The author highlights the Political relation of India- Myanmar as a journey of several ups and downs.

Earlier from
1948-1962 the relations had been very cordial and cooperative as India helped Burma in the state building process
and also in holding back the revolts. In 1951, both nations established a diplomatic tie through a Treaty of
Friendship, but the military takeover detoriated the further relationship between the two. This remained unresolved
as India had wanted to restore democracy in Myanmar. However, after 26 years of military rule, large masses had
begun to demand for a civilian rule. On 2 March 1962, the military led by General Ne Win took control of Burma
through a coup d'etat, and the government had been under direct or indirect control by the military since then. On
May 1990, the government held free multiparty elections for the first time in almost 30 years, and the National
League for Democracy (NLD), the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, won. After the end of the cold war era, Myanmar
had begun to focus on the India’s ‘Look East Policy’, led both the nations to cultivate friendly relationship. In 1994,
bilateral talks between both the nations resulted in signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to
maintain peace along the border and promising Myanmar not to interfere in its internal political courses by India.
During Indian Prime Minister I.K.Gujral’s tenure, focus had been more on human rights and restoration of
democracy in Myanmar. On 6 November, 2003 Indian Vice President B.S. Shekhawat visited Myanmar and had
signed seven agreements. However, India and Myanmar also engaged in several protocols to establish regular
bilateral ministerial consultations and cooperative projects regarding energy, infrastructure and IT on 2003, January.

However, Aneek sir had explained the relations between the two nations as heading towards improvement with the
visit of General Than Shwe to India on 2004, the first visit by Myanmar’s Head of state in 24years to India. This
bilateral visit had led in the signing of two major Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding Cooperation in
the Non-Traditional Security field and the Tamanthi Hydroelectric Project on Chindwin River in Myanmar. Also,
agreements related to cultural engagements in context of infrastructure and energy, communications, science and
technology and health had been cooperatively explored. General Shwe promised India to address issues related to
insurgency in the India’s North-eastern region. During the official visit of Indian President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
several grants had been taken into account such as 1.3 million dollars for enhancing Ground Receiving Station at
Yangon, 10 million dollars for the Kaladan multi-mosal transport project, 20 million dollars for heavy duty water
pumps etc. Moreover, the two countries had cooperatively executed in the fields of automobile, textiles, agro-based
industries, river and land based transportation, security challenges, the Settwe port in Myanmar and Tamu-Kalewa-
Kalemyo road project. On the visit of Vice Senior General Maung Aye to India on April 2008, several agreements
were signed such as Framework for construction and operation of a Multi-Modal Transit Transport Facility on
Kaladan River; Intelligence Exchange Cooperation and avoidance of Double Taxation. On February 2009, two
major agreements related to setting up of Myanmar-India Industrial Training Centre at Pakokku and Myanmar-India
Centre for English Languages Training was signed. Furthermore, Senior General Than Shwe’s another visit to India
in 2010 had led to the signing of Treaty on Mutual Assistance in criminal matters, MoU regarding Indian Grant
Assistance for Implementation of small developmental projects, MoU on information cooperation, conservation and
restoration of Ananda Temple in Bagan etc.

The author stressed on the India and Myanmar's membership of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC), had introduced a
regional dimension to bilateral relations and imparted added significance in the context of India’s "Act East" policy.
Due to the series of mutual visits and exchanges, Indo-Myanmar relations had assumed a concrete shape since the
beginning of the 21st century. However, the close ties between both the nations had begun under the leadership of
A.B.Vajpayee in 1998 through the initiation of Look-East Policy. The realist policy structure guided a close contact
with Myanmar due to India’s geo-strategic importance. Moreover, the 2015 General Elections of Myanmar had been
expecting India’s back sue to its restoration of democracy in Myanmar.