Explained : Challenges of Nation Building After India Got Independence

Challenges of Nation Building: On 14-15 August, at midnight, India attained Independence. The first Prime Minister of Free India, Jawaharlal Nehru, addressed a special session of the Constituent Assembly that night.

This was the moment every Indian, at that time, was waiting for. You must have read in your history textbooks and been taught by the teachers about the various national movements. There were many voices, and opinions of different revolutionaries during the movements but there were two definite goals on which almost everyone agreed,

• One, that after independence, the country shall run through democratic government and,
• Two, that the government will run for the good of all the citizens, particularly the poor and the socially backward and disadvantaged groups.

Though this was not going to be easy, since India was born in very tough circumstances. No other nation was born in such a difficult situation as India was in 1947.

Freedom came with the partition of the country. 1947 was a year of violence and unprecedented turmoil. At that time, the leaders had to face multiple challenges to shape the nation.

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The Major Challenges of Nation Building

Integration of Princely States

Challenges of Nation Building: Before Independence, British India was divided into the British Indian Provinces and the Princely States. The British Indian Provinces were directly governed by the British government and several large and small states were ruled by princes, called the Princely States.

Hyderabad

Challenges of Nation Building: In Hyderabad, the peasantry class was the victim of Nizam's oppressive rule, and they rose against him. The people of Hyderabad joined a movement in large numbers, including women, against the Nizam.

The Nizam retaliated by unleashing a paramilitary force known as Razakars on the people. The Razakars murdered people, raped women, and looted the public. Finally, in 1948, the Indian government ordered Indian Army to tackle the situation.

The army took control of Nizam's forces. Nizam eventually had to surrender. This led to the accession of Hyderabad to India.

Manipur

Challenges of Nation Building: The Maharaja of Manipur Bodhachandra Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with the Indian government with the condition of having internal autonomy.

In September 1949, the Government of India succeeded in pressurizing the Maharaja into signing a Merger Agreement.

Reorganization of States

Challenges of Nation Building: Integration of princely states was one of the processes of nation-building. The other challenge was to draw internal boundaries for the Indian States. The boundary was to be drawn in such a way that linguistic diversity could be reflected without affecting the unity of the nation.

After partition, the leaders felt that setting boundaries based on languages might lead to separatism and disruption. The government decided to postpone the matter.

This decision of national leaders was challenged by Telugu-speaking areas of present-day Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, and Karnataka. They protested for a separate Andhra.

The movement for separate Andhra was called the Vishalandhra movement. The movement gathered momentum and Congress leader Potti Sriramulu went on an indefinite fast that led to his death. This resulted in violent outbursts and finally, the Prime Minister announced the formation of a separate Andhra state in 1952.

The protest for the formation of the states on a linguistic basis also got spread in other parts of the country. The protests forced the government to appoint State Reorganization Commission and the commission in its report accepted the creation of States on a linguistic basis. The State Reorganization Act was passed in 1956 and this led to the formation of 14 States and 6 union territories.

The creation of States on a linguistic basis was found to be more democratic.

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