Question

Give a brief account of the challenges faced by India in the post-independence period

1. Integration of the princely states
2. Economic development
3. Insurgency in Punjab
4. Communal violence

Answer 1

1. Integration of the princely states - With the grant of independence to India and the lapse of British suzerainty over the princely states, the challenge of integrating 564 small and large princely states arose. This challenge was effectively addressed, except in the cases of Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Jammu-Kashmir. The obstacles were overcome with the use of police force, resulting in the swift territorial integration of India.
2. Economic development - At the time of independence, India faced the challenge of being a backward agrarian economy. In 1950, the Planning Commission was established to chart the course of development and formulate five-year plans. The focus was on economic growth, poverty alleviation, and employment generation. Industrialization received priority, and a predominant role was assigned to the public sector in India's mixed economy.
3. Insurgency in Punjab - In the 1970s, militant Sikhism manifested in the demand for Khalistan in Punjab. The government resorted to military action to suppress this separatist movement. The consequence of the military intervention in Punjab was the assassination of Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1984 by Sikh extremists.
4. Communal violence - Communal conflicts escalated in India in the 1980s. A Hindu-Muslim dispute over the site of Ramjanmabhoomi, where the Babri Masjid stood in Ayodhya, intensified. The demolition of the disputed structure in 1992 triggered widespread communal violence, including the Mumbai riots.