1) India is a diverse country with many languages, religions, and customs. This diversity poses challenges for national integration and unity. 2) National integration requires both political unity and an emotional sense of shared identity among citizens. It means citizens prioritize the interests of the nation over personal or regional interests. 3) Factors like linguisticism, regionalism, communalism, casteism, and socioeconomic inequalities have hampered national integration in India. Education must play a key role in fostering national integration by promoting secularism, democracy, and a shared sense of national identity and heritage.

1. Soumya MS
Roll No:49
Social Science
National Integration
INTRODUCTION
India is a land of diversities. The people inhabiting this vast country belong to
different races, speak different languages, follow different religions and observe
different social customs and traditions. Their political affiliations are as varied as
their eco nomic interests. Perhaps no other developing country has so much of
diversity in dress, race, religion, language and history as India. The different
people who came to India at different times have added to this complexity in its
di versity. We are an independent nation, but it is well known that nationhood is
not merely a product of geography or politics. To be strong, the nation must have
a solid basis in the mind of each of its citizens. In a democracy, the member of the
society must be citizens in the real sense of the term; citizenship is possible only
when the individual feels completely integrated with the whole, of which he is a
part. The state must not be an amorphous mass but an organic entity.

2. National Integration
National integration means the sense of basis oneness of the nation. It is the
sense of identity and solidarity among all citizens of the nation. National
integration is the cementing force that binds the citizens of a country into a
unified entity; unity is not uniformity while allowing for difference in language,
race, religion etc. It is opposed to social description and chaos. National
Integration has got two aspects, political unity and emotional unity with the
achievement of independence and with the declaration of India as a republic we
have achieved political unity. Emotional integration is reflected in the attitude of
the people. It depends upon how people belonging to different areas and groups
interact among themselves. All the people must feel that they are one as they are
children of the same mother country. They must be willing to subordinate
personal interests for the benefit of the group and the nation as a whole.
Need for effective Integration
India's diversity is observable in topography, landscape, soil and natural resource.
The climatic conditions are not the same in all parts of the country. When it is hot
summer in the north, it may be raining heavily in the south. When there is
drought at one end of the country there may be floods at the other end. It is a
land of paradoxes.
This underlying unity is the remarkable feature of Indian
culture. This unity was spontaneously revealed when its security was in danger.
During the Chinese and Pakistani aggressions, India stood united and people
forgot their difference of opinion. But all these unity was found to disappear
gradually as soon as the calamity was over. In recent years, there has been a
general weakening of the affinity among the different sections of the people.

3. Under the impact of narrow linguistic, religious and regional loyalties, people
have begun thinking in terms of their own community, religion and state. Certain
trends found in the national scenario are alarming. Take for example, son's of the
soil policy for employment, dispute over sharing of water between two regions
etc- National solidarity is one of the fundamental needs for the preservation of
freedom against external aggression and for the solution of our internal problems
"united we stand, divided we fall" should be our motto here.
Factors hampering Integration
Let us try to analyse the factors that are hampering integration of the Indian
society. These may be enumerated as follows.
1. Linguism
Language is tool for building up national Integration. a Unfortunately, our
language problem is major source of disintegration and disunity. In India there are
many languages that are spoken in different parts of the country. This develops a
sort of regional patriotism finally threatening the unity of India.
2. Regionalism
The division of the country into different states and union territories has caused a
great change in the feelings of the Indian people. The love for India as the
motherland has disappeared. One's own state or union territory has taken the
place of 'Bharatmata'. Mutual jealousies and rivalries among people of different
regions have grown up so much that they went to achieve the progress and

4. development of their region only. Under such di visional forces one can hardly
think of national solidarity.
3. Communalism
India is a land of many religions. Religion is found to be one of the factors
hampering integration. India became divided because of the religious fanaticism
of a few. India has categorically been wedded to secularism. But there are
instances where leaders have used the slogan Hinduism in danger', 'Islam in
danger' etc... for promoting their vested intere sts. They spread rumors and
arouse religious fanaticism in the common man who is illiterate.
4. Casteism
Indian society is divided into different castes even within the same religion. The
out castes were ne ver treated as human beings their role in the national
development was not at all recognized by the caste Hindus. The result is that they
became isolated from the main stream of the national life. Today the whole scene
of national life is within the clutches of the caste system. National unity is
impossible as long as there is this feeling among citizens.
5. Parochialism
In India we have so many political parties. Among these there are national parties
and regional parties. The regional parties look to the interests of the regions. This
raises challenges to the national integration ofthe country. During the elections
regional parties arouse regional spirit which does much harm to the development
of national unity.
6. Socio-economic Inequalities
The structure of Indian society is not egalitarian. It is marked by socio-economic
inequalities, economic inequalities is caused mainly by the poverty of the masses.
The distribution of national wealth is so une ven that a handful of persons enjoy

5. luxuries, while a large mass cannot make both ends meet. The social inequality is
mainly caused by caste system. The caste system separates people into different
categories that have very limited social interaction. Socio-economic inequalities
are creating a wide gulf between the rich and the poor, the high and the low.
Though socialism has been declared as our coveted goal, no serious attempt has
so far been made to alleviate these inequalities.
The above are some of the main factors hampering
national integration. So long as these differences exist, Indi an society cannot
hope to become integrated.
Role of Education on National Integration
National Integration cannot be achieved through mere legislation. Dr S
Radhakrishnan has stated "National Integration cannot be built by brick and
mortar or with chisel and hammer. It has to grow silently in the minds and hearts
of men.The process by which it could be achieved, is education". Education must
play an important role in fostering national integration.
1. Curricular Programmes
Description of important festivals, arts and literature of different parts of the
country, glimpses of our social and cultural heritage etc- should find a prominent
place in the curriculum. Map reading should be given due importance so that
students will have a clear concept of the vastness and geographic features of the
motherland. An account of the scientific and industrial developments in India
should be presented in detail.
2. Co-curricular activities
It is well known that the effective development of children could be realized
through co-curricular activities. In order to faster attitudes of toleration,
accommodation and responsibilities towards others among pupils frequent
chances of mingling with the people of diverse culture should be provided. Such

6. acti vities must include display of educational films, visits to different places,
celebration on national festivals and days etc.
3. Training in Democracy
Ours is the largest democracy in the world and it is based on principles of
equality, liberty and fraternity. Students should be trained to understand, practice
and uphold the lofty ideals and values of democracy. This will promote social
cohesion and national integration.
4. Traini ng in secularism
In order to maintain communal as religious harmony, pupil should be trained in
secularism and values of toleration, harmony, brotherhood and fellow feeling.
Students should have knowledge about different religions. The moral and ethical
doctrines should be taught to students.
5. Role of Teacher
Teachers should play a very significant role in developing among children
favorable attitude towards nationalism. Unless teachers themselves get induced
with the spirit o democracy and secularism and present models of behavior based
on values of liberty, equality and fraternity, they cannot motivate students and
lead them to the desired goal.In short, education is the only tool for bringing
about a united nation because it can make the growing youth realize that they are
bound up with the nation's destiny.
Conclusion
Regional imbalance, social inequality and inequality of education and
employment opportunity should be set right if we are to remain as a united. In
spite of the great diversities that we find in India, there is also fundamental unity.
It has its deep root in the Indian soil, civilization and culture. India is one and indi

7. visible. While her people speak with many tongues, they speak with one indi
vidual heart