Challenges of Nation Building
Politics in India Since Independence • NCERT Solutions • Chapter 1
Objective Type Questions
1. Which among the following statements about the partition is incorrect?
Answer: (d) The scheme of partition included a plan for transfer of population across the border.
Reason: The partition plan focused on the division of territory. The massive transfer of population was an unplanned, tragic, and violent consequence, not a pre-planned scheme.
Reason: The partition plan focused on the division of territory. The massive transfer of population was an unplanned, tragic, and violent consequence, not a pre-planned scheme.
2. Match the principles with the instances:
| Principle | Instance |
|---|---|
| (a) Mapping of boundaries on religious grounds | (ii) India and Pakistan |
| (b) Mapping of boundaries on grounds of different languages | (i) Pakistan and Bangladesh |
| (c) Demarcating boundaries within a country by geographical zones | (iv) Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand |
| (d) Demarcating boundaries within a country on administrative/political grounds | (iii) Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh |
3. Mark the location of the following Princely States on a map:
- (a) Junagadh: Located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat (Western India).
- (b) Manipur: Located in North-East India bordering Myanmar.
- (c) Mysore: Located in Southern India (Karnataka).
- (d) Gwalior: Located in Central India (Madhya Pradesh).
Critical Thinking
4. Opinion on Princely States Merger: Democracy vs. Force.
Analysis: Both views hold partial truth, but Bismay’s view aligns more with the long-term outcome.
- Democracy (Bismay): The rulers of Princely States were feudal monarchs. By merging with India, the subjects of these states gained democratic rights, a constitution, and the power to vote, which they lacked under princely rule.
- Consensus (Inderpreet): It is true that force was used in cases like Junagadh and Hyderabad (Operation Polo). However, this force was often used against the rulers who were acting against the wishes of their people. Popular movements in these states were largely in favour of joining India.
5. Analysis of Gandhi and Nehru’s Statements (August 1947).
Agenda of Nation Building:
- Gandhi’s Agenda: Focuses on Service and Ethics. He viewed power not as a privilege but as a burden (“crown of thorns”). His agenda was to serve the poorest, remain humble, and constantly test oneself against moral standards.
- Nehru’s Agenda: Focuses on Modernization and Opportunity. He viewed independence as a “step” towards a new future. His agenda was to build a modern nation, remove poverty, and seize the opportunity to create a prosperous India.
6. Reasons for Nehru keeping India secular. Were they only ethical?
Nehru’s reasons were both ethical and prudential.
- Ethical: Nehru believed in modern, liberal values where citizenship should not be defined by religious identity. He wanted an inclusive India that respected all faiths equally.
- Prudential (Practical): Even after Partition, India had a massive Muslim minority (approx. 12% in 1951). Declaring India a Hindu nation would have alienated millions of citizens, leading to perpetual civil strife, instability, and potential disintegration. Secularism was necessary for national unity.
7. Differences between nation building challenges in Eastern and Western regions.
- 1. Nature of Partition: In the West (Punjab), the partition was abrupt and total, leading to massive, immediate violence and a near-complete exchange of population. In the East (Bengal), the partition was more gradual; the population transfer continued for years, and large minorities initially remained on both sides.
- 2. Geography: The West had a contiguous border. The East faced the unique challenge of the “Chicken’s Neck” corridor and the geographical isolation of the North-East, complicating administrative integration.
Long Answer Questions
8. What was the task of the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC)? What was its most salient recommendation?
Task: The SRC was appointed in 1953 to examine the question of redrawing the boundaries of states.
Salient Recommendation: The Commission accepted that the boundaries of the state should reflect the boundaries of different languages. This led to the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, creating 14 states and 6 union territories based on linguistic lines.
Salient Recommendation: The Commission accepted that the boundaries of the state should reflect the boundaries of different languages. This led to the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, creating 14 states and 6 union territories based on linguistic lines.
9. Identify the features that make India a nation (“Imagined Community”).
Despite immense diversity, India is held together by:
- Shared History: A common struggle against British colonialism forged a sense of unity.
- The Constitution: A single legal framework guaranteeing fundamental rights and equality to all diverse groups.
- Democracy: A political system that allows diverse voices to be heard and represented.
- Secularism: The assurance that the state has no religion, allowing all communities to coexist.
- Cultural Unity: Shared cultural symbols (Flag, Anthem) and civilizational history spanning millennia.
10. Analysis of the Passage (India vs Soviet Union).
(a) Commonalities:
- Diversity: Both had diverse ethnic and linguistic groups. (Example from India: Linguistic diversity ranging from Tamil in the South to Hindi in the North).
- Scale: Both were massive in geographic and demographic scale. (Example: India’s population of over 300 million at independence).
- Challenges: Both populations were “divided by faith and driven by debt and disease.”
- Political System: India adopted a Democratic multi-party system, while the Soviet Union was a One-Party Authoritarian state.
- Integration Strategy: India opted for “Unity in Diversity” (federalism/linguistic states), whereas the Soviet Union often imposed centralization (Russification).