(English Medium) Part B Chapter 2 Challenges of Nation Building

 1. Describe briefly any four problems faced in the process of partition of India.  

Answer: The major problems faced by India at the time of partition were as follows :

1. The country faced communal riots in almost every parts of India.
2. Problem of integration of the territories which were divided on the basis of language, religion and culture.
3. Problem of well being of the entire society particularly the minorities and other weaker sections.
4. Challenge to shape a nation which just got the independence.
5. Challenge to establish democracy and make a constitution for all.

2. What were the consequences of partition of India in 1947?    

Answer: The consequences of partition of India in 1947 are as follows:

1. Division of provinces according to majority: The implementation of partition was very difficult because there was no single belt of Muslims majority in British India. The concentration of Muslims were in Punjab which was in the West and Bengal which was in East. The problems lied in these areas as concentration of non-Muslims were more. Therefore, it was decided that these two provinces would be bifurcated according to the majority at the district or even lower level.

2. Exploitation of minorities: Further there were problems with the minorities on both side of the borders, they were easily targeted and there was no option except to leave their own land and homes and go across the border.

3. Exploitation of women: During this journey, women were oftf n attacked and killed. Women were abdi cted and raped and also forcefully conve :ted to other religion. Therefore, family members killed their girls and women. 80 lakh people migrated across the new border and between 5 to 10 lakh people were killed during partition. Thus, partition of India established the deep trauma within minds of the citizens.

4. Problem with refugee: Those who did manage to cross the border found that they had no home. For lakhs of these ‘refugees’ the country’s freedom meant life in ‘refugees camps’, for months and sometimes for years.

5. Administrative failure: There were competing political interests behind communal conflicts. The Muslim league was formed to protect the interests of the Muslims in colonial India. It was in the forefront of the demand for a separate Muslim nation. Similarly there were organisations, which were trying to organise the Hindus in order to turn India into a Hindu nation. This situation led to administrative failure in the country.

6. Distribution of financial assets:The financial assets and things like tables, chairs, typewriters, paper-clips, books and also musical instruments of the police band were divided. The employees of the government and the railways were also ‘divided’. It was a violent separation of communities who had hitherto to lived together as neighbours.

3. Explain any three challenges faced by India at the time of its independence.    

Ans: The major challenges faced by India at the time of its independence are as follows:

1. To shape a United Nation: Immediately after independence, there was a challenge to make India an unified nation. There were diversities of cultures, languages, religions etc increased the questions on India’s future.

2. To establish democracy: However, India is seventh largest country in the world and has different values, cultures norms etc. According to the Constitution, India has adopted the democratic government on the basis of adult franchise. The challenge was how to maintain democracy.

3. To ensure the development and well-being: The Constitution laid down in Fundamental Rights that all citizens are equal and all of them are free to practise their own religion. In DPSP laid down welfare state. Although the Preamble of the Constitution laid down that the Principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity were adopted to develop the society. However, the challenges were how to overcome the poverty and how to develop economy of India through the peoples’ participation.

4. Integration of princely states: After independence, there were 565 Princely States. The Independence Act, 1947 says that British India divided into two nations India and Pakistan. And Princely States may be merged with both the countries or stayed independent. The British left India with multiple problems. This was certain and very serious challenge raised in front of India.

4. How did the state of Hyderabad became a part of the Indian Union after partition?

Answer:
Hyderabad, the largest of the princely states covered almost l/3rd part of South India. Nizam signed Standstill Agreement with the Government of India and state emerged as an independent state after India’s independence. Many movements took place in Hyderabad; State specially in Telangana region where many peasants were victimised and oppressed by Nizam.

Nizam sent his para-military force, Razakars. Razakars murdered, raped and looted particularly the non-Muslims. Therefore, Central Government ordered the army to tackle the situation on 13th September, 1948, Indian army marched in Hyderabad and on the 17th September, 1948. Hyderabad surrendered. This way Hyderabad became a part of the Indian Union after partition.

5. What was the approach of the Government of India towards the princely states immediately after the partition of India in 1947? 

Ans: At the time of India’s independence, there were 565 princely states. Immediately after partition communal violence was at its culmination. In this environment, the government’s approach towards princely states was guided by following three considerations:

1. Firstly, the people of most of the princely states clearly wanted to become part of the Indian union.
2. Secondly, the government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to some regions. The idea was to accommodate plurality and adopt a flexible approach in dealing with the demands of the regions.
3. Thirdly, in the backdrop of partition which brought into focus the contest over demarcation of territory, the integration and consolidation of the territorial boundaries of the nation had assumed supreme importance.

Short Questions: 

1. Name the leader of the freedom movement of India who was popularly known as Frontier Gandhi.

Ans: Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan.

2. Mention the main recommendation of the State Reorganisation Commission of 1953.

Ans: The basis of report of the States Reorganisation Commission was that the boundaries of the states should reflect boundaries of different languages.

3. What is the ‘Two Nation Theory’ advanced by Muslim League?

Ans: According to the ‘Two-Nation Theory’, India consisted of not one but two ‘people’, Hindus and Muslims. That is why it demanded Pakistan, a separate country for the Muslims.

4. What do you understand by ‘instrument of accession’?

Ans: The ‘Instrument of accession’ was a legal document created in 1947. It was executed by Government of India to princely states which was signed by most of the rulers.

5. How many princely states were in India at the time of its independence? 

Ans: 565

6. Give the name of two provinces which were also divided during the partition of India? 

Ans: Punjab and Bengal

7. Who killed Gandhiji?

Ans: Nathuram Godse on 30th January, 1948.

8. What were the last words of Gandhiji?

Ans: Hey Ram.

9. When was the State Reorganisation Commission formed?

Ans: 29th December, 1953

10. Who were the members of the State Reorganisation Commission?

Ans: Justice Fazl Ali, K M Panikkar and Hridaynath Kunzru.

11. Name two cities which were declared as communal zones during partition.

Ans: Kolkata and Lahore

12. Which was the first state formed on the basis of language?

Ans: Andhra Pradesh