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UNIT – 11
CHALLENGES OF NATIONAL BUILDING
Table of Contents
VERY SHORT ANSWER (1 Mark)
1. Who was the first Prime Minister of India?
Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India.
2. How many kinds of challenges that Independent India faced?
Ans. Independent India faced three kinds of challenges.
3. On 14-15 August, 1947, two nations states came into existence one is India, what is the other?
Ans. The other country get independent in 14-15 August was Pakistan
4. Name the two cities which became divided into communal zones at the time of partition.
Ans. The two cities which became divided into communal zones at the time of partition are Amritsar and Lahore.
5. What is princely state?
Ans. The state under the rule of princes and known as princely state
6. Who was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
Ans. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first home minister and Deputy Premier of India.
7. Who was the Maharaja of Manipur at the time of independence?
Ans. Bodhachandra Singh was the Maharaja Manipur at time of independence.
8. In which year was the Nagpur session held?
Ans. The Nagpur session was held in 1932.
9. Name two states that were affected by the partition.
Ans. The two states that affected by the partition were Punjab and Bengal.
10. Say True or False:
(a) Broadly, independent India faced three kinds of challenges.
Ans. True.
(b) The year 1947 was the year of one of the largest, most abrupt unplanned and tragic incidents.
Ans. True.
(c) The process of nation building came to an end with creation Pakistan and integration of princely states.
Ans. True.
(d) Struggle for survival was published in (1951/1953/1955)
Ans. 1953
11. When India got Independence?
Ans. India got independence in 1947.
12. What do you mean by British Paramountey?
Ans. British paramountey means degrees of autonomy enjoyed by princes and British power protected them from their own people.
13. Give the concept of ‘Two Nations Theory’?
Ans. ‘Two Nation Theory’ is the main basis for partition, introduced by M.A Jinnah in January, 1940.
14. What were the goals of Pt Nehru?
Ans. To establish a secular, social and democratic India
15. When was the Indian Constitution enforced?
Ans. Indian Constitution was enforced in 1950, 26th January.
16. Why the people of Hyderabad were against the Nizam rule?
Ans. Due to the Muslim fanatics of Hyderabad
17. Who was the victim of oppressive rule of Nizam?
Ans. Muslim Brothers
18. Which princely state was the first state to hold election on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise?
Ans. Manipur.
19. Which Princely States created some problems in becoming a part of India?
Ans. Jammu and Kashmir
20. What was the main provision of the Agreement ‘the instrument of Accession’?
Ans. The instrument of Accession means that the state agreed to become a part of the Union of India.
21. Fill in the blanks:
(a) Meghalaya was carved out of ____ in 1972.
Ans. Assam.
VERY SHORT ANSWER (2 Mark)
1. Mention the first challenge that India has to accept.
Ans. The first and the immediate challenge that India had to accept were to shape a nation that was united, yet accommodative of the diversity in our society. Being a land of continental size and diversity with multifarious language, culture and religions, it was believed that the country could not remain together for long. The partition of the country appeared to prove everyone’s worst fears.
2. “We have a Muslim minority who was so large in numbers that they cannot even if they want, go anywhere else” – Who said it and when?
Ans. This statement had quoted by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in his letter to Chief Minister on 15 October, 1947. That is a basic fact about which there can be no argument.
3. Before independence, there was a two nation theory advanced by the Muslim League. What are the two nations included in this theory?
Ans. The two nations included in the two nation theory are India and Pakistan. India will include Hindu people and it will be known as Hindustan while Pakistan will include Muslim people.
4. When was the Mahatma Gandhi killed and by whom?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi was killed on 30th January 1948 by an extremist namely Nathuram Vinayak Godse in a prayer meeting held in Delhi.
5. British India was divided into two areas. What were these two?
Ans. The British India was divided into two areas namely – British Indian provinces and princely states.
6. What is meant by ‘Niram’?
Ans. Niram means the ruler of the princely state and one of the richest men in the world over.
7. In which part of India, was first election held on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise?
Ans. In Manipur, of India, was first election held on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise.
8. Name two states that were affected by the partition of the country.
Ans. Punjab and Bengal were two states affected by the partition of the country.
9. Name two state of today that were once a Union Territory.
Ans. Goa and Manipur are the two states of today which were once a union territory.
10. When was the States Reorganization Act passed? Name any one state created under this act.
Ans. The States Reorganization Act was passed in 1955. According to this Act the states was created on the basis of language.
Madhya Pradesh was one of such state created under this act.
11. What were the three challenges that independent Indian faced? [2013]
Ans. The three challenges are –
- Strengthening the unity of the country.
- Building up a democratic polity and society.
- Development and progress of the country.
12. What was the immediate outcome of “Two Nation Theory”?
Ans. The immediate outcome of the two nation theory was partition of the country.
13. What was announced by the British Governor – General Mountbatten on June 3, 1947?
Ans. India will be divided on the basis of religion.
14. Mention any two provisions, which reflect special status to Jammu and Kashmir?
Ans. (i) The state of Jammu and Kashmir has its own constitution.
(ii) The state of Jammu & Kashmir enjoys special autonomy.
15. How many states and union territories were created under the States Reorganization Act?
Ans. Fourteen states and six union territories were created under the state’s reorganization Act.
16. Why did the leaders of the national movement cherish the deal of the secular nation? Give reason?
Ans. The leaders of the national movement cherish the ideal of secular nation because India is a multi-religion country.
17. What was the most important recommendation of the state reorganization commission?
Ans. The important recommendation of state re-organization commission was to the reorganize the state on the basis of language.
18. ‘Goa was not merged with Maharashtra as the Central Government did not want it’?
Ans. Goa was not merged with Maharashtra as the Central government did not want it.
LONG ANSWER (4 Marks)
1. “Independence for India was not the path of roses” – Explain?
Ans. Immediately after independence there were many challenges or problems in independent India that needed a solution. The challenges are the following –
- To shape of nation: The first and foremost challenge was the political unification and integration of the territory. India is a land of continental size and diversity. There were around 600 states of varying sizes and population. The partition of the country appeared to prove everyone’s worst fears. Hence there was a serious question about the future of India, i.e. would Indian survive as a unified country.
- To establish democratic form of government: The second challenge was to establish a democratic form of government. Democracy in function according to constitutional norms. This means India will have representative democracy based on the Parliamentary form of government.
- To ensure the development and well being of the society: The third challenge came in the way to evolve effective policies for economic development and eradication of poverty and unemployment. The Indian Constitution set out in the Directive Principles of State Policy the welfare goals that democratic politics must achieve.
VERY LONG ANSWER (6 Marks)
1. Describe the three challenges that India had to accept. [2013]
Ans. Immediately after independence there were many challenges or problems in independent India that needed a solution. The challenges are the following –
- To shape of nation: The first and foremost challenge was the political unification and integration of the territory. India is a land of continental size and diversity. There were around 600 states of varying sizes and population. The partition of the country appeared to prove everyone’s worst fears. Hence there was a serious question about the future of India, i.e. would Indian survive as a unified country.
- To establish democratic form of government: The second challenge was to establish a democratic form of government. Democracy in function according to constitutional norms. This means India will have representative democracy based on the Parliamentary form of government.
- To ensure the development and well being of the society: The third challenge came in the way to evolve effective policies for economic development and eradication of poverty and unemployment. The Indian Constitution set out in the Directive Principles of State Policy the welfare goals that democratic politics must achieve.
2. Discuss the three considerations of Governments approach in regard to integration.
Ans. The three consideration of Governments approach in regard to integration are –
- Firstly, the people of most of the princely states clearly wanted to become part of the Indian Union.
- The government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to same regions. The idea was to accommodate plurality and adopt a flexible approach in dealing with the demands of the regions.
- Thirdly, 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.
3. When was the States Reorganization Commission appointed? Discuss its function.
Ans. State Reorganization Commission was formed in 1953 by mark the internal boundaries of India. This commission submitted its report in the year 1956 which recommended division of India into 14 states and 6 Union Territories.
The functions of this commission are –
- The States Reorganization Commission looked into the question of redrawing of the boundaries of state.
- The commission in its report accepted that the boundaries of the state should reflect the boundaries of different languages.
- It recommended the formation of linguistic states i.e. linguistic reorganization. This recommendation in turn gave some uniform basis to the drawing of state boundaries.
- On the basis of its report the States Reorganization Act was passed in 1956 which led to the creation of 14 states and six Union Territories.
4. What were the major challenges of nation building?
Ans. (1) Strengthening the Unity of the Country: The first and the most important challenge were to preserve, consolidate and strengthen India’s unity, to push forward the process of the making of the Indian nation, and to build up and protect the national state as an instrument of development and social transformation.
(2) Building up of a Democratic Policy and Society: The second challenge was that the founders of the Indian Republic had the farsightedness and the courage to commit themselves to build a democratic and civil liberation society and to undertake economic development within a democratic political structure.
(3) Development and Progress of the Country: The third challenge was to ensure the development and well-being of the entire society. The constitution emphasized on principle of equality and special protections are provided to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The real challenge was to remove poverty and unemployment.
5. Explain the concept of two nation theory.
Ans. (1) Two Nation Theory: The Mountbatten was the basis for the partition of the country. M.A. Jinnah proposed his ‘Two Nation Theory’ in January, 1940. And on 14-15 August 1947, the two nation states – India and Pakistan came into existence. And this was result of ‘Partition’, the British policy of ‘divide and rule’. The ‘Two Nation Theory’ proved a great below to the National Movement. It helped the British to refuse the demands of the Congress for the formation of a provisional National government at the centre during the war times and for granting complete Independence after the war.
6. Explain the concept of direction plan.
Ans. As a result of League’s ‘direct action’, several parts of India witnessed the worst form of communal riots. Thousands of lives were lost in the flames of communalism. The League engineered organized raids on Hindu localities and caravans of refugees. The policy and British officers stood away as silent spectators. The British were the masters of the whole machinery. Had the British wanted, they could easily have restored law and order in the country. But instead of remaining neutral, they played the partisan role. They encouraged the riots so as to compel the Congress to accept ‘Two Nation Theory’. Actually the political competition between the Congress and the Muslim League and the British role led to the decision for the creation of Pakistan.
7. Explain the process of partition of India.
Ans. The result of partition was not only very painful, but also very difficult to decide and to implement. Moreover, the partition of India was not simple rather it was very complex. Following were the main problems faced in the process of partition of India.
- There was no single belt of Muslim majority areas in British India. There were two areas. One was in the West and another was in the East, and the two parts could not be joined.
- Another vital difficulty was that not all Muslim majority areas wanted to be in Pakistan.
- Two of the Muslim majority provinces of British India, Punjab and Bengal had very large areas where the non-Muslims were in majority. Therefore, it was decided that these two provinces would be bifurcated according to the religions majority at the district and even lower level.
- One of the most important problem was that the problem of ‘minorities’ on both sides of the border. The minorities on both sides became easy targets of attack.
8. What are the consequences of partition of India?
Ans. (1) Communal Violence: The year 1947 was the year of one of the largest, most abrupt, unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known. There were killings and atrocities on both sides the border.
(2) Refugees: The partition and the violence which accompanied it, led to nearly six million refugees pouring into India having lost their all.
(3) Destruction of Public Property: The property worth thousands of millions of rupees were looted and destroyed. The partition was not merely a division of properties, liabilities and assets but a political division of the country and the administrative apparatus.
(4) Majority and Minority Population on Both Sides: Even after large migration of Muslims to Pakistan, about 12% of the total populations of India were Muslims. The biggest problem before Indian Government was how to deal with Muslim minorities and other religious minorities.
(5) Division of Hearts: Many writers, poets and film makers in India and Pakistan have expressed the ruthlessness of the killings and the suffering of displacement and violence in their jurisdiction.
9. Explain the concept of Princely States.
Ans. The Princely state was perhaps the most important task facing the political leadership. The ruler of Travancore announced that the state had decided on independence. The Nizam of Hyderabad made a similar announcement. Rulers like the Nawab of Bhopal were averse to joining the Constituent Assembly. All these meant that after independence there was a very possibility that India would get divided again into a number of small countries. This was a very shocking and strong situation. In one hand India aimed at achieving unity, self-determination and democracy. On the other hand, in these Princely States, governments were run in a non-domestic manner and the rulers were not willing to give democratic rights to their people.
10. What was the problem of Hyderabad?
Ans. The Nizam of Hyderabad was unwilling to accede to India and he was conspiring with Pakistan against India. As Hyderabad was geographically a part of India, so the Nizam of Hyderabad was in no mood to abide by this agreement, so he violated it several times.
The Muslim fanatics of Hyderabad known as Razakars, wanted to establish independent Muslim state with the help of Pakistan. They had threatened to destroy one and half crore Hindus of Hyderabad if she was attacked by India, Kasim Razavi was their leader.
Nizam began to make huge purchases of arms form Pakistan. The Nizam also appealed to the President of the USA and the UNO against economic blockade of Hyderabad by India. The government of India could not tolerate all these things and took police action against Hyderabad. The forces of Hyderabad surrendered on 17 September 1948. After this Hyderabad acceded to India
11. What was the problem of Junagarh?
Ans. Junagarh was small state on the coast of Saurashtra surrounded by Indian Territory and therefore without any geographical contiguity with Pakistan. Yet, its Nawab announced accession of this state to Pakistan on 15th August, 1947 even though the people of the state, over-whelmingly Hindu, desired to join India. Going against this approach, Pakistan accepted Junagarh accession. On the other hand, the people of the state would not accept the ruler’s decision. They organized a popular movement, forced the Nawab to flee and established a provisional government. The Dewan of Junagarh, Shah Nawaz Bhutto, the father of the more famous Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, decided to invite the government of India to intervence. Indian troops thereafter marched into the state. A plebiscite was held in the state in February 1948 which went over-whelmingly in favour of joining India.
12. What was the problem of Manipur?
Ans. A few days before independence the Maharaja of Manipur, Bodhachandra Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession with the Government of India on the assurance that the internal autonomy of Manipur would be maintained. Under public pressure elections were held in Manipur in June 1948 on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise. Hence, constitutional monarchy was established in Manipur. On the question of merger of Manipur with India there were two different opinions. However, in September 1949 Maharaja signed the merger Instrument. But Maharaja did not consult the Legislative Assembly on merger issue. This caused a lot of anger and resentment in Manipur, the repercussion of which are still being felt.
13. Who played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of princely states firmly?
Ans. Sardar Patel was India’s Deputy Prime Minister 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, diplomatically and bringing most of them into the Indian Union. It was a very complicated task which required skilful persuasion. For instance, there were 26 small states in today’s Orissa. Saurashtra region of Gujarat had 14 big states, 119 small states and many other different administrations.
The government’s approach was guided by three considerations.
- The people of most of the princely states clearly wanted to become part of the Indian Union.
- The government was prepared to accommodate plurality and adopt a flexible approach in dealing with the demands of the regions.
- The concern towards the integration and consolidation of the territorial boundaries of the Indian nation.
The rulers of most of the states signed a document called the ‘Instrument of accession’ which means that their state agreed to become a part of the Union of India. Accession of the princely states of Junagarh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur proved more difficult than the rest.
