📘 Class 12 Political Science – Chapter 1
🌟 Challenges of Nation Building
✨ Challenges for the New Nation
🔹 India became independent in August 1947 and immediately faced three major challenges in nation building:
1️⃣ Unity with Diversity → To shape a nation that was united, yet accommodative of diversity (विविधता) and also eradicate poverty (गरीबी) and unemployment (बेरोज़गारी).
2️⃣ Establishing Democracy → To set up and strengthen a democratic political system.
3️⃣ Development of All → To ensure the development and well-being of the entire society, not just a few sections.
✨ Partition: Displacement and Rehabilitation
🔹 On 14–15 August 1947, two nation-states – India and Pakistan – came into existence.
🔹 Lakhs of people lost their homes, lives, and property, and became victims of communal violence (साम्प्रदायिक हिंसा).
🔹 Based on Muslim majority areas, West Pakistan and East Pakistan were created, separated by Indian territory.
🔹 Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan (known as Frontier Gandhi) opposed the merger, but NWFP (North-West Frontier Province) became part of Pakistan.
🔹 Partition of Punjab and Bengal caused the deepest trauma (आघात).
✨ Consequences of Partition
🔹 1947 witnessed one of the largest, abrupt (अचानक), and tragic transfers of population in human history.
🔹 Minorities on both sides migrated and took shelter in refugee camps (शरणार्थी शिविर).
🔹 Women were abducted, raped, killed, or forcefully converted to other religions.
🔹 Political and administrative systems collapsed on both sides.
🔹 Huge loss of life and property occurred due to massive communal violence.
✨ Integration of Princely States
🔹 Two types of provinces existed in British India:
- British Provinces – Directly under British Government.
- Princely States – Ruled by Indian princes.
🔹 After independence, there were 565 princely states. Most joined the Indian Union.
🔹 But Travancore, Hyderabad, Kashmir, and Manipur initially resisted joining.
✨ Government’s Approach
The Interim Government adopted a firm approach guided by three considerations:
1️⃣ People of most princely states clearly wanted to join the Indian Union.
2️⃣ Flexibility was shown by giving autonomy (स्वायत्तता) to some regions.
3️⃣ Consolidation (सुदृढ़ीकरण) of India’s territorial boundaries was of supreme importance.
🌟 Challenges of Nation Building (Part – 2)
✨ Instrument of Accession
🔹 Most princely state rulers signed a document called the Instrument of Accession (विलय पत्र).
🔹 But accession of Junagarh, Hyderabad, Kashmir, and Manipur proved more difficult.
🔹 Hyderabad → After initial resistance, in September 1948, it was merged into the Indian Union by a military operation (सैन्य अभियान).
🔹 Manipur → In September 1949, Government of India pressurised the Maharaja of Manipur to sign a Merger Agreement (विलय समझौता) — without consulting the popularly elected Legislative Assembly of Manipur.
✨ Reorganisation of States
🔹 During the National Movement, Indian National Congress had recognised the demand for state reorganisation on linguistic basis (भाषाई आधार पर राज्य पुनर्गठन).
🔹 After independence, this demand was postponed because:
- Partition memories were still fresh.
- The fate of princely states was undecided.
🔹 After a long movement, in December 1952, Andhra Pradesh was created on a linguistic basis.
🔹 This creation gave impetus (प्रेरणा/गति) to reorganise other states.
🔹 In 1953, Government of India appointed the States Reorganisation Commission.
- The Commission accepted that state boundaries should reflect linguistic boundaries.
- On its recommendation, the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 was passed.
- Result → Creation of 14 States and 6 Union Territories.
🌟 Challenges of Nation Building (Part – 3)
📌 FACTS THAT MATTER
1️⃣ “Tryst with Destiny” Speech
🔹 On the midnight of 14–15 August 1947, the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous speech “Tryst with Destiny” (भाग्य से मिलन) in a special session of the Constituent Assembly.
2️⃣ Immediate Challenges after Independence
🔹 Shaping India as a united nation (एकीकृत राष्ट्र).
🔹 Developing democratic practices (लोकतांत्रिक परंपराएँ).
🔹 Ensuring economic development, eradication of poverty (गरीबी) and unemployment (बेरोज़गारी).
3️⃣ Partition & Two-Nation Theory
🔹 Propounded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to create a separate state for Muslims.
🔹 Led to Partition → India & Pakistan.
🔹 Problems:
- Division of Punjab & Bengal.
- Merger of NWFP (North-West Frontier Province).
- Issue of religious majorities.
4️⃣ Impact of 1947 Partition
🔹 Abrupt & unplanned → spread communal riots (साम्प्रदायिक दंगे).
🔹 Refugee camps, separation of families, killings of women.
🔹 Division of financial assets, employees & conflicts between Hindus and Muslims.
5️⃣ British Provinces & Princely States
🔹 British India had two parts:
- British Indian provinces.
- Princely states (रियासतें) – enjoyed internal control under British supremacy.
6️⃣ Integration of Princely States – A Challenge
🔹 British announced to end paramountcy (सर्वोच्चता), giving freedom to join India or Pakistan.
🔹 Problems arose in Travancore, Hyderabad, Bhopal, etc.
7️⃣ Government’s Approach (Sardar Patel)
🔹 Three considerations:
- Will of the people of princely states.
- Flexible approach to accommodate plurality (बहुलता).
- Integrity of India with peaceful but firm diplomacy.🔹 Four difficult accessions → Junagarh, Hyderabad, Kashmir, Manipur.
8️⃣ Hyderabad Issue
🔹 Largest princely state ruled by Nizam who resisted integration.
🔹 People’s protest + Razakars (armed supporters) created chaos.
🔹 In September 1948, Indian forces intervened → Hyderabad merged with India.
9️⃣ Manipur Issue
🔹 Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh introduced Constitutional Monarchy (संवैधानिक राजतंत्र).
🔹 First state to hold elections with Universal Adult Franchise (सर्वजन वयस्क मताधिकार).
🔹 But → sharp differences over merger.
🔹 In September 1949, Govt. of India pressured Maharaja to sign Merger Agreement.
🔟 Fear of Linguistic States
🔹 In early years, leaders feared that linguistic states may encourage separatism (अलगाववाद).
🔹 Later realised → linguistic states actually strengthened democracy by giving recognition to regional & cultural identities.
1️⃣1️⃣ State Reorganisation Commission (1953)
🔹 Appointed by Central Government to redraw boundaries on linguistic basis.
🔹 Led to States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
🔹 Result → Creation of 14 States & 6 Union Territories.
✨ WORDS THAT MATTER – Challenges of Nation Building
📘 Two Nation Theory (दो राष्ट्र सिद्धांत)
👉 Propounded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to demand a separate state for Muslims.
🏛 British Indian Provinces (ब्रिटिश भारतीय प्रांत)
👉 Provinces of India that were directly under the control of the British government before independence.
👑 Princely States (देशी रियासतें)
👉 States ruled by Princes, who had some control over internal affairs but were under British supremacy (श्रेष्ठता).
⚔️ Razakars (रज़ाकार)
👉 A para-military force of the Nizam of Hyderabad, created to suppress people’s movement; known for violence and atrocities (क्रूरता).
💰 Nizam (निज़ाम)
👉 The ruler of Hyderabad, considered one of the richest persons in the world during that time.
🗺 State Reorganisation Commission (राज्य पुनर्गठन आयोग)
👉 Appointed in 1953 by the Indian government to redraw the boundaries of states on linguistic basis (भाषाई आधार).
