Dissension

Not only was there much argument between delegations and between groups of nations represented, but there was major dissention within the delegations of India and Indonesia. On the first day of the conference delegates from nine countries—Pakistan, Ceylon, Malaya, Afghanistan, Iran, Japan, India, the Philippines and Indonesia agreed to walk out if political issues not directly related to students affairs were brought up. It is known that Pakistan, Malaya, and the Philippines were leaders in the walkout move, and that the Indian and Indonesian delegations would split on the decision whether to stage the walkout.

A meeting in the lobby of a Bandung hotel to discuss this matter broke up in disorder when two rival Indian delegates each claimed to be leader of the Indian delegation. Each delegate was noisily supported by rival factions in the Indian delegation, and the chairman adjourned the meeting to the conference hall. The cause of the split was not immediately clear, though it later turned out that one group, led by Pran Sabharwal, declared itself to be "non-Communist"—the other faction presumably being "pro-Communist."

In the conference hall it was announced that after the opening speech of the Indonesian delegation leader the conference would adjourn. Sabharwal immediately objected, his objection was over-ruled and the Philippines delegate on the IPC stepped down from the rostrum and supported him from the floor. Further uproar broke out between the Indian factions and the meeting was eventually adjourned until further notice.

On June 6 the conference split into five "commissions" to discuss real student problems for the first time since the conference began a week earlier.

On June 7 the conference concluded in official accord but not without last-minute bitterness. A heated exchange occurred between members of the Indian and Pakistan delegations; India had sought conference support for the freedom of Goa, but Pakistan objected, and for the sake of unanimity the steering committee rejected the Indian proposal.