National Integration in India: Problem, Methods

and Promotion

National Integration in India: Problem, Methods and

Promotion!
The problem of National Integration is universal and it
involves reconciliation of all diversities to build up national
solidarity. Nationalism and regionalism do not go together. If
Nationalism represents the ‘forces of unity and cohesion’,
regionalism is a symbol of ‘Particularistic identity’.

The process of National Integrations, therefore, tries to

achieve both —the forces of national unity, solidarity and
cohesion and the regional identity and freedom. In brief,
national integration helps building up the national character
out of the individual character. It involves national
cohesiveness through territorial unity.

Amidst socio-cultural, regional, religious, linguistic and

economic diversities, national integration aims at the
process of uniting together various parts of the society into a
“functions whole”, where in there shall be “reduction of all
barriers and tolerance of all differences unity, shared values
and consensus.”
However, national integration lacks a precise definition. To a
common man, the term ‘integration’ implies ‘the process of
becoming a whole’. It is more a psychological, behavioural
and emotional concept. In a limited sense, it (National
integration) believes in a sense of territorial nationality
which overshadows or eliminates the subordinate parochial
loyalties (Myron Weiner: Politics and Social Integration).

National Integration, according to Myron Weiner again

implies:
(a) A process of bringing together culturally and socially
discreet groups into a single territorial unit and
establishment if a national identity

b) The process of establishing a national authority over

subordinate political units or regions, with distinct cultural
and social groups

(c) Forging a link between the ruling elite and the ruled or
reducing the gulf between the elites and masses in terms of
aspiration and life-conditions

(d) Evolving a minimum value consensus necessary to

maintain a social order

(e) Integrative behaviour which involves the capacity of the

people in a society to organise for some common purpose.

The first National Integration Council (NIC) of India, 1961

has explained the scope of National Integration as a
‘psychological and educational Process involving the
development of—(a) a feeling of unity, solidarity and
cohesion in the hearts of the people; (b) a sense of common
citizenship, and (c) a feeling of loyalty to the Nation.

Thus the foundations of National Integration include:

(1) A common citizenship

(2) Unity in diversity

(3) A feeling of loyalty to the Nation

(4) A sense of fraternity among all diverse communities

(5) Secularism

(6) Freedom of religion

An eminent historian, Vincent Smith brought out a

compromising view and in his OXFORD HISTORY of INDIA’,
he wrote, ‘India offers unity in diversity’. This view appealed
Jawaharlal Nehru so much that he fought for a ‘SECULAR
UNITY’ in India.

Under the British Rule:

Nothing like India as a ‘nation’ existed before the British
rule in India began. It was the British rulers’ ‘magical
contributions’ which united India together to a large extent.

Such contributing factors were:

(i) Administrative singleness of the British rule in India
(ii) Operation of the uniform Civil and Criminal Laws all over
the country

ADVERTISEMENTS:

(iii) Introduction of modern means of transport and

communications like. Railways, Posts & Telegraph services
and like

(iv) Spread of English education.

Forces of Disintegration in India:

If process of Integration was to some extent, the
contributions of the British Rule in India, so much so was the
‘British Policy of Divide and Rule’ in India. That had led to
India’s disintegration in the post-independent years. India is
one’ is her physical get-up, but, internally she is torn into
pieces through caste and communal violence, atrocities on
‘Dalits’ and OBCs regional antagonism, linguistic and
cultural in-fight, economic disparities and the issue of
reservation in public services.

Added to the issues like socio-economic exploitation, child

labour, sexual harassment, linguistic fanaticism, narrow
vested interest of the local inhabitants, more commonly
known as “sons of the soil”, religious hysteria, growth of
militant ‘SENAS’, terrorist activities and separatist
tendencies, problems of disease and hunger and the like. In
face of these multiple diversities, the need of the hour,
therefore, is national integration founded on the principle of
‘Unity in Diversity’.

It is the fitness of the aforesaid situation, Professor

Rasheeduddin Khan’s emotional but timely remarks suggest
that “the term National Integration means and ought to
mean cohesion not fusion, unity but not uniformity,
reconciliation but not merger, agglomeration but not
assimilation etc. of the discreet segments of the People
constituting a Political Community or State? (Khan National
Integration and Communal Harmony; National Integration of
India Vol II-Edited by Sinha)

How to Promote National Integration?

The Government of India in the Ministry of HRD have
recommended four approaches to achieve national
integration in India: namely,
(i) Gradual harmonious change

(ii) Mechanical Solidarity

(iii) Unity in Diversity and pluralist approach

(iv) Protective discrimination. (Programmes for Promotion of

National Integration, 1986, Page 1 to 16)

But, for proper implementation of these four approaches, the

most important role has to be played by the administrators
at large. Law and order authorities must come up to a mark
to identify impartially and rationally the problems of mal-
integration and to take adequate steps to solve it.

The law and order administrations must act as ‘protectors’ of

the Victims of such atrocities, from among the Harijanas and
Adivasis. Adequate and timely relief should reach the victims
and aggrieved persons to compensate their loss. Police-
torture should be called to a halt. Arbitrary assets of
innocent persons, mostly belonging to the minority
communities should be checked and stopped at once.

All anti-national activities have to be curbed. Illegal

smuggling of deadly weapons has to be prevented.
Infiltration across the border has to be checked with the
help of well-armed Border Security Force (BSF). Police
organisation has to be modernized and strengthened with
arms. Intelligence wing has to be adequately trained.

Anti-national propaganda, baseless, yet instigating rumours

and gossips have to be censored. Sensitive areas should
have able and experienced officers with self confidence
integrity and high-morale. Press and Media have to be
impartial in their treatment and publicity of the situation.

Protective Discrimination:
The Government of India in pursuance of the relevant
provisions in our Constitution have both enacted several
laws and issued many executive directions from time to time
to promote the policy of ‘Protective Discrimination’ or the
“Policy of preferences”.

Implementation of these policies since 1951 has provided

concessions, preferences, reservations in jobs, in the
Legislatures, and educational institutions in favour of the
S.Cs and ST. The Process has continued till date. Such
preferential facilities are available to the S.Cs and S.Ts in
matters of promotion in jobs as well.

Similar reservation preferences in jobs have also been

extended in India to the other Backward Classes (OBCs)
since 1994. In a simple language, people call it
‘Mandalisation’. The judgement of the Supreme Court in
Indira Shahwney Case and also in two other cases that
under no situation should the reservation of posts in jobs
shall exceed 50% was of no use.

Tamil Nadu made it a political issue and raised the

reservation Quota to 69% and there could be no judicial
scrutiny of this decisions. AIADMK government as the same
had availed protections after being included in the Ninth
Schedule.

The matter did not stop there. In Rajasthan and in MP

Governments have recently come forward with decisions to
increase the reservation quota in jobs beyond 50% for those
who are socially or economically backward (SEBC) There is
no wrong either to increase the percentage of reservation or
to swell up the present list of OBCs by adding a few more
castes.

But, what is more important is that such reservation policies

are effectively implemented to the best advantages of the
deserving socially and economically backward classes or
castes so as to reduce the inequality-gap.

Thirdly, Education has a vital role to play in promotion of

National Integration. The traditional education system has to
be reoriented to develop Students’ personality and to grow
in them a sense of ‘tolerance’, and a feeling of ‘oneness’.

A sense of patriotism has to be injected into these minds to

make ’emotional national integration’ possible and
practicable, slowly and silently. They must be told that India
is one and united despite diversity. As Justice PB
Gayendragadkar has rightly suggested, by organizing youth
camps, N.S.S activities, the Universities can bring in social-
harmony.

Fourthly, social economic planning has to be centralized,

keeping in mind the demands and needs of each state.
Regional economic disparity can be balanced through more
inflow of financial help to the under developed states to be at
par with the developed ones so that inter-state ill-feeling and
animosity can be buried. State’s priorities must be taken
care of by the National Government forgetting political
animosity between the parties in power.

Fifthly Inter-State Councils and Zonal Councils must be

allowed to work to solve inter-state disputes, to rejuvenate
Inter-State cooperation and to strengthen national solidarity,
not at the cost of democratic governments operating in the
States and at the Centre within a federal set up.

Last, but not the least, is the smooth introduction of Official

Language Policy in India. Without undermining the
emotional touch associated with our regional languages.

Role of National Integration Council: (NIC)

The National Integration Conference held in October 1961
had agreed to set up a National Integration Council (NIC) to
review all matters related to National Integration and to
suggest measures to the Union Government. Besides the
Prime Minister who chairs the NIC, the other members
included the Union Minister of Home Affairs Chief Ministers
of all States, Educationists, Chairman of UGC, Chairman of
SC & ST Commission and a few eminent Party leaders.

It is hoped that the NIC meets frequently, deliberates issues

affecting national integration and works for harmonious
interstate cooperation strengthening national integration. It
is further hoped that the National Commissions for women,
for Minorities and for Human Rights should also play a
supporting role protects the genuine interest of various
groups in our society.

A few other steps which can also help promoting

national integration are summed up below:
(a) Cultural plurality has to be respected and tolerated
through mutual understanding based on nationality among
various culturally diverse groups.

(b) Nation’s ideology is stated in the Preamble of our

Constitution ensuring justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and
promoting secularism have to be respected and implemented
spontaneously, whole heartedly and sincerely with no
compulsion and reservation.

(c) All National symbols have to be shown due respect by

every Indian to ensure national unity to promote national
integration.

(d) Much success of National integration depends on the

style of functioning of the positive role played by our
national leaders including the Head of the State and Head of
the Government. In this context let us recall these emphatic
words of our first Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru who said,
“National integration is our national objective and let us
achieve it”.

(e) Since national integration is a political issue, it is equally

necessary that each big or small political party should
contribute voluntarily for the promotion of National
integration in India. All political differences have to be
merged in the national interest.

Concluding Observation:
The aforesaid discussion categorically suggests that in
India, National integration has to be achieved through
several ways:
(a) National solidarity and multiple diversities have to be
reconciled within the constitutional framework of a
Sovereign, Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.

(b) Legislature which, re-elects national public opinion must

act with ‘far sight’ and shall enact laws from time to time, to
bring about a peaceful and non-violent socio-economic
change within the frame work of national unity.

(c) The judiciary must land over such judicious, enlightened

as progressive which shall help uniting India and preventing
its further segmentation.

(d) Conflicts in a country like India with multiple diversity

are bound to come, but those have to be sorted out
cautiously, intelligently, with the help of a strong and
impartial administrative system.

Religious fanaticism in any form has to be checked. Proper

training should be given to all diverse religious sects that
God is one but is manifested in different shapes and forms. A
feeling of ‘SARVADHARMA SAMAVAV (equal treatment for
all religions) must be grown in the minds of people to
prevent any religious and sectarian ill-feeling leading to
violence.

Rights of religious and cultural minority groups in India have

been protected in our Constitution. That has to be
implemented with mutual love and affection among various
minority groups.

Communal ill-feeling has to be given a rational touch and

has to be treated with a scientific temper. People instigating,
fomenting and directly participating in communal riot and
violence must be tried in separate courts so established to
deliver quick justice and punish the miscreants timely to
check their reoccurrence.

National Integration is a collective effort and cannot be

achieved in isolation or single handed. Let all Indians, in
whichever part of the country they live must put united and
collective efforts strengthening the hands of the Government
to overtake all impediments affecting National integration
and to pursue willingly all strategies which help promoting
National Integration.

An eminent historian, Vincent Smith brought out a

compromising view and in his OXFORD HISTORY of INDIA’,
he wrote, ‘India offers unity in diversity’. This view appealed
Jawaharlal Nehru so much that he fought for a ‘SECULAR
UNITY’ in India.

Under the British Rule:

Nothing like India as a ‘nation’ existed before the British
rule in India began. It was the British rulers’ ‘magical
contributions’ which united India together to a large extent.

Such contributing factors were:

(i) Administrative singleness of the British rule in India

(ii) Operation of the uniform Civil and Criminal Laws all over
the country

(iii) Introduction of modern means of transport and

communications like. Railways, Posts & Telegraph services
and like

(iv) Spread of English education.

Forces of Disintegration in India:

If process of Integration was to some extent, the
contributions of the British Rule in India, so much so was the
‘British Policy of Divide and Rule’ in India. That had led to
India’s disintegration in the post-independent years. India is
one’ is her physical get-up, but, internally she is torn into
pieces through caste and communal violence, atrocities on
‘Dalits’ and OBCs regional antagonism, linguistic and
cultural in-fight, economic disparities and the issue of
reservation in public services.

Added to the issues like socio-economic exploitation, child

labour, sexual harassment, linguistic fanaticism, narrow
vested interest of the local inhabitants, more commonly
known as “sons of the soil”, religious hysteria, growth of
militant ‘SENAS’, terrorist activities and separatist
tendencies, problems of disease and hunger and the like. In
face of these multiple diversities, the need of the hour,
therefore, is national integration founded on the principle of
‘Unity in Diversity’.

It is the fitness of the aforesaid situation, Professor

Rasheeduddin Khan’s emotional but timely remarks suggest
that “the term National Integration means and ought to
mean cohesion not fusion, unity but not uniformity,
reconciliation but not merger, agglomeration but not
assimilation etc. of the discreet segments of the People
constituting a Political Community or State? (Khan National
Integration and Communal Harmony; National Integration of
India Vol II-Edited by Sinha)

ADVERTISEMENTS:

How to Promote National Integration?

The Government of India in the Ministry of HRD have
recommended four approaches to achieve national
integration in India: namely,
(i) Gradual harmonious change

(ii) Mechanical Solidarity

(iii) Unity in Diversity and pluralist approach

(iv) Protective discrimination. (Programmes for Promotion of

National Integration, 1986, Page 1 to 16)

But, for proper implementation of these four approaches, the

most important role has to be played by the administrators
at large. Law and order authorities must come up to a mark
to identify impartially and rationally the problems of mal-
integration and to take adequate steps to solve it.

The law and order administrations must act as ‘protectors’ of

the Victims of such atrocities, from among the Harijanas and
Adivasis. Adequate and timely relief should reach the victims
and aggrieved persons to compensate their loss. Police-
torture should be called to a halt. Arbitrary assets of
innocent persons, mostly belonging to the minority
communities should be checked and stopped at once.

All anti-national activities have to be curbed. Illegal

smuggling of deadly weapons has to be prevented.
Infiltration across the border has to be checked with the
help of well-armed Border Security Force (BSF). Police
organisation has to be modernized and strengthened with
arms. Intelligence wing has to be adequately trained.

Anti-national propaganda, baseless, yet instigating rumours

and gossips have to be censored. Sensitive areas should
have able and experienced officers with self confidence
integrity and high-morale. Press and Media have to be
impartial in their treatment and publicity of the situation.

Protective Discrimination:
The Government of India in pursuance of the relevant
provisions in our Constitution have both enacted several
laws and issued many executive directions from time to time
to promote the policy of ‘Protective Discrimination’ or the
“Policy of preferences”.

Implementation of these policies since 1951 has provided

concessions, preferences, reservations in jobs, in the
Legislatures, and educational institutions in favour of the
S.Cs and ST. The Process has continued till date. Such
preferential facilities are available to the S.Cs and S.Ts in
matters of promotion in jobs as well.

Similar reservation preferences in jobs have also been

extended in India to the other Backward Classes (OBCs)
since 1994. In a simple language, people call it
‘Mandalisation’. The judgement of the Supreme Court in
Indira Shahwney Case and also in two other cases that
under no situation should the reservation of posts in jobs
shall exceed 50% was of no use.

Tamil Nadu made it a political issue and raised the

reservation Quota to 69% and there could be no judicial
scrutiny of this decisions. AIADMK government as the same
had availed protections after being included in the Ninth
Schedule.

The matter did not stop there. In Rajasthan and in MP

Governments have recently come forward with decisions to
increase the reservation quota in jobs beyond 50% for those
who are socially or economically backward (SEBC) There is
no wrong either to increase the percentage of reservation or
to swell up the present list of OBCs by adding a few more
castes.

But, what is more important is that such reservation policies

are effectively implemented to the best advantages of the
deserving socially and economically backward classes or
castes so as to reduce the inequality-gap.

Thirdly, Education has a vital role to play in promotion of

National Integration. The traditional education system has to
be reoriented to develop Students’ personality and to grow
in them a sense of ‘tolerance’, and a feeling of ‘oneness’.
A sense of patriotism has to be injected into these minds to
make ’emotional national integration’ possible and
practicable, slowly and silently. They must be told that India
is one and united despite diversity. As Justice PB
Gayendragadkar has rightly suggested, by organizing youth
camps, N.S.S activities, the Universities can bring in social-
harmony.

Fourthly, social economic planning has to be centralized,

keeping in mind the demands and needs of each state.
Regional economic disparity can be balanced through more
inflow of financial help to the under developed states to be at
par with the developed ones so that inter-state ill-feeling and
animosity can be buried. State’s priorities must be taken
care of by the National Government forgetting political
animosity between the parties in power.

Fifthly Inter-State Councils and Zonal Councils must be

allowed to work to solve inter-state disputes, to rejuvenate
Inter-State cooperation and to strengthen national solidarity,
not at the cost of democratic governments operating in the
States and at the Centre within a federal set up.

Last, but not the least, is the smooth introduction of Official

Language Policy in India. Without undermining the
emotional touch associated with our regional languages.

Role of National Integration Council: (NIC)

The National Integration Conference held in October 1961
had agreed to set up a National Integration Council (NIC) to
review all matters related to National Integration and to
suggest measures to the Union Government. Besides the
Prime Minister who chairs the NIC, the other members
included the Union Minister of Home Affairs Chief Ministers
of all States, Educationists, Chairman of UGC, Chairman of
SC & ST Commission and a few eminent Party leaders.

It is hoped that the NIC meets frequently, deliberates issues

affecting national integration and works for harmonious
interstate cooperation strengthening national integration. It
is further hoped that the National Commissions for women,
for Minorities and for Human Rights should also play a
supporting role protects the genuine interest of various
groups in our society.

A few other steps which can also help promoting

national integration are summed up below:
(a) Cultural plurality has to be respected and tolerated
through mutual understanding based on nationality among
various culturally diverse groups.

(b) Nation’s ideology is stated in the Preamble of our

Constitution ensuring justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and
promoting secularism have to be respected and implemented
spontaneously, whole heartedly and sincerely with no
compulsion and reservation.
(c) All National symbols have to be shown due respect by
every Indian to ensure national unity to promote national
integration.

(d) Much success of National integration depends on the

style of functioning of the positive role played by our
national leaders including the Head of the State and Head of
the Government. In this context let us recall these emphatic
words of our first Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru who said,
“National integration is our national objective and let us
achieve it”.

(e) Since national integration is a political issue, it is equally

necessary that each big or small political party should
contribute voluntarily for the promotion of National
integration in India. All political differences have to be
merged in the national interest.

Concluding Observation:
The aforesaid discussion categorically suggests that in
India, National integration has to be achieved through
several ways:
(a) National solidarity and multiple diversities have to be
reconciled within the constitutional framework of a
Sovereign, Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.

(b) Legislature which, re-elects national public opinion must

act with ‘far sight’ and shall enact laws from time to time, to
bring about a peaceful and non-violent socio-economic
change within the frame work of national unity.

(c) The judiciary must land over such judicious, enlightened

as progressive which shall help uniting India and preventing
its further segmentation.

(d) Conflicts in a country like India with multiple diversity

are bound to come, but those have to be sorted out
cautiously, intelligently, with the help of a strong and
impartial administrative system.

Religious fanaticism in any form has to be checked. Proper

training should be given to all diverse religious sects that
God is one but is manifested in different shapes and forms. A
feeling of ‘SARVADHARMA SAMAVAV (equal treatment for
all religions) must be grown in the minds of people to
prevent any religious and sectarian ill-feeling leading to
violence.

Rights of religious and cultural minority groups in India have

been protected in our Constitution. That has to be
implemented with mutual love and affection among various
minority groups.

Communal ill-feeling has to be given a rational touch and

has to be treated with a scientific temper. People instigating,
fomenting and directly participating in communal riot and
violence must be tried in separate courts so established to
deliver quick justice and punish the miscreants timely to
check their reoccurrence.

National Integration is a collective effort and cannot be

achieved in isolation or single handed. Let all Indians, in
whichever part of the country they live must put united and
collective efforts strengthening the hands of the Government
to overtake all impediments affecting National integration
and to pursue willingly all strategies which help promoting
National Integration.