National Integration

S Tanisha Pradhan
Meaning
 The phrase ‘national integration’ was used by Pt. Nehru in 1961.
 Literally, ‘integration’ means to make up a whole out of different parts.
It is synonymous with ‘wholeness’ or ‘completeness’.
 The process of integration is the process of bringing culturally and
socially discrete groups together into a single territorial unit and the
inculcation of a sense of loyalty, belongingness and identity to that
unit. (K.C. Markandan).
 The word ‘integrity’ was added to preamble in 1976.
Why National Integration ?
 Plural character of Indian Society – multi-religious, multi-caste, multi-ethnic,
multi-linguistic and multi-cultural society.

 India’s Religious Spectrum : (2001 Census Report)

1. Hindus 827 Million 80.5 per cent
2. Muslims 138 Million 13.4 per cent
3. Sikhs 109 Million 1.9 per cent
4. Christians 024 Million 2.3 per cent
5. Buddhists 07.9 Million 0.8 per cent
6. Jains 04.2 Million 0.4 per cent
7. Others 06.6 Million 0.6 per cent
 In a multi-caste, there are thousands of castes and sub-castes.
 Ethnic identity is found in Manipur, Nagaland and other regions.
 India is a polyglot country with thousands of languages and
vernaculars.
 There is a divide between Aryan culture and Dravidian culture.
 Promotion and protection of vital national interests – Sovereignty,
territorial integrity and economic progress.
 To build a new and United India – Integration leads to the
development of nationhood, a feeling of patriotism & Indianness.
Unity in diversity can be realised.
In the following words, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh called for
building a new India (2006) :

An India that is united in thought not divided by religion and language ;

An India that is united in our Indianness not divided by caste and religions ;
An India that is united in seeking new opportunities for growth not divided by
disparities ;
An India that is caring and inclusive.
Approaches to National Integration
1. Constitutional Approaches - Single citizenship, secularism,
centralized federalism, fundamental freedom to reside in any part
of India, All-India Services, Emergency Powers, Fundamental
Duties, and listening of 22 languages in the 8th Schedule of the
Constitution.
2. Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujrati, Hindi, Kannada,
Kashmiri, Konkani, Mathilli, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali,
Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu & Urdu.
3. Institutional Approach - National Integration Council, Zonal
Councils, National Development Council, Cabinet Committee on
National Security, National Security Council, RAW, IB, Military
Intelligence, All India Educational and Technical Institutions, etc.
Threats to National Integration
Insurgent Groups in the North East :
(a)Internal Threats :
Arunachal Pradesh :
 United Liberation Volunteers of A.P.
 United Liberation Movement of A.P.
Assam :
 United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)
 Bodo Security Force
Nagaland :
 National Socialist Council of
Nagaland (two groups)
 Naga National Council (two groups)
 Manipur :
 People’s Liberation Army
 Revolutionary People’s Front
 United National Liberation Front
Tripura :
 All Tripura Tribal / Tiger Force
 National Liberation Front of Tripura
 Tipura Resurrection Army
Jammu & Kashmir :
 JKLF
 (b) Parochialism (narrow outlook)
(c ) Terrorism
(d) Economic Disparities :
Bodo agitation in Assam, Jharkhand agitation, Gorkhaland
agitation in West Bengal, Vidharbha, Hyderabad Karnataka, and Telangana
issues, etc.
 External Threat
Inter-services Intelligence of Pakistan is a posing a serious threat to India’s
security and integrity. It has evolved a Three-Pronged strategy to destabilise
India according to the report (2000) of Union Home Ministry.
1.Encouraging different insurgent groups in India and supplying them arms
and explosives. At least 10 to 12 Islamic groups have been working in
India at the behest of the ISI. According to the US report, the highly
trained terrorists of Jamait-i-Tulba with the active support of several Islamic
groups like SIMI, Islamic Revolutionary Council, etc have been indulging in
sabotage and subversive activities in India. (The Hindu, 1-3-1994)
2.Pumping counterfeit notes through its agents to destabilise the Indian
economy.
3.Indulgingin massive drug trafficking through the insurgent groups to destroy
the Indian Youth. (The Times of India, 13-1-2000)
Conclusion :
National Integration cannot be built by brick and mortar, by chisel
and hammer. It has to grow silently in the minds and heads of men (National
Integration Council). People should love and respect their country.
Books For Further Reading
1. Ashfaq Ali :
Emotional Integration in India (Bhopal University, 1982)
2. J.M. Kaul :
Problems of National Integration, (N.D. 1963)
3. EMS Namboodripad :
Problems of National Integration (Calcutta, 1966)
4. Haqqi, S.A.H. :
Democracy, Pluralism and Nation-Building (Delhi, 1984)
5. R.M. Khan (Ed) :
National Integration (Varnasi, 1970)
6. Rao, V.K.R.V. :
National Integration – Some unresolved Issues (Bombay, 1985)
7. Satish Chandra :
Regionalism and National Integration (Jaipur, 1976)
8. Ziauddin Khan :
Integration in India : Issues and Dimensions (N.D., 1973)
9. Sumit Ganguly and Rahul Mukherjee :
India Since 1980, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi 2011
10. Ramachandra Guha – India After Gandhi
 We are one in spite of many diversity.