LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT A STUDY OF SOUTH ASIAN EXPERIENCE SINCE 1967 ABSTRACT THESIS SUBMITTED FOP the auDard of the Degree of iBottor of ^IjiloSopIjp IN POLITICAL SCIENCE BY ALI M. S. ALGHAMDY M. A., M. Phil Under the supervision of PROFESSOR A. S. BEG DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 1990 - 8 AUG 1992 LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT : A STUDY OF SOUTH ASIAN EXPERIENCE SINCE 1967 Abstract This study undertakes an analysis of political leader­ ship through case studies of four major political leaders in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, namely, Indira Gandhi, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaikh Mujibur Rahman. It is a cofnparative study of these four leaders from the year 1967 when all of them came to the lime light whether in power (Mrs. Indira Gandhi) or in opposition (the other three) till the year 1977 — the year all of them lost power with the exception of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman v^o was killed two years earlier in a military coup. The study is divided into five chapters. The first one deals with leadership in a theoretical framework in the light of leadership styles in the South Asian region. Itie other four chapters are on each of the leaders selected for this study. The second chapter discusses the leadership pattern in Pakistan commencing from, the freedom struggle until the post-Independence period, analysing in detail tne leadership of Z.A. Bhutto right frorr his early life till his douTifall in a bloodless military coup led by General Zia-ul-Haq in 1977. Itiis chapter analyses the conditions that led to a crisis in Bhutto's leadership culminating in his execution in 1979. The third chapter attempts a study of the leadership of the biggest democracy in the world — India frotr the pre- independence days till the assumption of power by Indira Gandhi. The chapter traces the trajectory of Indira Gandhi's pclitical leadership from her childhood till she became Prime minister, analysing her performance/ her successes and failures. The chapter in particular, examines her capabilities which were instrumental in the creation of Bangladesh and her drawbacks that led to her miserable defeat in the general election of 1977. It also discusses her returning to power after less than three years with landslide victory. In the background of the political situation in Bengal from the British days through the Pakistan period till the creation of Bangladesh, chapter four is a detailed study of the rise of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman starting from his career as a student leader in Calcutta, to his assumption of power, first as President of the newly bom nation of Bangladesh and then as Prime Minister of that nation. Against this oackdrop, the chapter attempts to put into perspective and analyses i»1ujib's policies in independent Bangladesh leading to the period of a bloody coup in which Mujibur Rahman and his entire family were massacred. The fifth chapter discusses the background of political leadership in the island nation of Sri Lanka tracing the ups and downs in the qualities of leadership before and iirmediately after the independence of that country. It discusses the leader­ ship of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, highlighting her early life, her education and alliance with the seasoned politician/ S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. It gives a detailed account of the political crisis prevailing in the country as a result of the assassi­ nation of Mr. Bandaranaike and the factors leading to the aner- gence of Mrs. Bandaranaike which led her to become the first woman Prime Minister not only in her country but in the world. The chapter studies her performance as a nation leader, her success in the field of foreign relations and her failure in solving the social and economic problems of the country. Special mention is made of her alliance with the left parties which compelled her to accommodate different points of view and the consequences thereof. The sixth and concluding chapter provides a summary of the previous chapters. It also raises some questions on the differing styles of leadership between women cind men that emerged from this study. The nature and scope of the present study required both primary and secondary rraterials which were collected during the researcher's stay in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. A special visit to Sri Lanka was made for the purpose. Interviev^'s with many senior and important dignitaries were conducted in each of these countries. Anongst the leaders under study here, a detailed interview was conducted with Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. Other essential information and material was retrieved through close interaction with scholars in the field in each of the four countries. LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT A STUDY OF SOUTH ASIAN EXPERIENCE SINCE 1967 THESIS SUBMITTED FOP the dOJdPd of the Degree of ©octor of ^tiilosopljp IN POLITICAL SCIENCE BY ALI M. S. ALGHAMDY M. A.. M. Phil Under the supervision of PROFESSOR A. S. BEG DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 1990 T4036 AZAO r '*>cc No, 14 J ^.03€ .^ Spi •'^$ AUG!992 r^^^ C"^^ CONTENTS Preface Acknowledgements Table of Contents CHAPTER Page No. I WHAT IS POLITICAL LEADERSHIP 1 Problem of Approach or Methodology Aspects of Leadership Social and Political Environment of Leadership Development of Leadership in South Asia II LEADERSHIP CRISIS IN PAKISTAN 24 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Managing Home Foreign Policy Economic Policies Labour Reforms Lcind Reforms Tackling the Army Bhutto and the Opposition Elections and the Fall III LEADERSHIP CRISIS IN INDIA 81 Leadership of Indira Gandhi Indira Gandhi's Socialism Bank Nationalisation 11 Page No. Indira Gandhi's Battle against Poverty, Planning and Economic IDevelopment Secularism and National Integration Indira Gandhi cind the Congress Split Emergency Rule and the Fall of Indira Gandhi India's Foreign Policy under Indira Gandhi Indira Gandhi and Non-Alignment India's Relations with the Super Powers Under India Gandhi's Leadership India's Relation with U.S.A. Relation with USSR Relation with China Relation with Neighbours The End of Indira Gandhi IV LEADERSHIP CRISIS IN BANGLADESH 162 Mujib Leadership Mujib's Early Life and Family Background The Six Point Programme Economic Policy Foreign Policy V LELOE31SHIP CRISIS IN SRI LANKA 231 Leadership of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Constitutional Reforms Safe Guarding the Regime Mi:, anaoefnent of the Tamil Problen Ill Page No. Economic Policy : Era of Crisis Government Finance Financing of Import, 1971-77 Sirimavo's Reforms Foreign Policy Under Sirimavo's Government Role in Non-Aligned Movement Sirimavo as an Advocate of Peace in Indian Ocean Sirimavo's Policy Towards China/ Pakistan and India Decline and Downfall of Mrs. Bandaranaike VI COSICLUSION 310 BIBLIOGRAPHY 332 APPENTDIX F'RCf'A':'!- This study is the outcore cf nvy' experiencer and en'i'O'jn- ters in the countries of the region of South Asia over the past 25 years. As a diplomat in the Saudi Arabia's foreign service/ I was first posted to work in the Saudi Arabian Emba­ ssy in Pakistan in the year 1965. Few months after my arrival in Karachi, the war broke up between India and Pakistan which gave me a rare exposure to the political, economic and social affairs of the sub-continent. Ttie ceasefire, the subsequent suimit conference which was held in Tashkent and attended by Lai Bahadur Shastri of India and field Marshal Mohd. Ayub Khcin of Pakistan on the initiative of the Soviet Union that culminated in what is known as Tashkent declaration increased my curiosity and academic interest in the politics of the sub-continent. The untimely denise of Lai Bahadur Shastri and the succession of Indira Gandhi, the rift between Ayub Khan and his foreign minister Z.A. Bhutto and the emergence of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman as the absolute leader of the Bengalis and also the downfall of Mrs. Bandaranaike in Sri Lanka after the election, created a daunting curiosity in my mind and convinced me that there is an urgent need tc stud>' the poli­ tical leadership of the South Asian region. ] 1 The year 1969 witnessed the dov-nfaJl of Av-jr K^sr in Pakistan and subsequently the rise of Z.A. Bhutto. In India, Indira Gandhi emerged stronger after the split i- the Congress party, while Mujib became the undisputed leader of the then East Pakistan. hJot only that/ when Yahya Khan declared that free and fair elections would be held soon, some over- enthusiastic observers even thought that Mujib might become the future Prime Minister of the whole of PaOcistan. In Sri Lanka, Mrs. Bandaranaike regained her popularity and started preparing herself to win the election which was due in 1970 and which in fact she won. In such circumstances I found it essential to undertake a study of four major poli­ tical leaders in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, namely, Indira Gandhi, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaikh Mujibur Rahman. Itiis research is a comparative study of these four leaders from the year 1969 when all of then came to the lime light whether in power (Mrs. Indira Gandhi) or in opposition (the other three) till the year 1977 — the year all cf ther- lost power with the exception of Shaikh Mujibur Rahrrnn who was killed two years earlier in a military coup. : 1 j I have divided the study into five cnapters. In the first one I have dealt with leadersnip in a theoretical frarri--- work with special emphasis on leadership in Sojth Asian reaion. The other four chapters are on each of the leaders sele'^ted for this study. In the second chapter I have discussed the leadership crisis in Pakistan starting from the freedcxn stru­ ggle days, and touching upon the post-Independence period and discussing in deteail the leadership of Z.A.