Politics In India Since Independence Chapter 1 Challenges Of Nation Building

D.

While, it is correct that force was used but that was necessitated due to the prevailing circumstances of that time in the states like Hyderabad where a paramilitary force known as the Razakars whose communal atrocities knew no bound. They murdered, maimed and raped targeting particularly non muslim. Hence, the army was sent to control the Nizam’s forces. This led to Hyderabad’s accession to India.

According to M.K.Gandhi, there were different challenges of nation building viz. to shape a united nation, to establish democracy and to ensure the development and well-being of the entire society and not only of some sections. The problems would have arisen again and again had we been not been humble and forbearing to solve those problems. It was a fact because the partition led to one of the largest, most abrupt, unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known. It was a test for the Indian leaders as their rehabilitation was not an easy task and there was a crown of thorns on their heads.

Whereas for Jawaharlal Nehru, freedom of India was only a step. There were problems of poverty, unemployment, rehabilitation of people, harmony among people and establishing democracy but freedom has given an opportunity to solve them.

The agenda of Gandhi appeals to me because it deals with the problems as a crown of thorns and advises the leaders to remain ever wakeful on the seat of power. It advises them to be humble and forbearing.

(i) There was a Muslim minority who are so large in numbers that they cannot go anywhere else.

(ii)Everyone, irrespective of religion, must enjoy security and rights of citizens in a democratic state.

The reasons were neither ethical nor sentimental but prudential.As India has been the birth place of Buddha, Mahavira and Nanak so it was not idealistic to appropriate one particular religion. 

(i) The western region i.e., Punjab was facing the problem of refugees where persons displaced from Pakistan rehabilitation became necessary. 

(ii)While the Eastern region was facing the challenges of communalism which had led to violence.

Its most salient recommendation was that the boundaries of the state should reflect the boundaries of different languages.

(i) Common beliefs : The Indian people have common beliefs. The festivals of Dussehra, Diwali and Holi etc. are celebrated all over India. The names of festivals may be different from place to place but people have common faith and belief.

(ii) Common history : People of India have a common history. Every Indian is proud of its ancient past which was known as the golden age in history. 

(iii) Political aspirations : The Indians have been supporters of democratic institutions from the ancient time. During the Vedic period there was ‘sabha’ and ‘samiti’. 

(iv) One geographical entity : India from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari is one geographical entity. Monsoon is awaited by the people all over India. It binds the people together.

(i) Diverse religions – Hindu, Islam, Buddhism.

(ii) Many social classes – Upper classes Lower classes i.e., Scheduled castes, Backward classes.

(b) The dissimilarities are:

(i) The Soviet republics were given the right to secede from the Union.

(ii)Adoption of Communism as main principle

(c) The experiment in India worked better because it has led to unity among different groups of people. We have been able to solve our problems amicably and in a democratic way. On the other hand, Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991.

(iii)The cities were: Lahore, Amritsar and Kolkata.

This principle was recognised as the basis of the reorganisation in the Nagpur session of Congress in 1920.

Vishala Andhra movement was started which demanded Telugu speaking areas be seperated from Madras as nearly all the political forces were in favour of it.

 Potti Sriramulu, a Congress leader and a veteran Gandhian went on an indefinite fast and ultimately died after 56 days. This caused great unrest and resulted in violent outburst. Even legislators had also resigned from their seats. As a result of these events formation of a separate Andhra state was announced in December 1952.

(i) The first challenge was to shape a nation that was united, yet accommodative of the diversity in our society. India was a land of continental size and diversity. Its people spoke different languages and followed different culture and religions. At that time it aws widely believed that a country full of such kinds of diversity could not remain together for long.

(ii) The second challenge was to establish democracy. The Constitution had granted fundamental rights and extended right to vote to every citizen. India adopted Representative democracy based on the parliamentary form of goverment.The challenge was to develop democratic practices in accordance with the Constitution.

(iii) The third challenge was to ensure the development and well-being of the entire society and not only of some sections. The Constitution had adopted the principle of equality and provided special protection to socially disadvantaged groups and religious and cultural communities. The real challenge was to evolve effective policies for economic development and eradication of poverty.

(i) There was no single belt of Muslim majority areas in British India.

(ii)Not all Muslim majority areas wanted to be in Pakistan. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan or Frontier Gandhi, leader of the North West Frontier Province staunchly opposed to the two-nation theory.

(iii)Two of the Muslim majority provinces of British India Punjab and Bengal had very large areas where non-Muslims were in majority.

(iv) The fourth problem was related to ‘minorities’ on both sides of the border. They were undesirable aliens in their own home, in the land where they and their ancestors had lived for centuries. The minorities on both sides of the border were left with no choice except to leave their homes, often at a few hour’s notice.

(i) The Partition led to the largest, most-abrupt, unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known. Large number of people were killed in the name of religion. Lahore, Amritsar and Kolkata were divided in ‘communal zones’.

(ii) Minorities on both sides of the border fled their home and often secured shelter in ‘refugee camps’.

(iii) Thousands of women were abducted on both sides and were made to convert to the religion of the abductor and were forced into marriage.

(iv) The Partition led to division of properties, liabilities and assets, administrative apparatus and financial assets and things like tables-chairs and musical instrument of police band.

(v) The employees of the government and the railways were also divided.

(vi) It led to a violent separation of communities who had hitherto lived together as neighbours.

(i) The people of most of the Princely States clearly wanted to become part of the Indian Union.

(ii) The government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to some regions.

(iii)In the back drop of partition which brought into focus the contest over demarcation of territory. The integration and consolidation of the territorial boundaries of the nation had assumed supreme importance.

(i) It was hoped that if the demand for separate states on linguistic basis are accepted then the threat of division and separatism would be reduced.

(ii) Accommodation of regional demands and the formation of linguistic states were also seen as more democratic. 
 
Its effects were :

(i) It has changed the nature of democratic politics and leadership in some basic ways. The path to politics and power was now open to people other than the small English speaking elite.

(ii) It gave uniform basis to the drawing of state boundaries.

(iii) It has infact strengthened national unity contrary to the belief that it would lead to disintegration of the country.

(iv) The linguistic states underlined the acceptance of the principle of diversity. Democracy was now associated with plurality of ideas and ways of life. Much of the politics in the later period had taken place within this framework.

(ii) Punjab and West Bengal.

(iii) Delhi and Goa.

(i) Linguistic states are those created on the basis of language.

 (ii) (a) It was hoped that if the demands for separate states on linguistic basis are accepted, the threat of division and separation would be reduced.

 (b) Accommodation of regional demands and the formation of Linguistic states were seen as more democratic.
 (iii) India is country with different religions and cultures. In India principle of diversity is an accepted norms.

Sardar Vallabh Patel

India consisted of not one but two ‘people’, Hindus and Muslims. According to the Muslim League, there should be a separate country for Muslims i.e. Pakistan, and India should be of the Hindus only.

Four Princely States of India initially resisted to join the Indian Union are:

 (i) Hyderabad

 (ii) Manipur

 (iii) J & K

 (iv) Junagarh 

Consequences of Partition:

 (i) Most abrupt, unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known. There were killings and atrocities on both sides of the border. Cities like Amritsar and Kolkata divided into communal zones. People were forced to abandon their homes and move across borders, they went through immense sufferings.

 (ii) Thousands of women were abducted on both sides of the border, they were forced to change the religion and were forced into marriage. Many children were separated from their parents.

 (iii) The Partition was a division of properties, liabilities and assets as well as a political division of the country and the administrative apparatus. 
                                                                       Or

(i) The formation of Andhra Pradesh spurred the struggle for making of other states on linguistic lines in other parts of the country.

 (ii) This struggle forced the central government into appointing a State Reorganization Commission in 1953 for redrawing of the boundaries of States.

 (iii) The Commission recommended boundaries should reflect the boundaries of different languages.

 (iv) On the basis of its report, the State Reorganization Act was passed in 1956. This led to the creation of 14 States and six Union Territories. 

Language was the basis.

The challenges were-

 (i) To establish democracy

 (ii) To ensure the development and well-being of the entire society and not only of some sections.

The linguistic states underlined the acceptance of the principle of diversity.

Sardar Patel was the India’s deputy PM and the home minister during the crucial period immediately following Independence. He played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of princely states firmly but diplomatically and bringing most of them into the Indian Union.

(i) The government of free India working before the General elections has been termed as the Interim Government.

(ii) The Muslim League opposed the Indian National Congress and took the view that the princely states should be free to adopt any course they liked.

(iii) Sardar Patel played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of Princely States firmly but diplomatically and bringing most of them into the Indian Union.

Arguments for justification:

i. It is almost 60 years that the formation of Linguistic States have changed the nature of democratic politics in a positive and constructive way.

ii. Formation on the basis of language became a uniform basis for drawing the state boundaries. It has united the country rather than leading to disintegration.

iii. Regional aspirations when fulfilled, give strength to the people and make democracy a success. Many a regional aspirations are being accommodated to strengthen the democracy.

OR

Areas of agreement:

i. Development of India should mean both economic growth and social and economic justice.

ii. The matter of development can not be left to businessmen, industrialists and farmers only but the government should play a key role.

iii. The task of poverty alleviation and social and economic redistribution was being seen as the primary responsibility of Government.

Areas of disagreement:

i. Disagreement on the kind of role to be played by the government.

ii. Disagreement over the importance attached to the needs of justice if it differed from the economic growth.

iii. Disagreement on the issue of giving priority to Industries v/s Agriculture & private v/s public sector.

(i) The boundaries had to be drawn in a way so that the linguistic and cultural plurality of the country could be reflected without affecting the unity of the nation.

(ii) It was hoped that if we accept the regional and linguistic claims of all regions, the threat of division and separatism would be reduced.

(iii) The accommodation of regional demands and the formation of linguistic states were also seen as more democratic.

(iv) It is more than fifty years since the formation of states on linguistic basis, it has changed the nature of our democratic politics and leadership in some basic ways.

Two political developments in 1940s:-
i) The political competition between the Congress and the Muslim League. ii) The ‘two nation theory’ advanced by the Muslim League
ii) The British role and policy of divide and rule.

Consequences of partition of India in 1947:-
(i) The Year 1947 was the year of one of the largest, most abrupt, unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known.
(ii) There were killings and atrocities in the name of religion on both the sides.
(iii) Thousands of women were abducted.
(iv) People were forced to abandon their homes and move across the border.
(v) Women were killed by their own family members to preserve family honour.

 All others beyond SCs, STs, and OBCs, who deserve to benefit from the policy of reservation must be considered.

The goals were :
(i) Ideas of democracy / freedom / equality and secularism
(ii) The upliftment of the socially backward and disadvantaged groups (Social Justice).

Circumstance that led to the accession of Hyderabad to India :
(i) Standstill agreement with the Nizam.
(ii) Peasants revolt against the oppressive rule of the Nizam, also supported by women.
(iii) The Communists and Congress were in the forefront of the movement.
(iv) Nizam responded by unleashing paramilitary forces.
(v) Communal atrocities by Razakars.
(vi) Indian government’s military action and Hyderabad’s accesson to India.

 External Dispute
(i) Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir.
(ii) Pakistan has illegally occupied part of Kashmir known as Pak Occupied Kashmir (POK) and calls it Azad Kashmir, which is part of India.
(iii) Training camps for militants in POK and support to militancy within J&K. 
Internal Dispute

(i) Status of Kashmir within the Indian Union. 
(ii) Special status of J&K under Article.370 
(iii) Two views :
(a) People outside J&K believe that Article 370 does not allow full integration of the state with India.
(b) Within J&K people believe that the demand for plebisite has not been fulfilled, special status has been eroded, democracy not properly institutionalized as in the rest of India.

Consequences of partition of India in 1947

(i) The Year 1947 was the year of one of the largest, most abrupt,
unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known.
(ii) There were killing and atrocities in the name of religion on both the sides.
(iii) Thousands of women were abducted.
(iv) People were forced to abandon their homes and move across the
border.
(v) Women were killed by their own family members to preserve family
honour.
(vi) All the intellectuals in various fields expressed their grief and anger.
(vii) Minorities on both sides of border, fled their homes and secured
temporary shelter in refugee camps.