CHAPTER

10 Challenges of Nation Building

Introduction:
The first speech of the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at the special meeting of the Constituent
Assembly at midnight on 14-15 August 1947 was known as the "Tryst with Destiny" speech. Immediately after independence,
independent India needed solutions to a number of challenges, namely development and development by making the country
a united nation, developing democratic practices and developing effective policies for economic growth and poverty
alleviation. Ensuring welfare is a challenge. And unemployment. Muhammad Ali Jinnah proposed a two-state theory on the
partition of India. India and Pakistan faced many problems such as East and West issues, NWFP merger, problems with
Punjab and Bengal provinces and religious majority ideology led to partition of separate state for Muslims. The 1947 partition
was the most sudden and unplanned, leading to and spreading religious riots to divide the country into different community
areas, social suffering for asylum in refugee camps, killing of women and the separation of family members, which was
economically divided. Assets, employees and created conflict between Hindus and Muslims.

1. Religious Nation-Building and Its Problems-Challenges to the new country

India gained independence in August 1947, and immediately after independence faced three challenges In nation building. The
first and immediate challenge is to build a united nation in line with the diversity in society and the eradication of poverty and
unemployment. The second challenge is the establishment of democracy. The third challenge is to ensure the development and
well-being of society as a whole, not just a few categories.
Section: Displacement and Rehabilitation-
From 14 to 15 August 1947, two nation-states, India and Pakistan, came into existence. Millions of people on both sides lost their
homes, lives and property and suffered religious persecution. West and East Pakistanis were created on the basis of the Muslim
majority belt, which was separated by a long Indian territory.
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as 'Frontier Gandhi', was the undisputed leader of the North-West Frontier Province
(NWFP). Despite their opposition, the NWFP was incorporated into Pakistan. Part of Punjab and Bengal caused a deep blow of
partition.
 2. As a result of partitioning
1947 was the year of the largest, most sudden, unplanned and
tragic population transfer in human history. Minorities on both
sides of the border left their homes and sought temporary refuge
in 'refugee camps'. Women were often abducted, assaulted and
killed. They were forcibly converted to other religions. The
political and administrative machinery on both sides failed. There
was heavy loss of life and property. Religious violence reached a
climax.

3. Unification of the monarchical states

There are two types of provinces in British India - the British Indian Provinces (directly controlled by the British Government)
and the Princely States (ruled by the Indian princes). Immediately after independence, there were about 565 princely states.
Many of them joined the Indian Union. Travancore, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur initially refused to join the Indian Union.

4. Government policy
The then interim government
took strong measures against
the partition of India into
smaller monarchical states of
various sizes. Government
policy is guided by three
elements. Most of the princely
states wanted to be part of the
Indian Union. The government
is prepared to facilitate the granting of autonomy to certain areas. The unification of the territorial boundaries of the country
was of paramount importance.

5. Access Tools
The rulers of most states signed the document 'Instrument of Acquisition', but the merger of Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and
Manipur became more difficult than the rest. After the initial resistance, in September 1948, Hyderabad merged with the Indian
Union through a military campaign.
In September 1949, the Government of India succeeded in pressuring the Maharaja of Manipur to sign the merger agreement.
The government did so without consulting the Manipur-elected assembly.

6 Reorganization of states
During the national movement, the Indian National Congress
recognized the demand for state reorganization on the basis of
language. After independence the idea was discontinued as the
memory of partition was still fresh and the fate of the monarchy
had not been determined. Andhra Pradesh was formed on a
linguistic basis in December 1952 after a long period of agitation.

The formation of this state promoted the reorganization of the

states on the basis of language. As a result, the Government of
India appointed the State Reorganization Commission in 1953.
The commission noted that state borders should reflect the
borders of different languages. Based on its report, the States
Reorganization Act was passed in 1956. This led to the formation
of 14 States and 6 Union Territories.
 DO YOU KNOW?
Two Nation Theory: Muhammad Ali Jinnah proposed to
create a separate state for Muslims.
British Indian Provinces: Indian provinces directly under
British rule before independence.
Monarchies: States ruled by monarchies that had
some control over the internal
affairs of their state under British
rule.

DO YOU KNOW?
Razakar: The Nizam has sent a paramilitary force
to respond to the movement of people
without borders.
Nizam: The ruler of Hyderabad is named Nizam,
the richest man in the world.

State Reorganization
Commission: Appointed in 1953 to look into the issue
of rebuilding state borders.

SUMMARY
The first speech of the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at the special meeting of the Constituent Assembly
at midnight on 14-15 August 1947 was known as the "Tryst with Destiny" speech. Immediately after independence,
independent India needed solutions to a number of challenges, namely development and development by making the country
a united nation, developing democratic practices and developing effective policies for economic growth and poverty
alleviation. Ensuring welfare is a challenge. And unemployment. Muhammad Ali Jinnah proposed a two-state theory on the
partition of India. India and Pakistan faced many problems such as East and West issues, NWFP merger, problems with Punjab
and Bengal provinces and religious majority ideology led to partition of separate state for Muslims. The 1947 partition was
the most sudden and unplanned, leading to and spreading religious riots to divide the country into different community areas,
social suffering for asylum in refugee camps, killing of women and the separation of family members, which was economically
divided. Assets, employees and created conflict between Hindus and Muslims. British India was divided into British Indian
provinces and princely states. Under British rule, the princely states exercised some control over their internal affairs. After
independence, the incorporation of the princely states into the Indian Union became a major challenge as the independence
of the states was declared a priority by the British to join India or Pakistan. And problems arise in Travancore, Hyderabad
and Bhopal to further divide India. The policy of the Government was based on three considerations, namely Sardar
Vallabhbhai's firm diplomatic policy for the integration of India with the desire for the unification of the royal people, the
pluralism of the territory and the flexibility to meet the demands and peaceful negotiations. . Do not worry. Patel. Only the
four states of Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur are difficult to merge.
 Questions For Practice
1. Which country is the largest source 9. Trygve Lai was the first Secretary (d) All of these
of development assistance to General of which country? 18. The main reason for the partition of
Bhutan? (a) Germany. (b) Norway. India?
(a) USA (b) Russia (c) France. (d) Italy. (a) Jinnah's stubborn attitude
(c) India (d) Maldives (b) Religious riots and disorder
10. WTO is acting as the successor of (c) Interim government failure
2. Lack of Pakistan in the political which of the following (d) All of these
arena? organization?
(a) A bold and relatively free press. 19. By whom was the Provisional
(a) General Agreement on Trade Government formed under the
(b) A strong human rights and Tariffs Cabinet Mission Plan?
movement (b) General Arrangement on Trade (a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(c) Educated leader and Tariffs (b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Genuine international support (c) World Health Organization (c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
for democracy. (d) Rajagopalachari
3. SAARC Charter signed by South (d) United Nations Development 20. Cities divided into 'religious areas'
Asian leaders? Program during partition violence?
(a) November 07, 1985 (a) Lahore, Amritsar and Calcutta.
11. In which year was the State
(b) December 08, 1985 (b) Kashmir, Lucknow and
Reorganization Commission Allahabad.
(c) January 09, 1987
appointed? (c) Madras, Hyderabad and
(d) December 05, 1988.
(a) 1950 (b) 1951 Mysore.
4. Which of the following country is (c) 1953 (d) 1954 (d) Delhi, Mumbai and Gwalior.
not a South Asian country?
12. Which state was not created in 21. Which of the following statements
(a) Bangladesh (b) India
2000? about division is incorrect?
(c) Bhutan (d) Russia (a) Partition of India was the result
(a) Jharkhand (b) Chhattisgarh
5. Which party adopted the politics of (c) Uttaranchal (d) Bihar of 'Two Nation Theory.
Hindutva and adopted the strategy (b) Punjab and Bengal were two
of mobilizing Hindus? 13. When did India get independence? provinces divided on the basis
(a) Bhartiya Janata Party. (a) 1947 (b) 1949 of religion.
(b) Congress. (c) 1952 (d) 1962 (c) East Pakistan and West
Pakistan were not close.
(c) Communist Party of India. 14. What were the consequences of the (d) The plan of partition included
(d) Bahujan Samaj Party. Partition of India in 1947? the plan for the transfer of
6. The original member states that (a) Population transfer population across the border.
signed the Charter of the United (b) Refugee problem 22. The main reason for the partition of
Nations in 1945 were? (c) Problems of minorities India is?
(a) 58 (b) 49 (d) All of these (a) Jinnah's harsh attitude
(c) 51 (d) 45 15. "Communal zone" is excluded? (b) Communal riots and disorder
7. Human rights have two aspects? (c) failure of the interim
(a) Lahore
government
(a) Social and legal aspects. (b) Amritsar
(d) all of these
(b) Natural and legal aspects. (c) Kolkata
(c) Economic and political aspects. (d) Jammu and Kashmir 23. What were the consequences of the
(d) Economic and natural aspects. partition of India in 1947?
16. States formed in 1960? (a) Transfer of population
8. What does IAEA mean? (a) Maharashtra and Gujarat (b) refugee problem
(a) International Atomic Energy (b) Orissa and West Bengal (c) the problem of minorities
Act (c) Rajasthan and Gujarat (d) all of these
(b) International Atomic Energy (d) Punjab and Haryana 24. Name the two provinces which
Agreement were divided at the time of the
(c) International Atomic Energy 17. The main reason for the partition of
partition of India?
Agency India?
(a) Bengal
(d) International Atomic Eastern (a) Jinnah's stubborn attitude (b) Himachal Pradesh
Agency (b) Religious riots and disorder (c) Arunachal Pradesh
(c) Interim government failure (d) All of these
25. Name two present-day states which 30. What were the goals of Pt. Nehru? (c) Jawaharlal Nehru
were once union territories? (a) liberty (b) equality (d) Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
(c) Socialism (d) All of these
(a) Goa, 36. How many princely states were
(b) Himachal Pradesh 31. "Communal zone" is excluded there when India gained
(c) only a (a) Lahore. independence?
(d) Both a and b (b) Amritsar. (a) 560 (b) 562
26. Which states refused to join both (c) Kolkata (c) 563 (d) 565
India and Pakistan upon partition? (d) Jammu and Kashmir
37. When was Meghalaya formed from
(a) Travancore, (b) Hyderabad 32. Muhammad Ali Jinnah addressed
Assam?
(c) only b (d) Both a and b the Constituent Assembly of
(a) 1970 (b) 1971
27. Who said that the administrative Pakistan in Karachi
(c) 1972 (d) 1973
system in independent India was (a) August 11, 1947
renewed without remodeling, thus (b) August 12, 1947 38. When was Gujarat formed from
(c) August 13, 1947 Bombay?
retaining many of the flaws of the
colonial system? (d) August 14, 1947 (a) 1950 (b) 1960
(a) C. Bettelheim (b) Mountbatten 33. Amrita is the lead poet of Pritam? (c) 1970 (d) 1980
(c) Linlithgow (d) Willingdon (a) Punjab (b) Gujarat 39. Which of the following monarchy in
(c) Mumbai (d) Madras. India was the first to oppose joining
28. On which date the States
34. Name the original state in which the Indian Union?
Reorganization Act was enacted?
(a) 1 November 1958 Chhattisgarh was formed? (a) Baroda (b) Hyderabad
(a) Uttar Pradesh (b) Bihar (c) Mysore (d) Gwalior
(b) 1 November 1957
(c) Jharkhand (d) Madhya
(c) 1 November 1956 40. On what date was the States
Pradesh
(d) 1 November 1955
Reorganization Act enacted?
29. Who was the founding father of the 35. Which of the following leaders
played an important role in the (a) 1 November 1956.
Non-Aligned Movement? (b) 11 November 1956
amalgamation of the princely states
(a) Vinoba Bhave
in India? (c) 10 November 1956
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Subhas Chandra Bose (a) Mahatma Gandhi (d) 21 November 1956
(d) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Solutions
1. (c) 5. (a) 9. (b) 13. (a) 17 (d) 21. (d) 25. (d) 29. (d) 33. (a) 37. (c)
2. (d) 6. (c) 10. (a) 14. (d) 18. (d) 22. (d) 26. (d) 30. (d) 34. (d) 38. (b)
3. (b) 7 (b) 11. (c) 15. (d) 19. (b) 23. (d) 27. (a) 31. (d) 35. (b) 39. (b)
4. (d) 8. (c) 12. (d) 16. (a) 20. (a) 24. (a) 28. (c) 32. (a) 36. (d) 40. (a)