NATION-BUILDING AND CONCEPT OF NATIONAL INTEGRATION: FOR UPSC AND BPSC MAINS EXAM.

NOTE: The source of discussion is based on the sources available on the internet, Indian polity by M. Laxmikanth, and An Introduction to Political Theory by O. P. Gauba.

In India, the first essential is the maintenance of the unity of the country, not merely a political unity but a unity of mind and heart, which precludes the narrow urges that make for disunity- J.L. Nehru 1952.

The concept of nation-building is closely related to the concept of political development, and are particularly important for the new Asian countries. most of them have to face the problem of political integration so that people of the country consider themselves a packet of a single nation and owe their loyalty to a single center of power. hence nation-building means an individual to a group of people transfer their commitment to the larger central political system. It gives them a national identity cutting across their group loyalties based on religion, race, caste, language, region, culture, etc. 
According to Rajni Kothari- The concept of nation-building represents the political aspect of a country's development whereas modernization is concerned with its economic, technological, and administrative aspects.
The process through which the individual identifies himself to be an integral part of his community while retaining his personal identity in his personality.

India, the abode of vast diversities, there are many chaotic elements that are present which are the main obstacles in national integration like- communalism, casteism, regionalism, linguism, and narrow-mindedness, and to formulate definite conclusions in order to give a lead to the country.
The foundation of our national life is common citizenship, unity in diversity, freedom of religion, secularism, equality, justice-social-economic-political, and fraternity among all communities.
It is necessary that being a responsible citizen of India condemns tendencies that strike at the root of national solidarity and calls upon all political parties, voluntary organizations, other groups, the press, and indeed all men of goodwill to bring them a halt. 

Nationalism and Regionalism do not go together, hence the problem of national integration is equipped with the universal character and it involves the reunion of all diversities to build up national solidarity.if one would try to delineate nationalism as the forces of unity and it becomes obvious that regionalism becomes the symbol of particularistic identity. Hence to achieve national integration, we have to beautifully carved-out the force of national unity, solidarity, and regional identity in a single piece.

According to Myron Weiner (Politics and Social Integration):

1. Integrative behavior involves the capacity of the people in a society to organized for some common purpose.
2. Evolving a minimum value consensus necessary to maintain social order.
3. The process of establishing a national authority over subordinate political units or regions, with distinct cultural and social groups.
4. The process of bringing together culturally and socially discreet groups into a single territorial unit and establishing of national identity.

Thus for national integration, it is required:

• Common citizenship.
• Unity in diversity.
• A feeling of loyalty to the nation.
• Social-economic and Political justice.
• Freedom of religion and Secularism.

The dimension of National Integration:

• Political, Economic, Social, Cultural, etc.
• Political integration involves territorial unity and integration which firmly bind together a national identity.
• Economic integration is fighting against obsequious absolute poverty, hunger, unemployment, etc.

In the time of the British rule, the following were unite India:

• Administrative singleness of the British rule.
• uniform civil code and criminal laws all over the country.
• Introduction of modern communication and transportation link- Railways, Telegraph, and Postal services.
• Expansion of English as the medium of education in India.

Causes behind disintegration:

• Divide and Rule policy of the British.
• Social issues like- Economic exploitation, child labor, linguistic fanaticism.
• Caste and communal violence, atrocities on Dalits.

India is a land of widespread diversities in the term of religion, language, caste, tribe, race, region, and so on. hence, the achievement of national integration becomes very essential for the all-around development and prosperity of the country.
national integration implies avoidance of divisive movements that would balkanize the nation and presence of attitudes throughout the society that give preference to the national and public interest as distinct from parochial interest.
The obstacles of National Integration:

1. Regionalism: regionalism refers to sub-nationalism and sub-territorialism loyalty. It implies the love for a particular region or state in preference to the country as a whole. There is also sub-regionalism, that is, love for a particular region in preference to the state of which the region forms a part.
2. regionalism is a countrywide phenomenon that manifests itself in the following forms.
3. the demand of the people of certain states from secession from the Indian union like Khalistan, Dravid Nad, MIzoa, Nagas, etc.
4. The demand of the people of certain areas for separate statehood like Telangana, Bodoland, Uttarakhand, Vidharbha, etc.
5.  The demand of people of certain union territories for full-fledged statehood like- Manipur, Tripura, Delhi, Puducherry, etc.
6. Interstate boundary disputes like Chandigarh and Belgaum, and water disputes like Cauvery, Krishna, Ravi-Beas, etc.
7. Sons of soil theory- which advocates preference to local people in government jobs, private jobs, permits, and so on. Their slogan will be like - Assam for Assamese, Maharastra for Maharashtrians, etc.
8.   Communalism: Means love for one's religious community in preference to the national and a tendency to promote the communal interest at the coat of the interest of other religious communities. It has roots in the British rule where 1909, 1919, and 1935 Acts has introduced communal representation for the Muslims, Sikhs, and others.
9. The communalism got accentuated with the politicization of religion, Its various manifestations are-
10. Formation of political parties based on religion- like Akali dal, Muslim league.
11. communal riots between Hindu and Muslims.
12. The emergence of pressure groups.
13. Casteism: implies love for one's own caste-group in preference to the general national interest
14. formation of political parties on caste line.
15. violent disputes and agitations over the reservation policy.
16. Linguism: love for one's one language and hatred towards other language speaking people.
17. The reorganization of state based on language.

National Foundation for communal harmony (NFCH), was set up in 1992, it is an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Union Home Ministry. It promotes communal harmony, fraternity, and national integration.
Vision: India free from communal and all other forms of violence where all citizens especially children and youth live together in peace and harmony.
Mission: Promoting communal harmony, strengthening national integration, and fostering unity in diversity through collaborative social action, awareness programs.
Some Activities have taken by NFCH:

1. To provide financial assistance to the child victims of societal violence for their care, education, and training, aimed at their effective rehabilitation.
2. To provide information services, publish monographs and books, etc. on the subjects.
3. To conduct studies and grant scholarships to institutions for conducting studies.
4. to confer awards for outstanding contribution to communal harmony and national integration.
5. To promote communal harmony and national integration by organization variety of activities either independently or in association with educational institutions, NGOs, etc.