Our Past Iii Part Ii Chapter 12 India After Independence

The role of Planning Commission was to help design and execute suitable policies for economic development.

taxes

defence

foreign affairs

forests

agriculture

'mixed economy'

Potti Sriramulu

The division of the country was done  on the basis of religion. As a result of this division more than a million people had been killed in riots between Hindus and Muslims. In such circumstances, it was not wise to further divide the country on the basis of language. Nor the country would have afforded further division on the basis of language. 

Therefore, both Prime Minister Nehru and Deputy Prime Minister Patel were against the creation of linguistic states.

English continued to be used in India after Independence because south Indian states expressed strong opposition to Hindi. There were also other linguist group who demanded same for their language.

Mira Behn (1892-1982) was the daughter of a British Admiral. Her real name was Madeline Shade. She left England to live and work with Mahatma Gandhi. She devoted her life to human development, the advancement of Gandhiji’s principles and to the freedom struggle. She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1982.

B.

It gave politicians special powers

A.

Education

D.

Bhimrao Ambedkar

C.

Marathi and Gujarati speakers

C.

Vallabhbhai Patel

foreign

Soviet Union

Punjab

Haryana

345

voting

The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 January, 1950.

All Indians above the age of 21 was allowed to vote in state and national elections.

Nathuram Godse disagreed with Gandhiji’s conviction that Hindus and Muslims should live together in harmony.

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Education and health.

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The subjects are: Forests and agriculture.

Potti Sriramulu was a veteran Gandhian who went on a hunger strike demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers.

The new state of Andhra Pradesh came into being on 1 October, 1953.

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The focus were:

(i)Development of heavy industries.

(ii)Building of large dams.

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The Bhilai Steel Plant was seen as an important sign of the development of modern India after Independence.

Non-alignment

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The problems are mentioned below:

At Independence, the vast majority of Indians lived in the villages. Farmers and peasants depended on the monsoon for their survival. So did them non-farm sector of the rural economy, for if the crops failed, barbers, carpenters, weavers and other service groups would not get paid for their services either. In the cities, factory workers lived in crowded slums with little access to education or health care.

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The features:

(i)The practice of untouchability, described as a “slur and a blot” on the “fair name of India”, was abolished. Hindu temples, previously open to only the higher castes, were thrown open toall, including the former untouchables.

(ii)A certain percentage of seats in legislatures as well as jobs in government were reserved for members of the lowest castes.

(iii)Alongwith the former untouchables, the adivasis also known as the Scheduled Tribes were also granted reservation in seats and jobs. They too had been deprived and discriminated against like the Scheduled Castes.

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The Indian Constitution has divided power into three lists, known as Union List, State List and Concurrent List.

(i)The Union List includes subjects such as taxes, defence and foreign affairs. On these subjects the central government makes the laws.

(ii)The State List includes subjects such as education and health. It is the exclusive responsibility of the state government to take care of these subjects.

(iii)In the last comes the Concurrent List which contains subjects such as forests and agriculture. On these subjects the Centre and the States have joint responsibility.

The constituent Assembly debate:

(i)Many members of the Constituent Assembly believed that the English language should be driven out of India with the British rule. They were of the opinion that Hindi should take place of English language.

(ii)However, those who did not speak Hindi were of different opinion. T.T. Krishnamachari on behalf of the people of the south strongly opposed Hindi. Some threatened to separate from India if Hindi was imposed on them.

(iii)Finally, a compromise was made. It was decided that while Hindi would be the ‘official language’ of India, English would be used in the courts, the services, and communications between one state and another.

In October of 1952, a veteran Gandhian named Potti Sriramulu had gone on a hunger fast demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers. As the fast went on, it attracted much support. Hartals and bandhs were observed in many towns. 

On 15 December 1952, fifty-eight days into his fast, Potti Sriramulu died. As a newspaper put it, “the news of the passing away of Sriramulu engulfed entire Andhra inchaos”. The protests were so widespread and intense that the central government was forced to give in to the demand.

Thus, on 1 October 1953, the new state of Andhra Pradesh came into being.

Indian Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950. Its features are explained below:

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The deep  divisions:

(i)Despite constitutional guarantees, the Untouchables or, as they are now referred to, the Dalits, face violence and discrimination. In many parts of rural India they are not allowed access to water sources, temples, parks and other public places.

(ii)And despite the secular ideals enshrined in the Constitution, there have been clashes between different religious groups in many states. 

(iii)Above all, as many observers have noted, the gulf between therich and the poor has grown over the years.

(iv)Some parts of India and some groups of Indians have benefited a great deal from economic development. They live in large houses and dine in expensive restaurants, send their children to expensive private schools and take expensive foreign holidays.

(v)At the same time many others continue to live below the poverty line. Housed in urban slums, or living in remote villages on lands that yield little, they cannot afford to send their children to school.

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(i) Jawaharlal Nehru is addressing the audience.
(ii) He is introducing the resolution that outlined the objectives of the Constitution.