SARGUN SINGH SETHI

Class : 7th -

Roll No. - 36

National Integration
National integration means combing all the people of the nation
into a single whole. It is a particular sentiment that binds
together all people in one common bond no matter what their
religion, language or history be.
It is strong cementing force whereby all kinds of people live
together peacefully and can identify themselves as a part of a
single whole. We belong to India. India is ours is the feeling
which constitutes the very basis of national integration.
India is a vast country with a vast population. If we get united,
this great human force with great resources of the country can
carry the whole world with us.
The worst tragedy that has devoured up India is complete
national disintegration. It appears that India is not a nation, but
simply a crowd of separate individuals each differing fro the
other, yet living together. The history of India presents a very
poor record of national integration. Disunity is a very old evil. In
the pages of history, we find innumerable instances to show that
we suffered indignities and humiliations because of our disunity.
Even at the time of national crisis the whole country could not
pull together and the result was defeat the subjugation. We know
that a few thousands of Mughal soldiers conquered India,
because the native rulers could not unite together, rather they
worked against each-other and helped the enemy. The Rajputs,
the Jats, the Marathas and the Sikhs all were brave people

beyond doubt, but they could not sit together. They fought
separately and were defeated one-by-one.
The British regime in India made the first attempt at the
unification of the whole country, however superficial. The
English education, dress and habits brought down the some
extent the cultural difference. Indians for the first time began to
feel a kind of bond among themselves. Another bond which
bounded the people was the subjugation under the British. The
bond became very prominent towards the closing year of the
British rule in India. Indians at the time were fired with the
spirit of nationality. The national leaders coming fro different
states were so much fused that they forgot all the petty
differences of caste, creed and language that divided them.
But as soon the British left India, trivial issue began to raise
their ugly heads. Every state turned to itself and tried to look to
the interest of its own. New slogans were raised and the spirit of
fellow feeling and co-operation was substituted by forces that
began to play and interplay. The result was that within a very
short time after independence the different regions began to
show off their supremacy over others. The disruptive problems
of linguist created series cleavage between the two sections of
the people of one state. The shameful happenings in Assam over
Bengali, Assam controversy and the illegal demand of Khalistan
by Akali proved beyond doubt that we have not been able to
realize the very fundamental ideal of national integration. The
division of the Punjab over the language issue to a large extent
impaired the national unity. A part from this the caste rivalries
assumed a dreadful proportions.
Though today India is a free country, yet that spirit of unity
appears to have evaporated which had made people think that

they are one family and one nation. The crying need of the hour
is national integration for a developing country like India. We
Indians

cannot

afford

to

be

parochial,

narrow-minded,

provincial and communal because we have a great mission to

accomplish. Keeping our feet firmly on the ground we should
bring about the integration of the Indian people. Political
integration has already taken place, but emotional integration is
a must for national integration. Political freedom has brought in
its wake new forces of fanaticism which threaten to destroy the
noble concept of one country and one people. Attachment to
caste and community is given priority over devotion to the
motherland. Regionalism is raising its ugly head.
There are several obstacles in the way of national integration of
our country. The most formidable obstacles are linguism,
communalism and regionalism. India is a multi-lingual country.
The language controversy started with Hindi being given the
place of official language of India. In South India people revolted
against

this

and

demanded

secession

from

India.

The

constitution has been amended to meet the demand of these

people. In the Indian Union the states have been organized on
the linguistic basis. The question of language is a sensitive one.
People get very easily provoked over this issue. The linguistic
fanaticism has got to be fought with love, understanding and
accommodation. Communalism is an another obstacle. There
have been communal riots in the country before and even after
the partition. This is a poison deeply rooted in our polity. India
cannot succeed in forging any unity, if communalism continues.
Casteism is an offshoot of communalism which is equally
dangerous to national integration. Another fissiparous tendency
is regionalism. Aggressive regionalism has gravely underminded
the feeling that the whole of India is the home land of her

inhabitants. Regionalism creates parochial outlook and narrow

mindedness.
It is beyond doubt that the threats of disintegration are staring
us in the face. If we Indian keep on remaining disunited in the
name of religion, community or language, the country will go to
dogs. If we do not sink petty differences our freedom is in peril.
Divisions on the basis of language or community will have
serious repercussions. We must realize that we have the strong
bond of same cultural heritage and must not let ourselves fall
apart and disintegrate. We must show to the world that a
country with as old a tradition as ours can holds back personal
differences for the sake of higher interest of the country.
Toleration, co-operation and feeling of brotherhood should
guide us in maintaining the national unity of our country. Let us
echo what Pandi Nehru said, There is no division between
North and South, East and West of India. There is only one
India of which all us are inheritors, it belongs to all of us.