Challenges of nation buildingClass 12 Politics in India Since Independence NCERT Solutions
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Solution 1 of 10
Q1Exercises
Which among the following statements about the Partition is incorrect?
(a)
Partition of India was the outcome of the "two-nation theory."
(b)
Punjab and Bengal were the two provinces divided on the basis of religion.
(c)
East Pakistan and West Pakistan were not contiguous.
(d)
The scheme of Partition included a plan for transfer of population across the border.
Solution
The incorrect statement about the Partition is:
(d) The scheme of Partition included a plan for transfer of population across the border.
Explanation:
The Partition of India in 1947 was an abrupt and unplanned event. As mentioned in the chapter, the transfer of population was one of the most tragic and unforeseen consequences. The text explicitly states, "The year 1947 was the year of one of the largest, most abrupt, unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known... No one had quite anticipated the scale of this problem. No one had any plans for handling this." This indicates that there was no organized or pre-conceived plan for the transfer of population; it happened chaotically as a result of widespread communal violence and fear.
Q2Exercises
Match the principles with the instances:
(a)
Mapping of boundaries on religious grounds
(b)
Mapping of boundaries on grounds of different languages
(c)
Demarcating boundaries within a country by geographical zones
(d)
Demarcating boundaries within a country on administrative and political grounds
i. Pakistan and Bangladesh
ii. India and Pakistan
iii. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh
iv. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
Solution
The correct matches are as follows:
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(a) Mapping of boundaries on religious grounds - (ii) India and Pakistan: The partition of British India into the two nations of India and Pakistan was executed on the principle of religious majorities, where areas with a Muslim majority became Pakistan.
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(b) Mapping of boundaries on grounds of different languages - (i) Pakistan and Bangladesh: While not a direct mapping, the separation of East Pakistan to form Bangladesh in 1971 was fundamentally driven by linguistic and cultural differences. The people of East Pakistan, who spoke Bengali, resisted the imposition of Urdu by West Pakistan, which ultimately led to their struggle for a separate nation.
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(c) Demarcating boundaries within a country by geographical zones - (iv) Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: These states were carved out of larger states (Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, respectively) and are defined by their distinct Himalayan geography and culture.
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(d) Demarcating boundaries within a country on administrative and political grounds - (iii) Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh: These states were created in the year 2000. Their formation was based on demands for addressing regional imbalances in development, preserving a distinct tribal culture, and ensuring better administration, rather than purely linguistic or geographical reasons.
Q3Exercises
Take a current political map of India (showing outlines of states) and mark the location of the following Princely States.
(a)
Junagadh
(b)
Manipur
(c)
Mysore
(d)
Gwalior
Solution
To complete this activity, you should use a political map of India and identify the regions that corresponded to these former Princely States.
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(a) Junagadh: Locate the Saurashtra peninsula in the state of Gujarat. Junagadh was a princely state in this region. You should mark an area in the southern part of the Saurashtra peninsula.
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(b) Manipur: Locate the state of Manipur in the North-Eastern part of India. It shares a border with Myanmar to the east. The entire modern state of Manipur corresponds to the former princely state.
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(c) Mysore: Locate the state of Karnataka in southern India. The princely state of Mysore covered a large portion of what is today Karnataka. You can mark the southern and central parts of modern Karnataka to indicate its location.
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(d) Gwalior: Locate the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. The princely state of Gwalior was located in the northern part of modern-day Madhya Pradesh. Mark the city of Gwalior and its surrounding region.
Q4Exercises
Here are two opinions - Bismay: "The merger with the Indian State was an extension of democracy to the people of the Princely States." Inderpreet: "I am not so sure, there was force being used. Democracy comes by creating consensus." What is your own opinion in the light of accession of Princely States and the responses of the people in these parts?
Solution
Both Bismay and Inderpreet offer valid points that reflect the complex nature of the integration of Princely States into the Indian Union.
Bismay's perspective is correct in that the merger was an extension of democracy for the majority of people in these states. The chapter notes that "In most of these princely states, governments were run in a non-democratic manner and the rulers were unwilling to give democratic rights to their populations." Furthermore, the Indian government's approach was guided by the fact that "the people of most of the princely states clearly wanted to become part of the Indian union." By integrating these states, India extended fundamental rights and representative government to millions who had lived under autocratic rule.
Inderpreet's perspective is also valid because the process was not always based on consensus. While most states joined peacefully through the 'Instrument of Accession', there were notable exceptions where force or pressure was used. In Hyderabad, the Indian army had to intervene to end the Nizam's oppressive rule and integrate the state. In Manipur, the Maharaja was persuaded to sign a Merger Agreement despite opposition from several political parties in the state's Legislative Assembly.
My Opinion:
In my opinion, while the ideal of democracy is to function through consensus, the situation in 1947 was extraordinary. The primary goal was to build a united, democratic India and prevent the country from fragmenting into hundreds of small, non-democratic territories. The government, led by Sardar Patel, skillfully used negotiation and persuasion as the primary tools. However, when rulers acted against the clear will of their people and threatened the territorial integrity of India, the use of firm action, including force, was deemed necessary. Therefore, the merger was a pragmatic process that, despite its occasional coercive methods, ultimately served the larger democratic aspiration of bringing rights and self-determination to the people of the princely states.
Q5Exercises
Read the following very different statements made in August 1947 "Today you have worn on your heads a crown of thorns. The seat of power is a nasty thing. You have to remain ever wakeful on that seat.... you have to be more humble and forbearing...now there will be no end to your being tested." - M.K Gandhi "...India will awake to a life of freedom….we step out from the old to the new...we end today a period of ill fortune and India discovers herself again. The achievement we celebrate today is but a step, an opening of opportunity..." - Jawaharlal Nehru Spell out the agenda of nation building that flows from these two statements. Which one appeals more to you and why?
Solution
The statements by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, though different in tone, together outline a comprehensive agenda for nation-building.
Agenda from M.K. Gandhi's statement:
Gandhi's statement presents an agenda of responsible and ethical governance. He views power not as a privilege but as a heavy burden—a "crown of thorns." The agenda flowing from his words emphasizes:
- Humility and Service: Leaders must be humble and forbearing, serving the people rather than ruling them.
- Vigilance and Accountability: Power is a "nasty thing," and those who hold it must remain "ever wakeful" against its corrupting influence.
- Moral Fortitude: The path of governance will be a constant test of character and principles. This is an agenda focused on the moral character of the leaders and the state, cautioning against the dangers of power.
Agenda from Jawaharlal Nehru's statement:
Nehru's statement outlines an agenda of hope, progress, and realizing a vision. His famous 'tryst with destiny' speech focuses on the opportunities that freedom brings. The agenda flowing from his words emphasizes:
- National Renewal: India is to "awake to a life of freedom" and "discover herself again," breaking free from the shackles of the past.
- Modernization and Development: The end of colonial rule is an "opening of opportunity" to build a new, prosperous nation.
- Fulfilling Aspirations: The goal is to realize the promises of the freedom struggle and build a better future for all citizens. This is a forward-looking and aspirational agenda focused on national achievement and transformation.
Personal Preference:
Both statements are profound and necessary for nation-building. Nehru's vision provides the inspiration and energy required to mobilize a nation towards progress and development. It captures the joy and hope of independence. However, Gandhi's statement appeals more because it serves as a timeless and essential moral compass. In any democracy, the greatest danger is the misuse of power. Gandhi's warning about the "crown of thorns" is a crucial reminder that the true purpose of governance is selfless service and that leadership demands immense responsibility and integrity. A nation can only achieve Nehru's vision if its leaders adhere to Gandhi's principles.
Q6Exercises
What are the reasons being used by Nehru for keeping India secular? Do you think these reasons were only ethical and sentimental? Or were there some prudential reasons as well?
Solution
The chapter explains that most leaders of the national movement, including Jawaharlal Nehru, cherished the ideal of a secular nation where all citizens would be equal irrespective of their religion. The reasons for this were both ethical and prudential.
Ethical and Sentimental Reasons:
- Core Values of the Freedom Struggle: The national movement was built on the principles of unity, equality, and justice. The leaders did not believe in the 'two-nation theory' and felt that a person's religion should not be a test for citizenship. They envisioned an India that treated people of all faiths with equal respect.
- Enshrined in the Constitution: This deep-seated belief in equality was a moral commitment, which was later enshrined in the Indian Constitution, guaranteeing freedom of religion and prohibiting discrimination on religious grounds.
Prudential (Practical) Reasons:
There were also very strong practical reasons for adopting a secular framework, which went beyond sentiment:
- Vast Minority Population: Even after Partition, a significant Muslim population remained in India, accounting for 10-12% of the total population in 1951. Declaring India a 'Hindu nation' would have alienated this large minority, creating instability and conflict.
- Maintaining National Unity: In the backdrop of Partition's violence, the immediate challenge was to forge a united nation. A secular state was crucial to ensure that all communities felt safe and had a stake in the new nation. It was a strategy to prevent further division and disintegration.
- Accommodating Diversity: India is a land of immense religious diversity, including Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis, besides Hindus and Muslims. A secular framework was the only viable way to accommodate this plurality and ensure that no community felt marginalized.
In conclusion, while the commitment to secularism was deeply rooted in the ethical and sentimental values of the freedom struggle, it was also a prudential and necessary choice for ensuring the unity, stability, and integrity of the newly independent Indian nation.
Q7Exercises
Bring out two major differences between the challenge of nation building for eastern and western regions of the country at the time of Independence.
Solution
At the time of Independence, both the eastern and western regions of India faced immense challenges of nation-building due to Partition, but the nature of these challenges differed in two major ways:
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Nature and Timeline of Violence and Migration:
- Western Region (Punjab): The partition of Punjab on the western border was marked by brutal, large-scale, and concentrated violence in 1947. It led to a near-total and immediate exchange of population, with millions of Hindus and Sikhs moving east into India and Muslims moving west into Pakistan in a very short span of time. The challenge was to control the immediate carnage and manage a massive, one-time influx of refugees.
- Eastern Region (Bengal): The partition of Bengal on the eastern border also witnessed violence, but the migration was more staggered and prolonged. The movement of people across the porous border continued for years, and even decades, after 1947. The challenge here was not a single event but a protracted crisis of displacement and rehabilitation that unfolded over a much longer period.
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Issues of Integration and Autonomy:
- Western Region: The primary challenge in the west, beyond the immediate refugee crisis, was the integration of a few large princely states and the creation of a stable border with Pakistan.
- Eastern Region: Nation-building in the East, particularly the North-East, was more complex. It involved not only the fallout from the partition of Bengal but also the delicate task of integrating numerous princely states like Manipur and Tripura. Furthermore, the region was home to diverse tribal populations with strong aspirations for autonomy and distinct cultural identities. The challenge was to integrate these regions into the Indian Union while respecting their unique cultures and political demands, a process that proved to be complex and long-lasting.
Q8Exercises
What was the task of the States Reorganisation Commission? What was its most salient recommendation?
Solution
The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) was appointed by the Central Government in 1953 to address the growing demands for the formation of states on a linguistic basis from various parts of the country.
Task of the States Reorganisation Commission:
The primary task of the SRC was to examine the question of redrawing the internal boundaries of the states of India. The national movement had promised the formation of states based on language, but after Independence, the leadership was apprehensive that this might lead to disintegration. The Commission's job was to provide a balanced and rational solution that could accommodate regional and linguistic aspirations without compromising the unity and integrity of the nation.
Most Salient Recommendation:
The most salient and influential recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission was its acceptance of the linguistic principle as the basis for redrawing state boundaries. The Commission, in its report, accepted that the boundaries of the states should reflect the boundaries of different languages. This recommendation formed the foundation of the States Reorganisation Act, which was passed in 1956. The implementation of this act led to a major redrawing of India's internal map and the creation of 14 states and 6 union territories, largely along linguistic lines.
Q9Exercises
It is said that the nation is to a large extent an " imagined community" held together by common beliefs, history, political aspirations and imaginations. Identify the features that make India a nation.
Solution
Based on the concept of a nation as an "imagined community," several features that hold India together can be identified from the chapter:
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Common Beliefs: A foundational feature is the shared belief in democratic principles and secularism. The chapter highlights that there was a broad consensus in the national movement to run the country through a democratic government and to treat all citizens as equal regardless of their religion. This shared commitment to a secular-democratic framework acts as a powerful unifying belief.
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Shared History: The experience of the long struggle for freedom against British colonialism is a powerful shared history. This collective memory of fighting a common oppressor, along with the shared trauma of Partition, created a common historical narrative for people across different regions, languages, and religions.
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Political Aspirations: At the time of Independence, there was a common political aspiration to build a strong, united, and sovereign nation. The chapter outlines the three key challenges that became shared national goals: ensuring national unity and territorial integrity, establishing democratic practices, and achieving economic development and the well-being of all, especially the poor and disadvantaged. These goals provided a common purpose.
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Shared Imagination and Constitution: The Indian nation is imagined as a unity that not only tolerates but celebrates its immense diversity. The decision to create linguistic states, as mentioned in the chapter, underlined "the acceptance of the principle of diversity." This imagination of 'unity in diversity' is formally encoded in the Indian Constitution, which serves as a common charter for all citizens, outlining their rights, duties, and the structure of their shared political life.
Q10Exercises
Read the following passage and answer the questions below: "In the history of nation-building only the Soviet experiment bears comparison with the Indian. There too, a sense of unity had to be forged between many diverse ethnic groups, religious, linguistic communities and social classes. The scale - geographic as well as demographic - was comparably massive. The raw material the state had to work with was equally unpropitious: a people divided by faith and driven by debt and disease." - Ramachandra Guha
(a)
List the commonalities that the author mentions between India and Soviet Union and give one example for each of these from India.
(b)
The author does not talk about dissimilarities between the two experiments. Can you mention two dissimilarities?
(c)
In retrospect which of these two experiments worked better and why?
Solution
(a) The commonalities between the nation-building experiments of India and the Soviet Union, as mentioned by the author, are:
- Diverse Ethnic Groups: Both had to forge unity among numerous ethnic communities. In India, this includes diverse groups from the North-East, various tribal communities, Dravidian peoples in the South, and Indo-Aryan peoples in the North.
- Diverse Religious and Linguistic Communities: Both had to manage immense religious and linguistic diversity. India is home to Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and many other religious groups, and has hundreds of languages, which led to the reorganisation of states on a linguistic basis.
- Massive Scale: Both experiments were massive in geographical and demographic terms. The chapter describes India as a "land of continental size and diversity."
- Unpropitious Raw Material: Both started with a population that was deeply divided and faced immense socio-economic challenges. For India, this was evident in the communal divisions of Partition ("divided by faith") and the challenge of widespread poverty ("eradication of poverty").
(b) Two major dissimilarities between the Indian and Soviet nation-building experiments are:
- Political System: India adopted a multi-party parliamentary democracy with a constitution that guaranteed fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and expression, and universal adult franchise. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was a one-party authoritarian state where the Communist Party held absolute power and political dissent was suppressed.
- Approach to Diversity: India ultimately chose an accommodative approach to its diversity. As the chapter explains, it accepted the principle of linguistic states and recognized regional aspirations within a democratic framework. The Soviet Union, while theoretically a federation of republics, was highly centralized and often used force to suppress nationalist and ethnic aspirations that challenged the authority of the central government.
(c) In retrospect, the Indian experiment worked better. The primary evidence for this is that while India has remained a united, democratic country for over seventy years, the Soviet Union disintegrated into fifteen independent countries in 1991.
The reason for India's relative success, as suggested by the chapter, lies in its democratic and accommodative approach. The chapter concludes that creating linguistic states and accepting regional demands strengthened, rather than weakened, national unity. Democracy provided a platform for different groups to voice their demands and resolve conflicts peacefully. The Soviet Union's rigid, centralized, and authoritarian model failed to manage its internal diversity, and once the central control weakened, the underlying nationalist sentiments led to its collapse.