When a Canadian prime minister walked through mud lanes to keep India out of the Soviet orbit

Five years after Jawaharlal Nehru travelled to Canada in 1949, Canadian Prime Minister Louis St Laurent arrived in India for a week-long visit that would leave an impression on him. From touring ancient monuments to visiting a village and addressing the Indian Parliament, St Laurent got an opportunity to see a country undergoing enormous political and social change. He would later describe it as “one of the most fruitful weeks in the whole 72 years” of his life.

The visit was part of a wider goodwill tour of three newly independent South Asian countries: Pakistan, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and India. It came at a time when the Cold War was intensifying and both the Western and Eastern blocs were seeking to cultivate influence in the region.

Canada, meanwhile, wanted to position itself as a development partner for these nations. It was among the founding members of the Colombo Plan, an intergovernmental organisation established in 1951 to improve living standards and promote regional cooperation in South and South East Asia. Supporting the region’s development was an important way for Ottawa to build goodwill for Canada and the Western bloc.

Much of St Laurent’s understanding of India came from his extensive conversations with Nehru. He appeared particularly impressed by...

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