{"id":360341,"date":"2026-04-08T20:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=360341"},"modified":"2026-04-08T22:28:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T16:58:48","slug":"in-delhis-support-for-arab-gulf-a-return-of-the-bombay-school-of-thought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/in-delhis-support-for-arab-gulf-a-return-of-the-bombay-school-of-thought\/","title":{"rendered":"In Delhi\u2019s support for Arab Gulf, a return of the Bombay school of thought"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 2- <\/strong>International relation<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Gulf has now become a top strategic priority for India<\/strong>, especially during the ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf. It is not a distant region but India\u2019s immediate neighbourhood with strong economic and social ties. India\u2019s response shows a clear shift in thinking. This shift reflects a return to an older strategic idea, where maritime connections and Gulf relations are central to India\u2019s security and growth. In Delhi\u2019s support for Arab Gulf, a return of the Bombay school of thought.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

What are \u201cBombay School of thought\u201d and \u201cLudhiana School of thought\u201d?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Bombay School of thought:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Maritime outlook:<\/strong>It sees India\u2019s security starting from the sea and focuses on trade, ports, and naval strength. It treats the Gulf, Persia, and Arabian regions as the outer layer of India\u2019s defence.<\/p>\n

    Policy tools: <\/strong>It uses diplomacy, trade, and naval presence to shape regional politics. Control of sea lanes and influence in coastal regions are seen as key instruments.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Ludhiana School of though:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Continental outlook: <\/strong>It focuses on land borders and sees threats coming through regions like Afghanistan. It gives priority to land-based defence and frontier control.<\/p>\n

      Policy tools: <\/strong>It relies on military presence, alliances with local forces, and political influence in border regions. Afghanistan is treated as the central buffer for India\u2019s security.<\/p>\n

      Evolution of India\u2019s Security Approach<\/strong><\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. Colonial roots of the debate: <\/strong>The strategic divide began during the Great Game after external threats exposed India\u2019s western vulnerabilities. Two different approaches to defence emerged from this period.<\/li>\n
      2. Shift after Anglo-Afghan experience: <\/strong>The First Anglo-Afghan War showed the risks of deep continental involvement. Yet, land-focused thinking continued to dominate.<\/li>\n
      3. Post-independence continental focus: <\/strong>After 1947, India focused on defending land borders with Pakistan. Trade, ports, and maritime strategy became less important.<\/li>\n
      4. Decline of maritime centres: <\/strong>Major port cities lost importance as Delhi became the main centre of power. Strategic thinking became more land-oriented.<\/li>\n
      5. Revival after economic reforms: <\/strong>The 1990s reforms brought trade and global integration back. This gradually restored attention to maritime strategy and external economic links.<\/li>\n
      6. Continued continental pressure:<\/strong> Despite this revival, persistent land threats kept India\u2019s strategic focus largely tied to the continent.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Why is the Gulf suddenly so important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
          \n
        1. Geographical proximity: <\/strong>The Gulf lies very close to India, separated only by a narrow stretch of water. It is part of India\u2019s immediate strategic environment, not a distant region.<\/li>\n
        2. Economic and social linkages: <\/strong>India has deep connections with the Gulf through labour, trade, and cultural ties. These links make the region highly important for India\u2019s stability.<\/li>\n
        3. Diaspora and remittances: <\/strong>Nearly 9 million Indians live and work in the Gulf<\/strong>, sending around $50 billion annually<\/strong>. This makes the region vital for India\u2019s economy.<\/li>\n
        4. Energy and logistics dependence: <\/strong>India depends heavily on the Gulf for energy and trade routes. This creates a strong strategic need to ensure stability in the region.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Re-emergence of the Bombay School in Present Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n
            \n
          1. Rise of the Gulf region: <\/strong>The rapid growth of oil-rich Gulf countries increased their importance for India. The region became central to India\u2019s economy and external engagement.<\/li>\n
          2. Shift from Iran to Arab Gulf: <\/strong>After 1979, Iran\u2019s confrontational politics limited engagement. Arab Gulf countries steadily became more important for India.<\/li>\n
          3. Return of maritime thinking: <\/strong>India is now focusing on sea routes, trade, and Gulf relations. This reflects a clear revival of Bombay School logic.<\/li>\n
          4. Strategic centrality of the Gulf: <\/strong>The Gulf is now a key part of India\u2019s economic and social system. It acts as an extension of India\u2019s own space.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Challenges in Implementation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
              \n
            1. Persistent land threats: <\/strong>India still faces serious challenges from Pakistan along its land borders. These threats cannot be ignored while focusing on maritime strategy.<\/li>\n
            2. Need for balance: <\/strong>India cannot choose only one approach between land and sea. Both maritime and continental strategies are necessary for full security.<\/li>\n
            3. Regional instability factors: <\/strong>Pakistan continues to use proxies and extremist elements. Iran\u2019s political system also creates challenges in the region.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n
                \n
              1. Integration of two approaches: <\/strong>India needs to combine maritime strength with strong land defence. This will ensure balanced and effective security.<\/li>\n
              2. Strengthening Gulf engagement: <\/strong>India should deepen ties with Arab Gulf countries through trade, diplomacy, and security cooperation. This will strengthen its strategic position.<\/li>\n
              3. Leveraging positive regional trends: <\/strong>The Arab Gulf is showing political moderation and economic openness. This creates an opportunity for stable and long-term partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                India\u2019s growing support for the Gulf shows a clear return to maritime thinking rooted in the Bombay School. The Gulf has become central to India\u2019s economy, security, and external relations. However, India must not ignore land-based threats. The key challenge is to combine both approaches effectively.. A balanced strategy will help India secure its interests and maintain stability in a complex regional environment.<\/p>\n

                Question for Practise:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                Discuss how India\u2019s growing support for the Arab Gulf reflects a return to the Bombay School of thought, in contrast to the Ludhiana School, and examine its implications for India\u2019s strategic priorities.<\/p>\n

                Source: <\/strong>Indian Express<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 2- International relation Introduction The Gulf has now become a top strategic priority for India, especially during the ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf. It is not a distant region but India\u2019s immediate neighbourhood with strong economic and social ties. India\u2019s response shows a clear shift in thinking. This shift reflects… Continue reading In Delhi\u2019s support for Arab Gulf, a return of the Bombay school of thought<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10320,"featured_media":360364,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230],"tags":[212,10500,11997],"class_list":["post-360341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","tag-gs-paper-2","tag-indian-express","tag-international-relation","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/In-Delhis-support-for-Arab-Gulf-a-return-of-the-Bombay-school-of-thought.png?fit=1280%2C850&ssl=1","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=360341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/360364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=360341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=360341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=360341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}