The concept of non-alignment originated at the end of the second world war. During the war and even after the war the allied powers- america, british and russia- got into agreements with the satellite nations which joined them. Two power blocks arose- the western and the eastern. The economically poor and the wa-ravaged small states divided themselves and some joined the western block while the others joined the eastern block. Many of them did so o ideological considerations too.

But there were some countries like India which didn’t join either block on account of their convictions. They did not like one major power suspecting and attacking another power. Besides, if they joined either of the two power blocks, they would lose their independence and freedom to decide issues on their merits.Prime minister Nehru of India, President Nasser of Egypt and President Tito of Yugoslavia created a neutral block. The members of the neutral block would not take sides with warring nations. This neutral attitude was condemned and resented by both the power blocks. Nevertheless, it grew in strength and moral power year after year.

The policy of non-alignment is based on neutral policy adopted by the neutral block. The non-aligned nations have become a great group in international politics. The objectives of the  Non-alignment movement as follows:
The non-aligned nations stand for peace in the world. They want greater understanding and cooperation among the nations of the world. They fearlessly criticize the unjust party or the wrong-doer, and support the just and the right. They favor disarmament and condemn racial discrimination. They champion the cause of the subject nations, still suffering under the oppression of  colonialism and imperialism and help them to become free and independent.

The NAM has made all the nations treat the INdian Ocean as a zone o peace. It protested against the Iran-Iraq war and the keeping of foreign troops in Afghanistan. It has been seriously recommending nuclear disarmament, preservation of human rights and international economic cooperation.The first meeting of non-aligned nations was held at Belgrade inn 1961. The subsequent meetings were held at Cariro (1964), Lusaka and some other nations. The seventh meeting was held at New Delhi in 1983. There were 101 nations as the members of the NAM. On account of the Iran-Iraq war, the seventh meeting could not be held at Baghdad as originally scheduled.

Mrs. Indhira Gandhi, prime minister of India, presided over the seventh meeting. She appealed to America and Russia to give up their arms race and threats to world peace with their nuclear weapons. She also condemned the Iran-Iraq war, the anarchy in Afghanistan's, the Israeli aggression and the apartheid in south africa. She supported Palestine and Namibia in their struggle for independence. There were differences in the opinions of the other members on the subjects under discussions. But they expressed them without bitterness or ill-will. Mr. Perez de Cuellar, secretary general o the U.N suggested that the NAM nations should support the U.N resolutions  to end the conflicts in the different parts of the world.  It was suggested that there should be a third-world bank to safeguard the interests of the third world countries.

The members who attended the meeting were satisfied with the proceedings and returned home with the confidence that the NAm could do something for their improvement and for world peace. By and by, they condemned the American bombing of Libya and the apartheid in South America.