With the emergence of India and African countries as free nations, it was acknowledged that they had a vital role to play in forging new relationships based on the principles of equality and mutual respect for one another. It was also considered important that they should promote friendship, understanding, and goodwill on a people-to-people basis through non-official agencies. This is how the Indian Council for Africa came into being in 1959, under the stewardship of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mrs Indira Gandhi as its Chief Patron. It was realised, however, that the Council, to be effective, should be as representative and national in character as possible, and one can therefore find a wide cross-section of Indian public opinion reflected in its membership. This includes eminent public figures, members of parliament, educationists, social workers, scholars, journalists, and businessmen.