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

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What is meant by the Two-Nation theory?
Ans: According to the ‘Two Nation Theory’ advocated by the Muslim League, India being a diversified country on the basis of culture, politics, religion, economy, and society into two communities. Hindus and Muslims. According to this theory, the demand for Pakistan, a separate country for Muslims was made.

Q2: “Free India was born in very difficult circumstances.” Justify the statement with any two suitable arguments.
Ans: There is no doubt that Free India was born in very difficult circumstances.

• Freedom came with the partition of the country.
• Due to the partition, India faced unprecedented violence, which caused trauma of displacement of people from both sides.

Q3: In spite of communal partition, India has not declared a ‘Hindu State’. How the leaders of the Indian National Congress defended the adoption of “secularism” in India?
Ans:

• The leaders of the national movement cherished the ideal of a secular nation because they believed that India must treat people of all religions equally and that no religion should be considered superior to other religions.
• Even after the partition, 12% of the Muslim population remains in India.

Q4: Assess the commonly agreed upon two goals visualized by the Indians during the national movement which have been fulfilled after independence.
Ans:

• There will be a democratic government in the country.
• The government will be run for the good of all.

Q5: Which four princely states of India initially resisted joining the Indian Union?
Ans:

• Junagarh
• Hyderabad
• Kashmir
• Manipur.

Q6: Name the leader who played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of Princely States to join the Indian Union.
Ans: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of Princely States to join the Indian Union.

Q7: Mention the main recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission of 1953.
Ans: The most important recommendation of the State Reorganisation Commission was that boundaries of the different states should be based upon languages.

Q8: What was the basis of the report of the State Reorganisation Commission?
Ans: The State Reorganisation Commission accepted that the basis of the organization of new states should be linguistic.

Q9: Name the leader who played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of princely states to join the Indian Union.
Ans: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Q10: What is meant by Two Nation Theory?
Ans: Two Nation Theory was propounded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to create separate state for Muslims.

Q11: Mention the main recommendation of the State Reorganisation Commission of 1953.
Ans: The main recommendation of the State Reorganisation Commission was to organise states on language basis and the boundaries of states could also reflect the linguistic aspects.

Q12: Which two languages were spoken in Bombay state before it was divided in 1960?
Ans: Gujarati and Marathi

Q13: Name any four princely states that resisted their merger with the Indian Union?
Ans: Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur.

Q14:  How many princely states consisted at the time of independence of India?
Ans: 565 princely states.

Q15: What was meant by princely states?
Ans: Princely states were ruled by princes who employed some form of control over their internal affairs under the supremacy of the British.

Q16: What was the basis of the report of States Reorganisation Commission?
Ans: States Reorganisation Commission Report was based on the distribution of boundaries of states on language basis to reflect linguistic aspects.

Q17: Why were the states reorganised on linguistic basis in India in 1956?
Ans: States were reorganised on linguistic basis in India in 1956 to maintain unity and integrity of the nation to avoid violence and conflicts among the people.

Q18: Whose speech was known as ‘tryst with destiny’?
Ans: ‘Tryst with destiny’ speech was delivered by the first Prime Minister of independent India Pt. Jawahar Lai Nehru while addressing special session of constituent Assembly as the midnight of 14-15 August 1947.

Q19: Name the states which decided to remain independent in place of joining India.
Ans:  Travancore, Junagadh, Hyderabad and Bhopal decided to remain independent.

Q20: In which Congress Session proposal for linguistic principles of reorganisation was accepted?
Ans: Nagpur Congress Session of 1920.

Q21: Name the movement which demanded the separate province for Andhra region.
Ans: The Vishalandhra movement demanded that Telugu speaking areas should be separated from Madras Province of which they were a part and be made into a separate Andhra Province.

Q22: Why did Amritsar and Kolkata become communal zones?
Ans: Amritsar and Kolkata became communal zones because Muslims did not wish to move into area of Hindus and Sikhs majority and on the other hand Hindus and Sikhs also wanted to stay away from the areas of Muslim predominance.

Q23: Define Globalisation.
Ans: Globalisation refers to integration of an economy with the other country based on interdependence.

Q24: What is WSF?
Ans: WSF is the World Social Forum, a global platform to bring together a wide coalition of human rights activists, environmentalists and women activists.

Q25: Identify any two consequences of the partition of India in 1947.
Ans: 

• Communal Riots took place as the people of one community were killed and maimed by the people of other community in the name of religion.
• People went through immense sufferings as they were forced to abandon their homes and to secure temporary shelter in the refugee camps. Thousands of women were abducted on both sides of border.

Q26: Mention any two challenges that India faced just after independence.
Ans:
(i) Challenge to shape a nation
(ii) Challenges to establish democracy.
Or
(iii) Challenge to ensure the development and well being of the entire society.

Q27: Name the original states from which the following states were carved out.
(a) Meghalaya 
(b) Gujarat
Ans: 
(a) Assam (1972) 
(b) Bombay (1960)

Q28:  Explain the role played by Sardar Patel in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union.
Ans: Sardar Patel negotiated with the rulers of princely states and diplomatically merged most of them into the Indian Union i.e. there were 26 small states in today’s Orissa and 14 big states and 119 small states in today’s Gujarat.

Q29: Which state got divided on bilingual basis?
Ans: Bombay got divided on bilingual basis consisting of Gujarat and Marathi speaking people. After popular agitation, the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were created in 1960.

Q30: Name the leader who advocated separate state of Andhra Pradesh by observing fast unto death and participation in Salt Satyagraha.
Ans: The leader Potti Sriramulu of Madras resigned from government job to participate in Salt Satyagraha and advocated equality in the society and demanded entry of dalits in temples of Madras as well as observed fast unto death since 19 October 1952 to create separate state of Andhra Pradesh

Q31: What was government’s approach towards the integration of princely states was based on three considerations?
Ans: 

• Most of the princely states willingly wanted to join Indian Union.
•  The government wanted to accommo¬date plurality by adopting flexible approach in dealing with the demand of the region.
•  The central government was so much concerned towards integration and consolidation of territorial boundaries of Indian nation.

Q32: Which interests were hidden behind the conflicts between Hindus and Muslims at the time of independence?
Ans: Hindu and Muslim communities bear some political interests at the time of independence:

• Muslim League demanded a separate nation for Muslims to protect the interests of Muslims only.
  
• There were some Hindu organisations also which made efforts to look after the interests of Hindus only to make India a ‘Hindu Nation’.

Q33: “India got independence under very difficult circumstances rather than any other country”. Justify the statement.
Ans: India got independence in 1947 under very difficult circumstances:

• Freedom came with the partition of the country.
• The year 1947 became the year of unprecedented violence and trauma.
• Still our leader faced all these challenges in an appreciable manner by accommodating regional diversities also.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q34: Describe the outcome of the state Reorganisation Commission appointed in 1953.
Ans: After Independence, the reorganization of states was sought on a linguistic basis. Prime Minister Nehru announced the appointment of the State Reorganisation Commission in Lok Sabha on 2nd December 1953 for an impartial perusal of the issue. The Commission recommended the regrouping of states on the basis of language and culture as well. After pondering over the report of the State Reorganisation Commission, the Union Government presented the ‘States Reorganisation Bill’ in the Lok Sabha in 1956, which was passed after a few amendments. Indian Union included 14 States and 6 Union territories after the reorganization of states. Thereafter, infighting took place over Gujarati and Marathi languages resulting in the division of Bombay-Maharashtra and Gujarat, Nagaland state came into being in 1961.

Q35: Explain the circumstances that led to the accession of Hyderabad to India.
Ans: Hyderabad was the largest princely state and it was surrounded by Indian territory. Its ruler was Muslim but the majority of the population was Hindu. Its ruler carried the title ‘Nizam’ and he was one of the world’s richest men. Nizam wanted an independent status for Hyderabad. Hyderabad had a substantial fighting force and the Nizam also expected British help through Pakistan.
But India was also determined to see its accession. Negotiations were started but Hyderabad held out against accession. The peasantry in the Telangana region, in particular, was the victim of Nizam’s oppressive rule and rose against him. Ultimately on the grounds of atrocities against Hyderabadi Hindus, the imprisonment of more than ten thousand Congressmen in the state, and the destructive activities of the fanatical Razarbars, the Govt, of India was forced to move in a ‘Police action’. After a few days of intermittent fighting, the Nizam surrendered. This led to Hyderabad’s accession to India. The popular ministry was established in Hyderabad after the first General election in 1952.

Q36: Describe the outcome of the state Reorganisation Commission appointed in 1953.
Ans: After Independence, the reorganization of states was sought on a linguistic basis. Prime Minister Nehru announced the appointment of the State Reorganisation Commission in Lok Sabha on 2nd December 1953 for an impartial perusal of the issue. The Commission recommended the regrouping of states on the basis of language and culture as well. After pondering over the report of the State Reorganisation Commission, the Union Government presented the ‘States Reorganisation Bill’ in the Lok Sabha in 1956, which was passed after a few amendments. Indian Union included 14 States and 6 Union territories after the reorganization of states. Thereafter, infighting took place over Gujarati and Marathi languages resulting in the division of Bombay-Maharashtra and Gujarat, Nagaland state came into being in 1961.

Q37: Highlight any four consequences of the partition of India in 1947.
Ans:

• Refugee problems: The consequence of the partition was the ‘Refugee Problem’. The people who crossed the border found that they had no home.
• Division of properties and financial assets: Partition also meant the division of properties, liabilities, and financial assets. The employees of the government and railways were also divided.
• Problems of minorities: Even after large- scale migration of Muslims to Pakistan, about 12 percent of the total population of India were Muslims. The biggest problem before the Indian Government was how to deal with the Muslim and other religious minorities.
• Disruption of trading networks: In spite of all the awareness about the economic fall out of the partition and all the precautionary measures proposed, the creation of India and Pakistan disrupted the existing trading network.

Q38: How was the princely state of Manipur acceded to India?
Ans: Due to integration of princely states, Maharaja of Manipur Bodhachandra Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with the India Government on the assurance to be maintained the internal autonomy of Manipur:

• The state became a constitutional Monarchy after it conducted elections in 1948 to become first state to hold elections based on ‘Universal Adult Franchise’.
• But sharp differences arose in Legislative Assembly over the question of merger of Manipur with India while the state congress wanted the merger other political parties were opposed to this.

Q39: Describe briefly any four problems faced in the process of partition of India.
Ans: The process of partition had been started in 1940 when Muslim League Propounded Two Nation Theory. This process involved various problems:

• Areas were supposed to be distributed on the basis of religions majority i.e. Muslim majority areas built Pakistani territory and rest stayed with India. It created communal riots in country.
• No single belt of muslim majority was the part of British India. They were concentrated in East and West. Hence, it was decided that Pakistan will comprise two territories namely East and West Pakistan separated by long expansion of India territory.
•  All muslim majority areas did not want to be merged with Pakistan 
  i. e. it was opposed in NWFP. But ultimately NW.FP was made to merge with Pakistan.
• Another problem belonged to minorities on both sides of border
  i. e. Lakhs of Hindus and Muslims and Sikhs from both the sides were left with no option except to leave their homes.

Q40: Name the states divided on the basis of sub-regional culture.
Ans: In the late 20th century, some states sub-regions raised the voice for separate states accommodating their regional culture on the ground of complaints of regional imbalances. Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttaranchal were created in 2000 on the basis of separate regional culture only.

Q41: Explain three challenges which independent India faced during the process of Nation Building.
Ans: India had to face many challenges immediately after she got independence, which can be summed up as follows:

• Challenge to Shape a Nation: India was divided among various states at the time of independence. Hence a great challenge arose to unity and integrate country into one bond Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took upon himself to integrate these states either wilfully or diplomatically to be completed into different stages.
• To Establish Democratic Setup: India constituted representative democracy based on parliamentary form of government and it was a great challenge to develop these democratic practices in the nation.
• To Ensure Development and Well Being of the Society: Indian polity made herself to achieve welfare goods with the environment of effective economic policies and eradication of poverty and unemployment.

Q42: What problems were involved at the integration of princely states during nation building?
Ans: Integration of princely states possessed many difficulties in front of nation builders:

• British announced to lapse of British Paramountcy over princely states with the end of their rule over India.
• British government took the view that all these states were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent wilfully. It became a hindrance for unity of nation.
• Ruler of Travancore declared the states an independent one.
• Nizam of Hyderabad and Bhopal also followed Travancore.
• These responses created a possibility of division of country in place of unity and democracy.

Q43: Write a short note on the people’s movement of Hyderabad.
Ans: Hyderabad was the largest princely state of India under the rule of Nizam. One of the world’s richest person. Nizam wanted Hyderabad to be an independent state. But the people of Hyderabad were not happy with the rule of Nizam due to his non-democratic practices. Hence, various section of society agitated against him:

• The peasants in Telangana region particularly rose voice against him.
• Women also joined the movement in large number.
• The communist and Hyderabad congress were in the forefront of movement.
• Nizam responded by unbashing a Razakars paramilitary force on people.
• Ultimately, the central government had to order the army to tackle and in 1948, Indian army moved in control the Nizam’s forces.

All the above mentioned situations led to an accession of Hyderabad.

Q44: What was the significance of linguistic reorganisation of Indian states to the nation building?
Ans: In the initial years it was felt that linguistic states may foster separatism and create pressures on newly founded nation. But India considered democracy and federalism by making a favour to linguistic states only:

• Linguistic states enhanced democratic practices.
• Linguistic states reduced separatist attitude by accepting the regional linguistic claims of all regions.
• Linguistic reorganisation provided a uniform base to the nation and strengthened unity of nation.
• Linguistic states promoted the principle of unity in diversity, a distinct feature of nation.

Q45: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the following questions:
The interim government took a firm stance against the possible division of India into smaller principalities of different sizes. The Muslim League opposed the Indian National Congress and took the view that the States should be free to adopt any course they liked. Sardar Patel, India’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Minister during the crucial period, immediately after Independence, played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of Princely States in bringing most of them into the Indian Union.
1. Which government has been referred to as the interim government?
2. Why did the Muslim League oppose the Indian National Congress?
3. What makes the role of Sardar Patel a historic one? Explain.
Ans:
1. The Indian National Congress has been referred to as the interim government.
2. The Muslim League opposed the Indian National Congress because it was of the view that the states should be free to adopt any course they liked.
3. Sardar Patel was India’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Minister during the crucial period immediately following Independence. He negotiated with the rulers of princely states firmly but diplomatically and brought most of them into the Indian Union.

Q46: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
We should begin to work in that spirit and in course of time all these angularities of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community-because even as regards Muslims you have Pathans, Punjabis, Shias, Sunnis and so on and among the Hindus you have Brahmins, Vaishnavas, Khatris, also Bengalees, Madrasis, and so on-will vanish. … You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed-that has nothing to do with the business of the State. —Mohammad Ali Jinnah
1. Do you think that Jinnah’s statement contradicts the theory which was the basis of creation of Pakistan? Justify your answer.
2. What is the essence of Jinnah’s statement in this passage?
3. To what extent did Pakistan live up to Jinnah’s expectations in this passage?
Ans:
1. Jinnah’s statement does not con-tradict the ‘Two Nations’ Theory’ as he aimed at the creation of separate state for Muslims without any interference in other communities like Pathans, Punjabis, Shias and Sunnis.
2. The essence of Jinnah’s statement in this passage is his secular outlook regarding the protection and promotion of every community by giving freedom to practices one’s own beliefs (religiously).
3. Pakistan did not live up to Jinnah’s expectations because Pakistan became an orthodox Muslim country that did not respect interests of another communities after indepen-dence.

Q47: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
We have a Muslim minority who are so large in numbers that they cannot, even if they want, go anywhere else. That is a basic fact about which there can be no argument.. Whatever the provocation from Pakistan and whatever the indignities and horrors inflicted on non-Muslims there, we have got to deal with this minority in a civilised manner. We must give them security and the rights of citizens in a democratic state. If we fail to do so, we shall have a festering sore which will eventually poison the whole body politic and probably destroy it. —Jawaharlal Nehru
1. Why did Jawaharlal Nehru want to deal with the muslim minority in a civilised way?
2. Why this minority should be given the security and rights-on the same footing as 20 all others in a democratic system?
3. If this minority was not provided security and rights w’hat kind of scenario is envisaged?
Ans:
1. Because India adopted democracy which commit equal rights and opportunities to each and every human being in place of dividing them.
2. It was argued by Jawaharlal Nehru not only for ethical and sentimental reasons but prudential reasons also to realise long cherished goals and principles as socialism, equality, and fraternity.
3. If this minority was not provided security and rights it may effect:

• Basic nature of democratic system.
• It is against secular nature of India.
• It may effect India’s foreign policy also.
• It may threat to other minorities also.
• Most important it may lead to disintegration of the nation.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q48: Analyses any six Consequences of the Partition of India in 1947.
Ans: On 14-15 August 1947, not one but two nation-states came into existence—India, and Pakistan. This was due to the partition of British India into India and Pakistan.

Following were the consequences of the partition of India:

• Transfer of Population and Killings of People. The first consequence of partition was the largest unplanned and tragic transfer of population that human history has known. On both sides of the border, there were large-scale killings and atrocities. In the name of religion, people of one community killed the people of another community.
• Minorities were forced to abandon their homes and move across borders. Even during their journey they were often attacked, killed, and looted. On both sides, thousands of women were raped, abducted, and killed.
• The partition forced about 80 lakh people to migrate across the new border. More than five lakh people were killed due to partition.
• Refugees Problem. Another consequence of the partition was the ‘Refugees Problem’. The people who crossed the border found that they had no home. For lakhs of people independence meant life in ‘refugee camps’. The Indian leadership and the Government of India had to face, this immediate and unexpected problem. The refugee problem was so serious that the Government took many years to solve it.
• Division of Properties and Financial Assets. Partition also meant the division of properties, liabilities, and financial assets. The employees of the government and railways were also divided.
• Problems of Minorities. Even after large- scale migration of Muslims to Pakistan, about 12 percent of the total population of India were Muslims. The biggest problem before the Indian Government was how to deal with Muslim minorities and other religious minorities.
• Disruption of trading networks. In spite of all the awareness about the economic fall out of the partition and all the precautionary measures proposed, the creation of India and Pakistan disrupted the existing trading networks. The impact of partition, for instance, was disastrous for the jute industry.
• Reorganisation of states. Due to the partition, Bengal was divided into East Bengal (now Bangladesh) and West Bengal. Similarly, Punjab was divided into the Punjab province of West Pakistan and the Indian state of Punjab.

Q49: What forced the Union Government of India to appoint the States Reorganisation Commission in 1953? Mention its two main recommendations. Name any four new states formed after 1956.
Ans: Demand for States Reorganisation on Linguistic Basis. After independence, the reorganization of States was sought on a linguistic basis. Bengal was divided on the basis of language in 1905, before independence. The report of Sir Mont Ford in 1918 accepted the need for reorganization of states on a linguistic basis, but it was not an opportune time for the same. In 1931, the Indian Statutory Commission also supported this sort of reorganization of States. The report of Nehru Committee suggested, “Here it becomes most desirable for the provinces to be regrouped on linguistic basis. Language, as a rule, corresponds with a special variety of culture, traditions, and literature.”
Integration of States was the major problem after independence as the Indian states were given the right of independence. Sardar Patel regrouped these states with his untiring efforts. But soon the demand for the regrouping of states on a linguistic basis gained momentum. Congress founded a committee for the reorganization of states on the basis of its proceedings in Jaipur Conference. Pandit Nehru announced the appointment of this commission in Lok Sabha on 2nd December 1953 for an impartial perusal of the issue. This commission was headed by Fazal Ali and Sd. Pannikar and Hirday Math Kunjru were its members. The commission recommended the regrouping of States on the basis of language and culture as well.

Following were the main recommendations of the State Reorganisation Commission:

• Proper attention should be given to the cultural and communicative needs of other communities speaking different languages in a monolingual state.
• Linguistic minorities should be well protected.
• Attention should be paid to the development of other regional languages besides Hindi.
•  English should be the medium of instruction in universities and higher training institutes.
• The idea of a separate nation should be outright rejected.
• The idea of ‘one language, one province’ should not be promoted. Reorganization of states on a mono-lingual basis would prove fatal to the national integration.

After pondering over the report of the State Reorganisation Commission, the Union Government presented the ‘States Reorganisation Bill’ in the Lok Sabha in 1956, which was passed after a few amendments. Indian Union included 14 states and 6 union territories after the reorganization of states. Thereafter, infighting took place over Gujarati and Marathi languages resulting in the division of Bombay – Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Nagaland state came into being in 1961. Sreeramulu fasted unto death over Telugu speaking area and Andhra Pradesh came into existence.
Master Tara Singh and Sant Fateh Singh went on fast demanding Panjabi Suba, ultimately Punjab was reorganized over linguistic basis and Haryana was founded. Chandigarh was declared a Union Territory and thereafter Das Commission was appointed to solve the problem of Chandigarh. According to Das Commission, Chandigarh should be handed over to Haryana but the Central Government rejected it. In 1970, Mrs. Gandhi proclaimed that Chandigarh would be merged in Punjab and Fazilka and Abohar areas and compensation of? 10 crores would go to Haryana to build its new capital. But this issue is still hanging on fire. On 25th January 1971, Himachal Pradesh has declared a full-fledged state.

Q50: Explain any three challenges j faced by India at the time of her: independence.
Ans: On 14-15 August 1947 not one but two nation-states came into existence i.e., India and Pakistan. After independence, India faced three main challenges:

• Firstly, the most important challenge was to shape a nation that was united yet accommodative of the diversity in our society. India consists of people having different languages, different religions, different cultures, and different customs. There was one big question-Would India survive as a unified country?
• The Second challenge was to establish democracy. Under the new Constitution, Universal Adult Franchise was introduced in India. The Constitution guaranteed fundamental rights to the citizens. India adopted representation democracy based on ParliamenLary Government. However, the challenge was to develop democratic conventions in accordance with the Constitution.
• The Third challenge was the development and welfare of the whole society and not of privileged sections of society. The Constitution emphasized on principle of equality and special protections are provided to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The real challenge was to remove poverty and unemployment. Economic development was another challenge.

Q51: Describe the events that led to the merger of Hyderabad and Manipur with the Union of India.
Ans:

• Hyderabad: Hyderabad was the largest princely state and it was surrounded by Indian territory. Its ruler was Muslim but the majority of the population was Hindu. Its ruler carried the title ‘Nizam’ and he was one of the world’s richest men. Nizam wanted an independent status for Hyderabad. Hyderabad had a substantial fighting force and the Nizam also expected British help through Pakistan.
  But India was also determined to see its accession. Negotiations were started but Hyderabad held out against accession. The peasantry in the Telangana region, in particular, was the victim of Nizam’s oppressive rule and rose against him. Ultimately on the grounds of atrocities against Hyderabadi Hindus, the imprisonment of more than ten thousand Congressmen in the state, and the destructive activities of the fanatical Razarbars, the Govt, of India was forced to move in a ‘Police action’. After a few days of intermittent fighting, the Nizam surrendered. This led to Hyderabad’s accession to India. The popular ministry was established in Hyderabad after the first General election in 1952.
• Manipur: A few days before independence, the Maharaja of Manipur, Bodhachandra Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession with the Government of India on the assurance that the internal autonomy of Manipur would be maintained. Under public pressure, elections were held in Manipur in June 1948 on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise. Hence constitutional monarchy was established in Manipur. On the question of the merger of Manipur with India, there were two different opinions. However, in September 1949 Maharaja signed the merger Instrument. But Maharaja did not consult the Legislative Assembly on the merger issue.

Q52: What forced the Union Government of India to appoint the State Reorganisation Commission in 1953? Mention its two main recommendations. Name any four new states formed after 1956.
Ans: 

• State Reorganisation Commission was appointed in 1953 by central Government to rearrange the boundaries of states.
• Its main recommendations were to organise states on language basis as well as the boundaries of state could reflect the linguistic aspects also.
• The Madras province under British India created following linguistic states:
  (a) Andhra Pradesh (Telugu)
  (b) Tamilnadu (Tamil)
  (c) Kerala (Malayalam)
  (d) Karnataka (Kannad)
  
• The state Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956 which created 14 states and 6 Union territories.

Q53: Explain any three challenges faced by India at the time of its independence.
Ans: India had to face many challenges immediately after she got independence, which can be summed up as follows:

• Challenge to Shape a Nation: India was divided among various states at the time of independence. Hence a great challenge arose to unify and integrate country into one bond. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took upon himself to integrate these states either wishfully or diplomatically to be completed into different stages.
• To Establish Democratic Set up: India constituted representative democracy based on parliamentary form of government and it was a great challenge to develop these democratic practices in the nation.
• To Ensure Development and Well Being of the Society: Indian polity made herself to achieve welfare goals with the evolvement of effective economic policies and eradication of poverty and unemployment.

Q54: How did the reorganisation of states take place in India after its independence? Explain.
Ans: 

• In the initial years it was felt that linguistic states may foster seperatism and create pressures on newly founded nation, but India considered democracy and federalism by making a favour to linguistic states only.
• State Reorganisation Commission was appointed in 1953 central Government to rearrange the boundaries of states.
• Its main recommendations were to organise states on language basis as well as the boundaries of states could reflect the linguistic aspects also.
• The State Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956 which created 14 states and 6 union territories.
• Linguistic states enhanced demo¬cratic practices.
• Linguistic states reduced separatist attitude by accepting the regional and linguistic claims of all regions.

Q55: Explain any three consequences of partition in India.
Ans: 

• In the name of religion, people of one community killed and mained people of the other community. Cities like Lahore, Kolkata and Amritsar were titled as communal zones.
• People went through social sufferings also be forced to abandon their homes especially minorities, who took shelter in refugee camps.
• To preserve the honour of family, many women were killed even many children were separated from their family and if crossed borders, they did not have any home.
• The partition did not only divide property, assets or liabilities but also the government employees and the railways etc.

Q56: Assess the role played by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in nation building.
Ans: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is also known as ‘Iron man of India’, became India’s Deputy Prime minister and Home minister during integration of princely states. He played a historic role in negotiating the rulers of princely states and diplomatically brought most of them in Indian Union. It was very complicated which required skilful persuation i.e. there were 26 small states in today’s Orissa, Saurashtra region of Gujarat had 14 states with 119 small states etc.

Q57: Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. What does this picture represent?
2. Mention some consequences of partition.
3. Which year is being denoted in the picture?
Ans:
1. This picture represents the painful scene of partition of country when people were supposed to leave their homes.
2. (i) Communal Riots 
(ii) Social Sufferings
(iii) Administrative Concerns and Financial Strains.
3. The year of 1947, most abrupt, unplanned year in the history.

Q58: Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Identify the person in the centre of the cartoon and mention the challenge surrounding him.
2. What does the picture actually refer?
3. How did India avoid all these conflicts?
Ans:
1. The person is the first Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lai Nehru, who faced the first and foremost challenge of integration of princely states and formation of linguistic states.
2. The picture refers the problem of reorganisation of states on linguistic basis with the fear of disintegration in the country.
3. India identified and respected regional demands of the people and enhanced democracy by providing some autonomy to the states also.

Q59: On a political outline map of India locate and label the following and symbolise them as indicated:
1. Name and mark the original state from . which the following states were carved out.
(a) Gujarat 
(b) Meghalaya 
(c) Haryana 
(d) Chhattisgarh
2. Name and mark the countries reorganised on religious grounds.
3. Demarcated boundaries of these countries by geographical zones.
Ans:
1. (a) Gujarat (from Bombay)
(b) Meghalaya (from Assam)
(c) Haryana (from Punjab)
(d) Chhattisgarh (from Madhya Pradesh)
2. (a) India 
(b) Pakistan
3. (a) Pakistan 
(b) Bangladesh