Online Assignment 'National integration'
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This document discusses national integration in India. It begins by noting India's diversity in languages, religions, and customs among its population. It describes national integration as a sense of shared identity and solidarity among citizens that binds the country together despite these differences. Several factors that hamper integration are then analyzed, including linguism, regionalism, communalism, casteism, and socioeconomic inequalities. The role of education in fostering national integration is also discussed. Curricular programs, co-curricular activities, training in democracy and secularism, and the role of teachers are all outlined as important ways education can promote national unity and an integrated society.
Online Assignment 'National integration'
- 1. ONLINE ASSIGNMENT TOPIC : NATIONAL INTEGRATION Submitted to: Submitted by: Nimmi Varghese Anju V R B.M.M II Training College Social Science Kottarakara B.M.M II Training College Kottarakara
- 3. INTRODUCTION India is a land of diversities. The people inhabiting this vast country belong to different races, speak different languages, follow different religions and observe different social customs and traditions. Their political affiliations are as varied as their economic interests. Perhaps no other developing country has so much of diversity in dress, race, religion, language and history as India. The different people who came to India at different times have added to this complexity in its diversity. We are an independent nation, but it is well known that nationhood is not merely a product of geography or politics. To be strong, the nation must have a solid basis in the mind of each of its citizens. In a democracy, the member of the society must be citizens in the real sense of the term; citizenship is possible only when the individual feels completely integrated with the whole, of which he is a part. The state must not be an amorphous mass but an organic entity. National Integration National integration means the sense of basis oneness of the nation. It is the sense of identity and solidarity among all citizens of the nation. National integration is the cementing force that binds the citizens of a country into a unified entity; unity is not uniformity while allowing for difference in language, race, religion etc. It is opposed to social description and chaos. National Integration has got two aspects, political unity and emotional unity with the achievement of independence and with the declaration of India as a republic we have achieved political unity. Emotional integration is reflected in the attitude of the people. It depends upon how people belonging to different areas and groups interact among themselves. All the people must feel that they are one as they are children of the same mother country. They must be willing to subordinate personal interests for the benefit of the group and the nation as a whole.
- 4. Need for effective Integration India’s diversity is observable in topography, landscape, soil and natural resource. The climatic conditions are not the same in all parts of the country. When it is hot summer in the north, it may be raining heavily in the south. When there is drought at one end of the country there may be floods at the other end. It is a land of paradoxes. This underlying unity is the remarkable feature of Indian culture. This unity was spontaneously revealed when its security was in danger. During the Chinese and Pakistani aggressions, India stood united and people forgot their difference of opinion. But all these unity was found to disappear gradually as soon as the calamity was over. In recent years, there has been a general weakening of the affinity among the different sections of the people. Under the impact of narrow linguistic, religious and regional loyalties, people have begun thinking in terms of their own community, religion and state. Certain trends found in the national scenario are alarming. Take for example, son’s of the soil policy for employment, dispute over sharing of water between two regions etc- National solidarity is one of the fundamental needs for the preservation of freedom against external aggression and for the solution of our internal problems “united we stand, divided we fall” should be our motto here. Factors hampering Integration Let us try to analyse the factors that are hampering integration of the Indian society. These may be enumerated as follows. 1. Linguism Language is a tool for building up national Integration. Unfortunately, our language problem is major source of disintegration and disunity. In India there are many languages that are spoken in different parts of the country. This develops a sort of regional patriotism finally threatening the unity of India.
- 5. 2. Regionalism The division of the country into different states and union territories has caused a great change in the feelings of the Indian people. The love for India as the motherland has disappeared. One’s own state or union territory has taken the place of ‘Bharatmata’. Mutual jealousies and rivalries among people of different regions have grown up so much that they went to achieve the progress and development of their region only. Under such divisional forces one can hardly think of national solidarity. 3. Communalism India is a land of many religions. Religion is found to be one of the factors hampering integration. India became divided because of the religious fanaticism of a few. India has categorically been wedded to secularism. But there are instances where leaders have used the slogan ‘Hinduism in danger’, ‘Islam in danger’ etc… for promoting their vested interests. They spread rumors and arouse religious fanaticism in the common man who is illiterate. 4. Casteism Indian society is divided into different castes even within the same religion. The out castes were never treated as human beings their role in the national development was not at all recognized by the caste Hindus. The result is that they became isolated from the main stream of the national life. Today the whole scene of national life is within the clutches of the caste system. National unity is impossible as long as there is this feeling among citizens. 5. Parochialism In India we have so many political parties. Among these there are national parties and regional parties. The regional parties look to the interests of the regions. This raises challenges to the national integration of
- 6. the country. During the elections regional parties arouse regional spirit which does much harm to the development of national unity. 6. Socio-economic Inequalities The structure of Indian society is not egalitarian. It is marked by socio-economic inequalities, economic inequalities is caused mainly by the poverty of the masses. The distribution of national wealth is so uneven that a handful of persons enjoy luxuries, while a large mass cannot make both ends meet. The social inequality is mainly caused by caste system. The caste system separates people into different categories that have very limited social interaction. Socio-economic inequalities are creating a wide gulf between the rich and the poor, the high and the low. Though socialism has been declared as our coveted goal, no serious attempt has so far been made to alleviate these inequalities. The above are some of the main factors hampering national integration. So long as these differences exist, Indian society cannot hope to become integrated. Role of Education on National Integration National Integration cannot be achieved through mere legislation. Dr S Radhakrishnan has stated “National Integration cannot be built by brick and mortar or with chisel and hammer. It has to grow silently in the minds and hearts of men.The process by which it could be achieved, is education”. Education must play an important role in fostering national integration. 1. Curricular Programmes Description of important festivals, arts and literature of different parts of the country, glimpses of our social and cultural heritage etc- should find a prominent place in the curriculum. Map reading should be given due
- 7. importance so that students will have a clear concept of the vastness and geographic features of the motherland. An account of the scientific and industrial developments in India should be presented in detail. 2. Co-curricular activities It is well known that the effective development of children could be realized through co-curricular activities. In order to faster attitudes of toleration, accommodation and responsibilities towards others among pupils frequent chances of mingling with the people of diverse culture should be provided. Such activities must include display of educational films, visits to different places, celebration on national festivals and days etc. 3. Training in Democracy Ours is the largest democracy in the world and it is based on principles of equality, liberty and fraternity. Students should be trained to understand, practice and uphold the lofty ideals and values of democracy. This will promote social cohesion and national integration. 4. Training in secularism In order to maintain communal as religious harmony, pupil should be trained in secularism and values of toleration, harmony, brotherhood and fellow feeling. Students should have knowledge about different religions. The moral and ethical doctrines should be taught to students. 5. Role of Teacher Teachers should play a very significant role in developing among children favorable attitude towards nationalism. Unless teachers themselves get induced with the spirit o democracy and secularism and present models of behavior based on values of liberty, equality and fraternity, they cannot motivate students and lead them to the desired goal.
- 8. In short, education is the only tool for bringing about a united nation because it can make the growing youth realize that they are bound up with the nation’s destiny. Conclusion Regional imbalance, social inequality and inequality of education and employment opportunity should be set right if we are to remain as a united. In spite of the great diversities that we find in India, there is also fundamental unity. It has its deep root in the Indian soil, civilization and culture. India is one and indivisible. While her people speak with many tongues, they speak with one individual heart Reference www.brynma wr.edu/national integration.btm www.archivesgov/national integration Aggarwal J.C (2003) Teaching of Social Studies a practical approach, Vikash publishing house Mumbai