Question

Why did countries such as india and indonesia join the nonaligned movement during the cold war?

Answer 1

They wanted to avoid the strife and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union

As the superpowers in the Cold War, the USA and the USSR, sought to line up countries in allegiance with their positions, a group of nations emphasized the importance for remaining non-aligned.  One of the leaders of the non-alignment movement, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, said in a speech in 1948:  "When we say our policy is one of non-alignment, obviously we mean non-alignment with military blocs."  The Non-Aligned Movement held its first conference in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1961.  The members of the movement saw the siding up being done in the Cold War as a path to increasing world tension and conflict, and sought to remain non-aligned for the sake of preserving peace and equal opportunity for development.

Answer 2

They hoped to avoid being drawn into costly conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union.