Challenges of nation building
Topic: Challenges of Nation Building: Partition, Princely States and Reorganisation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Challenges of Nation Building"
Meaning
The challenges of nation building were the three big tasks India faced when it became independent in 1947. The first was unity with diversity: India had to stay one country, bring all its territory together and still respect regional identities. The second was democracy: a democratic Constitution was needed, but people also had to learn to practise democracy. The third was development: the well-being of the whole society, not just some groups. This meant equality, the welfare goals of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and an end to poverty. Many observers expected India to fail because it was so large and had so many languages, cultures and religions.
Example
In 1947 Partition seemed to prove those fears right. About 565 princely states also had to be brought into India, which was the unity challenge. Ramachandra Guha compares India with the USSR. Both countries were huge and diverse. India held together through consent, elections and federal give-and-take. The USSR relied on force and broke up in 1991.
Don't confuse with
- Goals of the national movement: these were the two shared aims of the freedom struggle, democratic government and government for the good of all. The three challenges are the practical tasks India faced in 1947 in reaching those aims.