Mains Daily Question
Dec. 11, 2023
Q.2) In post independent India, national integration and unification into one administrative unit emerged as the major challenges. Comment. (10 M/150W)
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Approach to the answer: Understanding and structuring the answer: Challenges associated with national integration and unification. Introduction: Type 1: Write about the condition of India before independence and the need for integration and unification. Type 2: Introduce with the aim/vision of national integration and unification and why challenges emerged. Body: In the main body, the candidate needs to write about the conditions that occurred before the countries after independence. The candidate can mention how national integration and unification created challenges before India and Pakistan. Conclusion: Conclusion 1: The efficacy of steps taken by the Government of India to survive the challenges. Conclusion 2: Conclude the answer with how India faced these challenges through its democratic credentials. |
Answer:
India attained its freedom on August 15, 1947. It was the end of subjugation of British rule. India had many challenges like immediate challenges consisting of administrative integration of princely states, rehabilitation of refugees and protection of Muslims and communist insurgency etc.
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Major challenges associated with national integration and unification of India in Post Independence era were: |
- Integration of Princely States: Unifying the princely states under one administration was perhaps the most important task faced by the government. Accession of the princely states of Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur proved more difficult than the rest.
- Relief and rehabilitation of refugees: Independence came with partition resulting in large scale communal violence and displacement. The government of India was successful in providing relief and resettlement and rehabilitation of nearly six million refugees from Pakistan.
- Delhi Pact 1950 signed between India and Pakistan, aimed for rehabilitation of refugees.
- Tribal integration: Integrating the tribal population into the mainstream was extremely difficult. The government of India led by Jawaharlal Nehru favored the policy of integrating the tribal people in Indian society, of making them an integral part of the Indian nation, even while maintaining their distinct identity and culture.
- There were certain broad guidelines laid down by Nehru, with the help of Verrier Elwin [British Anthropologist] which were called the "Tribal Panchsheel".
- Issue of Language: Linguistic identity during the first 20 years after independence had become a strong force and due to diversity in languages, this issue became difficult to tackle. The challenges posed to national consolidation by linguistic diversity manifested in two ways:
- Official language: After India's independence, the question of what would be the official language in India sparked a heated debate among Hindi and non-Hindi-speaking members of the Constituent Assembly. Hindi written in Devanagari was adopted as the official language and English will be used in official functions till 15 years after the promulgation of the Constitution which can be extended.
- Restructuring of states on linguistic basis: A strong movement was started to form a state based on language, especially in South India. As per the recommendations of the Fazal Ali commission, the Government of India passed the "State Reorganization Act, 1956" and the first 14 States and 6 Union Territories were formed on the basis of language.
Therefore, post-independent India had to face significant challenges in achieving national integration and unification into one administrative unit. The diversity of the country in terms of culture, language, religion, and ethnicity posed formidable obstacles to the task of building a cohesive and united nation. However, over the years, India has made significant progress in addressing these challenges.
