Chapter - 1

Challenges of Nation Building

Challenges for the New Nation
• “Tryst with Destiny” - Addressing a special session of the Constituent Assembly on 15th
August, 1947.
• Through his elegant speech - Nehru inspired the members of the Constituent Assembly to
dedicate themselves for the welfare of the nation.
Three Challenges
• Newly Independent India faced mainly three kinds of challenges.
1. To build the nation
2. To establish a democratic government.
3. Socio-economic development
Problems related with Nation Building:
1. Partition : Displacement and Rehabilitation
• “Two Nation Theory” - advanced by Muslim League.
• It mentioned that India consisted of two people – Hindus and Muslims.
• They demanded - a separate state for the Muslims.
• It was strongly opposed by the INC.
• Pakistan was formed by the support of British Government.
Process of Partition
• It created several problems such as:
1. No single belt of Muslim majority areas.
2. All Muslim majority areas were not wanted to be in Pakistan.
3. Even in the Muslim majority Provinces like Bengal and Punjab , non-Muslims were
majority.
4. Minorities faced severe problems on the both sides of the border like forced conversion
and marriages etc..,
Consequences
1. Tragic transfer of Population
2. Killings ,Abduction and Rape
3. Creation of Communal Zones
4. Forced religious conversion and marriage

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 5. Large number of children were orphaned

2. Integration of Princely States

• British India – Consisted of British Indian Provinces and Princely States.
• British Indian Provinces - directly under the control of the British Government.
• Princely states - ruled by the native Kings.
The Problem of Integration
• After the independence - 565 princely States would become legally independent.
• They were given options like:
1. To join India
2. To join Pakistan
3. To remain as an independent state
• Travancore – First princely state wished to be an Independent state.
Government’s Approach
• The interim government strongly opposed the disintegration of nation.
Three considerations:
1. People of the princely states - wished to be get integrated.
2. To accommodate the plurality of nation.
3. To preserve unity and integration of the nation.
• Sardar Vallabhai Patel – negotiated with the native rulers and was assisted by V.P Menon.
• The rulers of Junagadh, Hydrabad, kashmir and Manipur - not willing to sign “Instrument
of Accession”.
Hyderabad
• Largest among the princely states.
• Nizam – ruler of the state.
• Razakars – paramilitary force.
• To retain Hyderabad as an independent state.
• Subjects were against Nizam - oppressive rule.
• It was suppressed by his paramilitary force.
• His main target – non-Muslims.
• Operation Polo – 1948 – Indian army defeated Nizam after a few days of fighting.
• Signed the “ Instrument of Accession”.
Junagadh
• Through the policy of Referendum,the ruler of Junagadh signed the Instrument of Accession.

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• Manipur
• Bodhachandra Singh – the Manipur Maharaja at the time of Independence.
• People opposed the accession.
• General election held in Manipur in June 1948 - due to public pressure.
• Manipur – the first region in India to hold election on the basis of Universal Adult
Franchise.
• Manipur became a Constitutional Monarchy.
• Except Congress, all other parties were against the accession.
• Diplomatic Move 0f the Central Government – Bodhachandra signed the instrument of
accession.
• It created a lot of anger and resentment in Manipur.
3. Re-organisation of States
• The national leaders frightened that the formation of states on linguistic basis may lead to
the disintegration.
• As a result , national leaders failed to keep the promise made during the national movement
ie., the formation of states on linguistic basis.
• It was challenged by the local leaders and the people.
The Movement of Vishala Andhra
• Demanded a separate state for Telugu speaking people.
• Potti Sriramulu - a Congress leader and Veteran Gandhian.
• Began the indefinite fasting – demanding the formation of Andhra Pradesh on linguistic
basis.
• As a result, he died on 15th December,1952.
• It created great unrest in the region.
• Nehru announced the formation of Andhra Pradesh – first linguistic state in India.
• It led similar movements in the country.
State Reorganisation Commission – 1953
• Chaired by Fazal Ali, a retired SC Judge.
• It is also known as Fazal Ali Commission’
• Other members – Hridayanad Kunsru and KM Panikar.
• As its report, State Reorganisation Act came in to existence in 1956.
• 14 states and 6 UTs came in to existence 1956.

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 Creation of New States
• 2000 – Uttarakhand on 1st November, Chattisgargh on 9th November and Jharkhand on 15th
November
• 2014 – Telangana on 2nd June.