PPT: Challenges of Nation Building | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

 Page 1


Challenges of Nation 
Building
Page 2


Challenges of Nation 
Building
Challenges for the new nation-state
Independence Achieved
At the hour of midnight on 14-15 
August 1947, India attained 
independence. Jawaharlal Nehru, 
the first prime minister of free 
India, addressed a special session 
of the Constituent Assembly that 
night. This was the famous 'tryst 
with destiny' speech .
Goals of the New Nation
There were two goals almost 
everyone agreed upon: one, that 
after independence, we shall run 
our country through democratic 
government; and two, that the 
government will be run for the 
good of all, particularly the poor 
and the socially disadvantaged 
groups.
Difficult Circumstances
India was born as a nation-state in 
very difficult circumstances. 
Perhaps no other country by then 
was born in a situation more 
difficult than that of India in 1947. 
Freedom came with the partition 
of the country. The year 1947 was a 
year of unprecedented violence 
and trauma of displacement.
Page 3


Challenges of Nation 
Building
Challenges for the new nation-state
Independence Achieved
At the hour of midnight on 14-15 
August 1947, India attained 
independence. Jawaharlal Nehru, 
the first prime minister of free 
India, addressed a special session 
of the Constituent Assembly that 
night. This was the famous 'tryst 
with destiny' speech .
Goals of the New Nation
There were two goals almost 
everyone agreed upon: one, that 
after independence, we shall run 
our country through democratic 
government; and two, that the 
government will be run for the 
good of all, particularly the poor 
and the socially disadvantaged 
groups.
Difficult Circumstances
India was born as a nation-state in 
very difficult circumstances. 
Perhaps no other country by then 
was born in a situation more 
difficult than that of India in 1947. 
Freedom came with the partition 
of the country. The year 1947 was a 
year of unprecedented violence 
and trauma of displacement.
Three Challenges
1
National Unity
The first and the immediate challenge was to 
shape a nation that was united, yet 
accommodative of the diversity in our 
society. India was a land of continental size 
and diversity. Its people spoke different 
languages and followed different cultures and 
religions.
2
Establishing Democracy
The second challenge was to establish 
democracy. India adopted representative 
democracy based on the parliamentary form 
of government. These features ensure that 
the political competition would take place in 
a democratic framework.
3
Ensuring Development
The third challenge was to ensure the 
development and wellbeing of the entire 
society and not only of some sections. The 
Constitution set out in the Directive Principles 
of State Policy the welfare goals that 
democratic politics must achieve.
Page 4


Challenges of Nation 
Building
Challenges for the new nation-state
Independence Achieved
At the hour of midnight on 14-15 
August 1947, India attained 
independence. Jawaharlal Nehru, 
the first prime minister of free 
India, addressed a special session 
of the Constituent Assembly that 
night. This was the famous 'tryst 
with destiny' speech .
Goals of the New Nation
There were two goals almost 
everyone agreed upon: one, that 
after independence, we shall run 
our country through democratic 
government; and two, that the 
government will be run for the 
good of all, particularly the poor 
and the socially disadvantaged 
groups.
Difficult Circumstances
India was born as a nation-state in 
very difficult circumstances. 
Perhaps no other country by then 
was born in a situation more 
difficult than that of India in 1947. 
Freedom came with the partition 
of the country. The year 1947 was a 
year of unprecedented violence 
and trauma of displacement.
Three Challenges
1
National Unity
The first and the immediate challenge was to 
shape a nation that was united, yet 
accommodative of the diversity in our 
society. India was a land of continental size 
and diversity. Its people spoke different 
languages and followed different cultures and 
religions.
2
Establishing Democracy
The second challenge was to establish 
democracy. India adopted representative 
democracy based on the parliamentary form 
of government. These features ensure that 
the political competition would take place in 
a democratic framework.
3
Ensuring Development
The third challenge was to ensure the 
development and wellbeing of the entire 
society and not only of some sections. The 
Constitution set out in the Directive Principles 
of State Policy the welfare goals that 
democratic politics must achieve.
Partition: displacement and rehabilitation
1
Two Nation-
States
On 14-15 August 1947, 
not one but two nation-
states came into 
existence 3 India and 
Pakistan. This was a 
result of 'partition', the 
division of British India 
into India and Pakistan.
2
Principle of 
Religious 
Majorities
It was decided to follow 
the principle of religious 
majorities. This basically 
means that areas where 
the Muslims were in 
majority would make up 
the territory of Pakistan. 
The rest was to stay 
with India.
3
Challenges of 
Division
The idea might appear 
simple, but it presented 
all kinds of difficulties. 
There was no single belt 
of Muslim majority areas 
in British India. There 
were two areas of 
concentration, one in 
the west and one in the 
east.
4
Problem of 
Minorities
This was the problem of 
'minorities' on both 
sides of the border. 
Lakhs of Hindus and 
Sikhs in the areas that 
were now in Pakistan 
and an equally large 
number of Muslims on 
the Indian side of Punjab 
and Bengal found 
themselves trapped.
Page 5


Challenges of Nation 
Building
Challenges for the new nation-state
Independence Achieved
At the hour of midnight on 14-15 
August 1947, India attained 
independence. Jawaharlal Nehru, 
the first prime minister of free 
India, addressed a special session 
of the Constituent Assembly that 
night. This was the famous 'tryst 
with destiny' speech .
Goals of the New Nation
There were two goals almost 
everyone agreed upon: one, that 
after independence, we shall run 
our country through democratic 
government; and two, that the 
government will be run for the 
good of all, particularly the poor 
and the socially disadvantaged 
groups.
Difficult Circumstances
India was born as a nation-state in 
very difficult circumstances. 
Perhaps no other country by then 
was born in a situation more 
difficult than that of India in 1947. 
Freedom came with the partition 
of the country. The year 1947 was a 
year of unprecedented violence 
and trauma of displacement.
Three Challenges
1
National Unity
The first and the immediate challenge was to 
shape a nation that was united, yet 
accommodative of the diversity in our 
society. India was a land of continental size 
and diversity. Its people spoke different 
languages and followed different cultures and 
religions.
2
Establishing Democracy
The second challenge was to establish 
democracy. India adopted representative 
democracy based on the parliamentary form 
of government. These features ensure that 
the political competition would take place in 
a democratic framework.
3
Ensuring Development
The third challenge was to ensure the 
development and wellbeing of the entire 
society and not only of some sections. The 
Constitution set out in the Directive Principles 
of State Policy the welfare goals that 
democratic politics must achieve.
Partition: displacement and rehabilitation
1
Two Nation-
States
On 14-15 August 1947, 
not one but two nation-
states came into 
existence 3 India and 
Pakistan. This was a 
result of 'partition', the 
division of British India 
into India and Pakistan.
2
Principle of 
Religious 
Majorities
It was decided to follow 
the principle of religious 
majorities. This basically 
means that areas where 
the Muslims were in 
majority would make up 
the territory of Pakistan. 
The rest was to stay 
with India.
3
Challenges of 
Division
The idea might appear 
simple, but it presented 
all kinds of difficulties. 
There was no single belt 
of Muslim majority areas 
in British India. There 
were two areas of 
concentration, one in 
the west and one in the 
east.
4
Problem of 
Minorities
This was the problem of 
'minorities' on both 
sides of the border. 
Lakhs of Hindus and 
Sikhs in the areas that 
were now in Pakistan 
and an equally large 
number of Muslims on 
the Indian side of Punjab 
and Bengal found 
themselves trapped.
Consequences of partition
1
2
3
4
5
Massive Population 
Transfer
The year 1947 was the year of one 
of the largest, most abrupt, 
unplanned and tragic transfer of 
population that human history 
has known.
Violence and Atrocities
There were killings and atrocities 
on both sides of the border. In the 
name of religion people of one 
community ruthlessly killed and 
maimed people of the other 
community.
Displacement and 
Suffering
Forced to abandon their homes 
and move across borders, people 
went through immense 
sufferings. Minorities on both 
sides of the border fled their 
home and often secured 
temporary shelter in 'refugee 
camps'.
Division of Hearts
Writers, poets and film-makers in 
India and Pakistan have expressed 
the ruthlessness of the killings 
and the suffering of displacement 
and violence in their novels, 
short-stories, poems and films.
Challenge to Secularism
The partition posed another 
deeper issue. Did that make India 
a Hindu nation automatically? The 
leaders cherished the ideal of a 
secular nation. This ideal was 
enshrined in the Indian 
Constitution.