Nation-Building and Challenges in India: Nehru's Legacy

Challenges after Independence

• Immediate challenge faced by India after attaining independence was integration of 565 princely states, territorial consolidation, and dealing with the aftermath of partition.

Democracy and Constitution

• Indian Constitution granted fundamental rights and the right to vote to every citizen, ensuring universal adult franchise.
• India adopted a parliamentary democracy post-independence, with a constitution that embodied the principles of democracy, socialism, and secularism.

Principle of Equality

• Indian Constitution addressed the principle of equality by prohibiting discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
• Constitution also provided special protections to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

Protection to Minority Communities

• Granting special protection to religious and cultural communities was a major challenge, especially in the context of Muslim-majority areas and their geographical distribution.

Legacy of Partition

• The legacy of partition posed a challenge to India, including the 'two-nation theory' advanced by the Muslim League, which led to the creation of Pakistan as a separate nation-state.
• Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, also known as the 'Frontier Gandhi', opposed the partition and believed in a united India.

Partition of Punjab and Bengal

• Geographical distribution of Muslim-majority areas in British India led to challenges, particularly in Punjab and Bengal, which had large non-Muslim populations.
• Punjab and Bengal were bifurcated during the partition, resulting in significant migration and violence.

Challenges faced by Minorities

• Main problem faced by minorities during the partition was the risk of persecution, violence, and displacement.

Human Cost of Partition

• The partition caused deep trauma, especially in Punjab and Bengal, where millions of people were displaced, and thousands were killed in communal violence.