5/20/24, 5:30 PM Challenges of Nation Building Class 12 Political Science

Chapter Notes: Challenges of Nation Building

Challenges for the New Nation
India became independent on the midnight of 14, 15 August 1947.At this time a speech was given by Jawaharlal Nehru which is called
Tryst with Destiny.
After independence India was divided into three different parts. Of which the first part was British India, the second part was Pakistan
and the third part was the princely states (princely states means the place where the kings used to rule).

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In the immediate wake of India's August 1947 independence, there were three challenges in nation-building.
Building a united India: India was divided into three different parts. Of which the first part was British India, the second part was
Pakistan and the third part was the indigenous princely states. In such a situation, India has to convince those 565 independent
princely states to be a part of India, to make a united India and this became a huge became a challenge
Establish democracy: At the time of independence, most of the people in India were illiterate and poor, in such a situation establishing
democracy in India was no less than a challenge.
Development: At the time of independence, most of the people in India were poor and uneducated. It was necessary for the country
to get out of this poverty and illiteracy therefore development was also one of the challenges present at the time of independence.

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Partition: Displacement and Rehabilitation

Process of Partition
India and Pakistan became two independent nations on August 14 and 15. Millions of people on both sides suffered communal
violence, losing their homes, lives, and property.
West Pakistan and East Pakistan, which were divided by a considerable proportion of Indian Territory, were established based on the
region's Muslim majority.

The undisputed leader of the North-West Frontier Province was Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as "Frontier Gandhi"
(NWFP). Despite his opposition, Pakistan and NWFP were merged.
The portion of Punjab and Bengal caused the deepest trauma of partition.

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Consequences of Partition
One of the greatest, most abrupt, unexpected, and disastrous population transfers in recorded human history occurred in the year
1947.
On both sides of the border, minorities abandoned their homes and found temporary shelter in "refugee camps."

Refugee Camps during 1947 Partition

Women were often abducted, raped, attacked and killed. They were forcefully converted to other , religion.
Political and administrative machinery failed on both sides.
Substantial number of property and lives were lost. Communal violence had reached its peak.

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Try yourself: What were the three challenges faced by India in the immediate wake of independence?

a. All of the below

b. Establishing democracy

c. Development

d. Population transfers and communal violence

View Solution

Integration of Princely States

The Problem
In British India, there were two different sorts of provinces: princely states and British Indian Provinces, which were directly ruled by
the British government (governed by Indian princes).

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Immediately after independence there were almost 565 princely states. Many of them joined Indian Union.
At first, Kashmir, Manipur, Travancore, and Hyderabad all refused joining the Indian Union.

Government’s Approach
The interim government at the time took decisive action to prevent the possible division of India into small principalities of various
sizes.
The government’s approach was guided by three considerations
1. The people of most of the princely states clearly wanted to become part of the Indian Union.
2. The government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to some regions.
3. Consolidation of the territorial boundaries of the nation had assumed supreme importance.

Instrument of Accession
A Memorandum of Understanding was prepared for the merger of the princely states. This MoU is called Instrument of Accession.
Signing this meant that the princely state was ready to join India.
Most of the princely states agreed to join India, but there were problems in the inclusion of some princely states in India.
The credit for the inclusion of all the princely states in India goes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Through his understanding and political knowledge, he convinced all the princely states and got them included in India and made an
important contribution in making a united India.

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Due to his contributions, he was given the title of Iron Man by Mahatma Gandhi and at the same time he became the first Home
Minister of the country.
In the present era, the Statue of Unity was built by the government in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which is one of the largest
statues in the world.

Hyderabad
Hyderabad was one of the largest princely states of India at the time of independence.
Its ruler was called Nizam.
The Nizam was one of the richest persons in the world at that time.
The Nizam wanted Hyderabad to remain separate from India and become an independent state, but the people living in Hyderabad
were not happy with his rule.
Because of which the people of Hyderabad started agitating against the Nizam.
Seeing all this and to stop this rebellion, the Nizam sent the Razakars.
The soldiers of Nizam were called Razakars. The Razakars committed robbery, murder and rape.
In view of this atrocity on the people, in September 1948, the Indian Army attacked Hyderabad so that the general public could be
saved from the Razakars.
This war lasted for a long time and in the end the Nizam had to give up and thus Hyderabad became a part of India.

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Sardar Patel with the Nizam of Hyderabad

Manipur
Manipur was a princely state located in the east of India.
The king of this was Bodh Chandra Singh.
Due to the pressure of the people, the king had to hold elections in June 1948 and in this way the constitutional monarchy was
established in Manipur
There was a lot of difference of opinion in the Legislative Assembly of Manipur on the issue of full accession to India.
Congress wanted Manipur to join India completely but the rest of the parties did not want it.
If the resolution to remain separate from India was passed in the assembly, it would have been impossible to include Manipur in India.
In view of this, the Indian government put pressure on the king of Manipur and got him to sign the complete accession letter, thus
Manipur became a part of India.
The people of Manipur did not like this and the people there were angry with this decision for a long time.

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Try yourself: What was the purpose of the Instrument of Accession?

a. To establish autonomy for princely states.

b. To prevent the division of India into small principalities.

c. To convince princely states to join the Indian Union.

d. To consolidate the territorial boundaries of India.

View Solution

Reorganisation of States

Indian National Congress acknowledged the need for linguistically-based state reorganisation during the national struggle.

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This plan was put off after Independence because the status of the Princely states was still up in the air and the memory of the division
was still vivid.
After a long movement, in December 1952, Andhra Pradesh was created on linguistic basis.
Creation of this state gave impetus to reorganise states on linguistic basis. As a result, Government of India appointed States
Reorganisation Commission in 1953.
This commission accepted that the boundaries of the state should reflect the boundaries of different languages.
The Nstates Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956 as a result of this study. As a result, 14 States and 6 Union Territories were
founded.

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