global situation, Indians were able to form their own opinion about the country, and also began to organize joint seminars and festivals. Indian youth and student organizations cooperated with the Committee of Youth Organizations and in 1971 held one of the first joint events, the Week of Friendship between Soviet and Indian Youth. It became another step towards strengthening ties between India and the USSR. The establishment of wider contacts between young people in those years can serve as an example for student associations in modern Russia. Today it is necessary to develop scientific cooperation between countries, and the younger generations can become a connecting link. This article examines archival documents that were not largely used in studies of the lives of students and youth of the USSR and India

Economic growth · Economics · Friendship · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Indian History and Philosophy