India, April 16 -- In April 1955, a decade after World War II ended, the world was completely bipolar and divided into two blocs - North Atlantic Treasty Organization (NATO) led by the US and the Warsaw Pact led by the Soviet Union. Coping with an unprecedented polarisation, a few Asian leaders felt bold enough to convene 29 nations from Asia and Africa to participate in the first-ever Asian-African Conference held in Bandung, near Jakarta - the Indonesian capital. This historic meeting devised and declared the Ten Principles or Dasasila of Bandung to guide inter-State relations.

These principles included respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, respect for fundamental human rights, equality of all races, non...