Introduction:India is a land of various races; various religious and various

languages. Still then, the Indians developed into one nation by the

influence of common territory, common history and common fight for

freedom against the foreign rule.

But when India came under the British, the English ruler followed the

policy of Divide and Rule in order to perpetuate their authority over

India. Consequently the racial, the religious and the linguistic groups

in the Indian nation first  began to disintegrate emotionally and

psychologically and then desired to disintegrate territorially. This

resulted into division of India into Bharat and Pakistan. India the

integrity of the Indian nation is awfully threatened as the communal

quarrels are fanned by the hostile neighbours of India. Hence, the

necessity of strong national Integration in India has become so urgent

at present.

What does National Integration mean? National integration is the awareness of a common

identity amongst the citizens of a country. It means that

though we belong to different castes, religions and

regions and speak different languages we recognize the

fact that we are all one. This kind of integration is very

important in the building of a strong and prosperous

nation.

Unity in Diversity Unity in our country does not mean

the kind of oneness that comes from

racial and cultural similarity. It is

unity in spite of great differences, in

other words, unity in diversity. An

imprtant historical event in which this

unity was displayed was the freedom

movement when all the Indians

united against the British rule.

What is the common feature in all the religions?India is a very large country. We have the second largest population

in the world and our land area is about the same size as Europe

minus the former Soviet Union. About one thousand six hundred fifty-

two languages and dialects are spoken in our country. From among

these eighteen have been given special recognition by our

Constitution as National languages of our country.

A unique feature of our country is that all the major religions of the

world are practiced here like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism,

Sikhism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. There are also great varieties in

costume, food habits, and social customs. Geographically our land is

diverse and there are amazing differences in climate. Despite all

these differences India is a political entity, every part of which is

governed under the same Constitution. We have to co-exist with each

other peacefully, respect the culture and religion of our fellow

Indians.

Unbreakable Unity of Indian

Society The unity of Indian society and culture surges ahead and

blossoms like a

flower inspite of several diversities. This in deed is strange

enough a factor

which often eludes the plausible answer. Indians are highly

emotional and

they exhibit their emotional unity at moments of national

crises. Indians

have been bound up socio-culturally and emotionally for at

least 2,500

years, i.e. from the time of Indus Valley Civilisation . Indian has

always

attracted peoples from outside and many of them have settled

down in this

subcontinent. It can be said that the lap of mother India is cosy

soothing

and comfortable. The flow of outsiders to India continues till

today at

least from two neighbouring countries, one in the east and the

other in the

West.

COLOURS OF INDIA

VARITIES OF INDIA

Forces Working against National Integration There are many forces that come in the way of our

national integration. Often people have very

strong feelings about their own religion and

language and oppose those of others. Such

feelings lead to clashes between different sects.

Such occurrences damage our unity and prove to

be a hindrance to our progress.

Communalism is one factor that poses a great

danger to our unity. The formation of the State of

Pakistan in 1947 led to terrible communal riots. A

very large number of people lost their lives and

their homes and had to undergo a lot of suffering

to resettle.

Forces Promoting National Integration

There are many forces that come in the way of our

national integration. Often people have very strong

feelings about their own religion and language and

oppose those of others. Such feelings lead to clashes

between different sects. Such occurrences damage

our unity and prove to be a hindrance to our progress.

Communalism is one factor that poses a great danger

to our unity. The formation of the State of Pakistan in

1947 led to terrible communal riots. A very large

number of people lost their lives and their homes and

had to undergo a lot of suffering to resettle.

What should be done:There are, in India, various religious communities, such as

Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and

Parses. Each community should appreciate every other

community. Each community should love every other

community, respect the prophets of every other community.

Each community should observe the great days of every other

community. Each community should help and share the

religious festivals of every other community. A religious

community should avoid doing any such thing which is a

taboo for any other religious community.

There are in India, various linguistic groups speaking

different languages, such as Hindi, Urdu, Bangali, Oriya,

Assamee, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and so on. Each linguistic

group should respect the language of every other linguistic

group. Every Indian student should be given full facility to

learn through his own language wherever he is in India.

Ekta Yatra (English : National Integration rally) is being

led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s youth wing national

president and Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur.It is also called

Tiranga Yatra by some news agencies. The rally started

from Kolkata, West Bengal on January 12. As per plan the

BJP rally travelled through Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,

Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana.

It was also planned to end the rally on January 26 after

unfurling the Tiranga at Lal Chowk, Srinagar. However, it did

not happen as the BJP leaders were arrested and not allowed

to enter Kashmir.

The need of national integration is

felt necessary for the following

reasons.

(i) Security of the nation.

(ii) Internal discipline.

(iii) Economic prosperity

Security of the nation

Economic Prosperity

6 important problems of National Integration found in India

1. Casteism:

Caste is an imported part of our social fabric.

This was developed in the past on the basis of

division of labour in the society. But now

casterism has segregated the society. Unity

and integrity has become a dream in a caste

ridden society. The feeling of socially neglected

scheduled castes under the suppression of

upper caste ruined the sense of we feeling and

unity. It becomes a problem for national

integration.

.

Casteism:

2. Communalism:Religions antagonism has posed a i serious

challenge to national integration in India.

India is a multi- religious land. Political

manipulation has projected one religion

against the other which resulted in communal

riot, bloodbath, mutual, distrust and

disintegration of the country. Large scale

illiteracy and superstition are responsible

along with other causes for raise

communalism in the country. It is very

difficult to promote national integration under

these situations.

3. Linguistic Fanaticism:Multi-linguism is one of the important characters of

India. India has fifteen officially recognized

languages. There are about 1652 languages are

spoken in India which shows its diversities. There is

conflict and riots on the languages issue. People of

one language try to establish their language over

others. When Hindi was declared as the national

language people of South India resented against

this decision supporting English language.

Language issue became a barrier on the way of

national integration.

Linguistic Fanaticism:

4. Regionalism:There are several regions in India having their

unique traditions, food habits, dress and

languages. Each regional differs from the

other in one or other ways which leads to

disintegration of the country. People of one

region compete with the person of other

regions which leads to conflict and riots. Land

dispute, language problem are some of the

reasons which pose hurdle on the way of

national integration.

6. Economic Inequalities:

Economic standard of people in a state depends on the fertility of

land, resources available and manpower management. All the states

are not equal in the above matter which leads to economic

backwardness of the people. Even in a state distribution of wealth is

not properly done. Day by day poor becoming poorer and rich

become richest this causes tension and conflict. It is a problem for

national integration.

There are many programmes and plans for removing these

hindrances. Education can become a very powerful instrument or

national unity provided that it is used in the right manner.

Efforts made by:-MEDHA SHARMA