Discovery India 1947-1982€¦ · Integration of Princely States • The rulers of the princely states were not uniformly enthusiastic about integrating their domains into independent

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Discover India

Post Independence: 1947 to 1982

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Assassination of Gandhiji

� Was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse.� Approached Gandhiji at a evening prayer meeting, bowed

and shot him 3 times.� Called a police officer and courted arrest.

� Godse was a Hindutva activist and journalist who opposed the separatist politics of Muslim League.

� Godse believed Gandhiji was giving into Muslim interests in unfair and anti-national way.

� He blamed Gandhiji for the Partition of India, which left hundreds of thousands of people dead in the wake of religious unrest.

� He thought that non-violent ideology would lead to Hindus losing the will to fight against other religions, which he saw as a matter of self-defense, and thereby becoming permanently enslaved.

� It is believed that the proverbial last straw was Gandhiji’s threat to go on a fast to force the Government of India to accept Pakistan’s demand of Rs 550 Million.


Princely States


Integration of Princely States

• The rulers of the princely states were not uniformly enthusiastic about integrating their domains into independent India. Bhopal, Travancore and Hyderabad did not want to join.

• With great skill and masterful diplomacy and using both persuasion and pressure, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V.P.Menon succeeded in integrating over 565 princely states with the Indian union.

• After prolonged negotiations failed with the rulers of Junagadh and Hyderabad, Indian military marched into the states, conducted plebiscite and incorporated the states into the Union.

• An Indian Navy ship was sent to Lakshadweep to hoist the national flag by to thwart any attempt by Pakistan to grab the islands.

• After prolonged negotiations France handed over Pondicherryand other French possessions to India in 1954.

• After 14 years of negotiations with Portugal, Goa was incorporated into the union on 17 December 1961 through military action.


Constitution of India

• The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950.

• Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected the permanent Chairman; an office later designated as President of the Assembly.

• Under Dr Ambedkar leadership, the final draft was published for public discussion and comments before its eventual adoption.

• Salient features of the Constitution of India

– Provides for a Parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with certain unitary features and direct elections by adults.

– Fundamental rights of equality, freedom, right against exploitation, freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, the right to property and the right to constitutional remedies.

– Declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic..


System of Government

• The government comprises three branches: the executive, the legislative and the judiciary.

• The executive branch headed by the President, who is the Head of State.

• Parliament, the Legislative branch consists of 545 directly-elected member Lok Sabha ("House of the People"), and indirectly-elected 250-member Rajya Sabha ("Council of States").

• The Judicial branch largely modeled on the US system has the Supreme Court, High Courts, and numerous civil, criminal and family courts at the district level.

• India has a parliamentary system of government based largely on that of the United Kingdom.

• The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are jointly accountable to the Lok Sabha.


Economic Policy

• Domestic policy tended towards Protectionism with a strong emphasis on

– import substitution industrialization

– economic interventionism

– a large public sector

– business regulation

– and central planning (5 year plans)

• Steel, mining, machine tools, telecommunications, insurance, andpower plants, among other industries, were effectively nationalizedin the mid-1950s.

• Green Revolution in 1965, the use of high-yielding varieties of seeds, increased fertilizers and improved irrigation facilities.

• White Revolution in 1970, was a rural development program to create nationwide milk grid.


Foreign Policy

• In the immediate context of the WW-II, India adopted the policy of Non-Alignment and Panch Sheel as the basic objective of Indian foreign policy.

– not tying India to any one bloc (Soviet or America)

– extending support to colonial and ex-colonial countries in their struggle against colonialism was well served by the policy of non-alignment.

– Nehru outlined the five principles of peaceful coexistence (Panch Sheel) for conducting relations among countries. • mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty,

• non-aggression,

• non-interference in each other's internal affairs,

• equality and mutual benefit,

• peaceful coexistence.

• The Non-Alignment policy enabled India to develop economic ties with countries on both sides of the divide.


War with China

• India adopted a policy of friendship towards China from the very beginning and supported its fight against imperialism.

• In 1959, following a big revolt in Tibet, India gave asylum to Dalai Lama and thousands of refugees who crossed over the border.

• Unable to reach a political solution, on 20 October 1962, Chinese forces attacked the Thagia ridge and dislodged Indian troops. It soon became full-fledged war.

• On 21 November 1962, the China declared unilateral ceasefire.

• Arguably, the main lesson India learned from the war was the need to strengthen its own defenses and a shift from Nehru's foreign policy with China based on his stated concept of "brotherhood".

• US & UK turned down request for aid. Nehru pushed ahead with military agreements with the Soviets (Russia).

• Pakistan sided up to China, and thinking India was weakened launched the 1965 war.


Wars with Pakistan

• War of 1947 - First Kashmir War– Tribal forces from Pakistan attacked and occupied the Princely State of Kashmir

– Maharaja Hari Singh acceded Kashmir to India

– Indian Army flew into Kashmir and pushed the attacking Pakistani forces back

– United Nation was invited to mediate and end the war, creating the infamous LOC.

• War of 1965 - Second Kashmir War– Following the China War, Pakistan sought to the opportunity to infiltration in to

Jammu Kashmir

– largest tank battle in military history since World War II.

– Soviet Union and US intervened to end the War.

• War of 1971 – Bangladesh Liberation War– On 25th March 1971, Sheikh Mujbur Rehman declared East Pakistan's freedom

– Pakistani launched a brutal military crackdown. Million’s took refuge in India

– Facing mounting economic and humanitarian crisis, India actively aided the freedom movement

– On 3rd Dec 1971 Pakistan Air Force attacked an Indian Air Force Base, drawing Indian formally into the War. Indian military entered East Pakistan and over ran the Pakistani force.

– Bangladesh was created on 16th December 1971.

• War of 1999 – Kargil War


Smiling Buddha (Nuclear Bomb)

• Program was established in 1948 under Homi Bhabha’s leadership

– Focused on peaceful development

• First nuclear test explosion took place at Pokhran 18 May 1974

– First test outside of the 5 permanent members of UN Security Council.

• The Indian government declared that it was not going to make nuclear weapons even though it had acquired the capacity to do so.

• It claimed that the Pokhran explosion was an effort to harness atomic energy for peaceful purposes and to make India self-reliant in nuclear technology.

• Led to the establishment of BARC at Trombay, IAEA.


Emergency 1975 - 1977

• A combination of recession, growing unemployment, rampant inflation and scarcity of foodstuffs created a serious crisis.

– Prices rose continuously, by 22 per cent in 1972-73 alone.

– Led to large-scale industrial unrest and a wave of strikes in different parts of the country.

– Government's capacity to redress the situation seriously impaired by the growing corruption.

• A state of Internal Emergency declared in June 1975.

– Democratic norms were suspended. Parliament was made utterly ineffective.

– Fundamental rights were curtained or suspended. Thousands were arrested.

– Large scale and illegal enactment of laws.

– Indira's 20-point economic program perceived to have increased agricultural production, manufacturing activity, exports and foreign reserves.

– In Jan 1977, emergency was ended with declaration of elections in March.


Post Emergency…

• Congress lost election and Janata Party came into Power.

• Reversed many Emergency-era decrees and opened official investigationsinto Emergency-era abuses.

• The Constitution was amended to make it more difficult for any future government to declare a state of emergency.

• Several major foreign policy and economic reforms were attempted.– Reviewed Diplomatic relationships with Pakistan and China.

– Developed better relationships with US. Jimmy Carter became the first US president to visit India.

• Seeking to promote self reliance and indigenous industries, foreign companies were required to partner with Indian corporations.– IBM, Coca Cola and others exited Indian market.

– Corruption, Black marketing, smuggling and inflation skyrocketed.

• Continuous in-fighting and ideological differences made the Janata government unable to effectively address national problems.– Saw 2 Prime Ministers in a span on of 3 years.

• Popular disenchantment with the political in-fighting and ineffective government led to the resurgence of Congress.


Vallabhbhai Patel (31st Oct 1875 – 15th Dec 1950)

� Known as the "Iron Man of India" aka Sardar

� Barrister, Statesman and Congress Leader

� Influenced by Gandhiji's words, work & philosophy

� Led a massive "No Tax campaign” for farmers affected floods in 1917 and 1928

� Effort to bring together the farmers of his area brought him the title of 'Sardar'

� Imprisoned for participating in the famous Salt Satyagraha in 1928

� Instrumental in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union before independence


Babasaheb Ambedkar (14th Apr 1891 – 6th Dec 1956)

� Born in a very poor family

� Faced discriminations from every corners of the society in school, college and job

� Led Dalit movement to fight against the caste discrimination

� Advocated separate electoral system for the Untouchables and lower caste people

� Favored concept of providing reservations for Dalits

� 1936-founded Independent Labor Party won 15 seats in 1937

� Chief architect of the Indian Constitution


Lal Bahadur Shastri (2nd Oct 1904 – 11th Jan 1966)

� 2nd Prime Minister of India.

� A secularist who refused to mix religion with politics.

� Worked for upliftment of socially backward.

� Spent 9 years in jail for his involvement in the Indian Freedom Movement.

� 1951 became the General Secretary of Congress Party..

� Served in the cabinet as Railway minister & Home minister.

� Championed Green and White Revolutions in India.


� Born in Nehru family

� Minister in Shastriji’s government.

� 3rd Prime Minister of India. Served 4 terms.

� 2nd female head of government in the world.

� Introduced more left-wing economic policies and promoted agricultural productivity.

� Established close relationship with Soviet Russia.

� Led India into 1971 War with Pakistan.

� Authorized 1st Nuclear test.

� Declared “State of Emergency”.

� Ordered Operation BlueStar.

� Assassinated by Sikh body guards.

Indira Gandhi (19th Nov 1917 – 31st Oct 1984)

Documents

Discovery India 1947-1982€¦ · Integration of Princely States • The rulers of the princely states were not uniformly enthusiastic about integrating their domains into independent