ignored Eu rope but simply that over time the Zionists became more
U.S.- centric. India did not fi t into any of these categories. It was a colony
of the British Empire, and if its economic clout was small, its po liti cal
infl uence was even less. It was not in a position to promote and further
Zionist interests internationally.
Moreover, countries with signifi cant Jewish populations drew the con-
siderable interest and attention of the Zionist leadership. Their success in
Palestine depended heavily upon the solidarity and support of the Jews in
the Diaspora and their identifi cation with Zionist goals and tactics. The
solidarity of the Jewish community with their goals in Palestine resulted
in the Zionist leadership paying attention to larger communities in dif-
ferent parts of the world. Even on that account, India was not an impor-
tant player. Its tiny Jewish population meant that the Zionists had little
interest in India.^63
Finally, the Jews in India were historically free from the persecution
and ill treatment that had plagued them in Eu rope for centuries. The
tolerant and assimilationist nature of Hinduism meant that there were
fewer reasons for Jews to mark and maintain their distinct religious iden-
tity. Hinduism is apprehensive of proselytizing religions such as Christi-
anity and Islam, but Judaism has never posed that type of threat. Histori-
cally, Hinduism and the Hindu- dominated Indian society have been
extremely accommodating of Judaism and Jews. Anti- Semitism as it is
universally understood has not existed in India.^64 On the other hand, this
tolerant environment meant that India was not a crisis area that required
the utmost attention of the Zionist leadership. Indian Jews were not a
beleaguered community. Ironic as it sounds, Zionism often thrived on
anti- Semitism. The rise of anti- Semitism led to an increase in Zionist con-
sciousness among Jews and vice versa. In the absence of anti- Semitism,
Zionism never took hold in India.
These facts lead us to an inevitable counterquestion. If India lacked any
economic, po liti cal, or demographic incentives, why did the Zionists make
any eff orts at all in courting India?
Why Was India Important?
Israel has long been critical of its “unrequited love aff air” with
India.^65 The indiff erence and unfriendliness of the Indian nationalists fi g-
ure prominently in its discourse. India’s “unsympathetic and hostile stand”
58 the congress party and the yishuv