Question

Which of the following statements about the Panchsheel Treaty are true?

• A. It demanded that nations pursue a 'live and let live' policy
• B. 'Panch' means five, and 'sheel' means agreements
• C. The principal signatories were Jawaharlal Nehru and Chou En Lai
• D. The treaty was signed at the UN Conference in 1953

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (C)

The principal signatories were Jawaharlal Nehru and Chou En Lai

Panchsheel is a combination of two Sanskrit words: ‘Panch’ means ‘five’, and ‘sheel’ means ‘virtues’. The five principles according to this treaty were:

• Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty
• Mutual non-aggression
• Mutual non-interference
• Equality and cooperation for mutual benefit
• Peaceful co-existence

The principles were emphasised by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Premier Zhou Enlai after signing the Sino-Indian Agreement in Beijing. The five principles were subsequently modified in a form of a statement of ten principles issued in April 1955 at the historic Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia.