ALAGAPPA UNIVERSITY 32141-Contemporary India Since
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ALAGAPPA UNIVERSITY [ACCREDITED WITH ‘A+’ Grade by NAAC (CGPA:3.64) in the Third Cycle and Graded as Catego-rIy University by MHRD-UGC] (A State University Established by the Government of Tamiln adu) KARAIKUDI – 630 003 DIRECTORATE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION M.A HISTORY IV SEMESTER 32141-Contemporary India Since 1947 A.D Copy Right Reserved For Private use only INTRODUCTION India‘s independence represented for its people the start of an epoch that was imbued with a new vision. In 1947, the country commenced its long march to overcome the colonial legacy of economic underdevelopment, gross poverty, near-total illiteracy, wide prevalence of diseases, and stark social inequality and injustice. Achieving independence was only the first stop, the first break—the end of colonial political control: centuries of backwardness was now to be overcome, the promises of the freedom struggle to be fulfilled, and people‘s hopes to be met. The task of nation-building was taken up by the people and leaders with a certain elan and determination and with confidence in their capacity to succeed. When Nehru assumed office as the first Prime Minister of India, there were a myriad of issues lying in front of him, vying for his attention. Nehru knew that it was highly important that he prioritized things. For him, ―First things must come first and the first thing is the security and stability of India.‖ In the words of eminent political scientist W.H Morris- Jones, the imminent task was to ―hold things together, to ensure survival, to get accustomed to the feel of being in the water, to see to it that the vessels keep afloat‖. Nehru‘s ―first things‖ included the territorial and administrative integration of the princely states in India, handling the consequences of the partition, restoration of law and order and political stability, and putting in place an administrative system. Nehru sought the help of political ideology to handle these issues. There were still other issues that warranted equal attention, though not immediately. He had to help the country come out of 200-year-old legacy of the British colonial rule. He had to ensure that the problems of poverty, illiteracy and inequality among the people are properly addressed. He had to raise his people from economic backwardness. Regionalism and tribal issues are other significant issues. Besides paying attention to these domestic issues, India had to build strong relationship with the international community and, to do this, had to design an effective independent foreign policy. However, these issues cannot be made perfect overnight. In his seventeen years of governing India, Nehru did his best to balance all these priorities. The successive Prime Ministers – especially Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi – took Nehru‘s efforts forward in their own ways. During their tenures, many historic steps have been taken that not only strengthened the country internally, but placed India as a formidable force to reckon with. In this milieu, this book covers the history of India since Nehru‘s era covering the major events under various disciplines until the period of Narendra Modi‘s first period of being the prime minister. This book is divided into fourteen units. Introduction and Objectives provided at the beginning of the chapters introduce the reader to the text and provide an overview of important concepts and topics. ‗Check Your Progress‘ questions are interspersed within the chapter for ensuring that the concepts have been understood well. Each unit ends with a Summary, followed by a list of Key Words and Answers to ‗Check Your Progress‘ Questions. Self-Assessment Questions and Exercises encourage the recollection of information as well as the application of concepts. Further Reading lists the names of other books that can be referred to, for similar topics. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION BLOCK I: PARTITION AND SARDAR PATEL UNIT-1 PARTITION AND ITS IMPACT 1-11 1.0. Introduction 1.1 Objectives 1.2. Partition 1.2.1. Indian Independence Act 1.3. Impact of Partition 1.4. Integration of Indian Princely States 1.4.1. Travancore 1.4.2. Jodhpur 1.4.3. Bhopal 1.4.4. Kashmir 1.4.5. Junagadh 1.4.6. Hyderabad 1.4.7. The Razakars 1.4.8. Standstill Agreement 1.4.9. Violation of Agreement 1.4.10. Police Action 1.4.11. Operation Polo 1.5. Answers to Check Your Progress Questions 1.6. Summary 1.7. Key Words 1.8. Self Assessment Questions and Exercises 1.9. Further Readings UNIT- 2 MAKING OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION 12-28 2.0. Introduction 2.1. Objectives 2.2. Historical Background of the Constitution 2.2.1. (A) The Indian Council Act, 1861 2.2.1.1. Salient Features of the Indian Council Act, 1861 2.2.2. (B) The Indian Council Act, 1892 2.2.2.1. Background of the Act 2.2.2.2. Provisions of the Act 2.2.3. (C) The Indian Council Act, 1909 (The Minto-Morley Act) 2.2.3.1. Necessity of the Act 2.2.3.2. Objectives of the Act 2.2.4. (D) The Government of India Act, 1919 (The Montagu-Chelmsford Act) 2.2.4.1. Background of the Act 2.2.4.2. Main Provisions of the Act 2.2.5. (E) The Government of India Act 1935 2.2.5.1. Background of the Act 2.2.5.2.The Simon Commission, 1927–30 2.2.5.3. The Nehru Report, 1928 2.2.5.3.1.The salient features of the Nehru Report 2.2.5.4. The Round Table Conference, 1930–32 2.2.5.5.The salient features of the Act, 1935 2.3. Making of The Indian Constitution 2.3.1.The Formation of The Constituent Assembly 2.3.2. Making of the Constitution 2.3.3. History of the Preamble 2.4. Salient Features of the Indian Constitution 2.4.1. The Preamble of Indian Constitution 2.4.2. Longest Written Constitution 2.4.3. Secular State 2.4.4. Fundamental Rights 2.4.4.1. Equality (Articles 14–18) 2.4.4.2. Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22) 2.4.4.3. Right against Exploitation (Articles 23 and 24) 2.4.4.4. Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28) 2.4.4.5. Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29 and 30) 2.4.4.6. Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32) 2.4.4.6.1. Habeas Corpus 2.4.4.6.2. Mandamus 2.4.4.6.3. Prohibition 2.4.4.6.4. Certiorari 2.4.4.6.5. Quo Warranto 2.4.5. Fundamental Duties 2.4.6. Directive Principles of State Policy 2.4.7. Federal in Nature and Unity in Diversity 2.4.8. Parliamentary form of Government 2.4.9. Bicameral Legislature 2.4.10. Rigid as Well as Flexible 2.4.11. Independent Judiciary 2.4.12. Judicial Review 2.4.13. Adult Franchise 2.5. Answers to Check Your Progress Questions 2.6. Summary 2.7. Key Words 2.8. Self-Assessment Questions and Exercises 2.9. Further Readings UNIT – 3 REORGANIZATION OF INDIAN STATES ON LINGUISTIC BASIS 29-37 3.0. Introduction 3.1. Objectives 3.2. Historical Background of the Linguistics Reorganization 3.3. The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) 3.4. The States Reorganization Act 3.5. States and Union Territories according to 1956 the States Reorganization Act 3.6. Formation of Maharashtra and Gujarat 3.7. Demand for Punjabi Suba 3.8. Answers to Check Your Progress Questions 3.9. Summary 3.10. Key Words 3.11. Self-Assessment Questions and Exercises 3.12. Further Readings BLOCK II: FOREIGN POLICY OF INDIA WITH OTHER NATIONS UNIT-4 FOREIGN POLICY OF INDIA 38-49 4.0. Introduction 4.1. Objectives 4.2. Historical Background 4.2.1. Shaping of Foreign Policy 4.2.2. Determinants 4.2.3. Internal Determinants 4.2.4. External Determinants 4.3. Salient Features of Indian Foreign Policy 4.3.1. Panch Sheel, 1954 4.3.2. Non-Alignment Movement 4.3.3. India and the Commonwealth of Nations 4.4. Anti-Racism 4.5. Answers to Check Your Progress Questions 4.6. Summary 4.7. Key Words 4.8. Self Assessment Questions and Exercises 4.9. Further Readings UNIT-5 RELATIONS WITH THE USA, RUSSIA, CHINA, PAKISTAN 50-73 5.0. Introduction 5.1. Objectives 5.2. Relations with USA 5.2.1. Jawaharlal Nehru 5.2.2. Nehru's Neutral Stand 5.2.3. Stumbling Blocks 5.2.4. Indira Gandhi 5.2.5. Janata Foreign Policy 5.2.6. Second Coming Mrs. Indira Gandhi 5.2.7. Rajiv Gandhi 5.2.8. P.V. Narasimha Rao 5.2.9. United Front Government 5.2.10. Vajpayee 5.3. Indo-Soviet Relations 5.3.1. Jawaharlal Nehru 5.3.1.1. Relationship after Stalin 5.3.1.2. The Decade of Co-Operation 5.3.2. Mrs. Indira Gandhi 5.3.2.1. Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Co-Operation, 1971 5.3.3. Janata Government 5.3.4. Second Coming Mrs. Indira Gandhi 5.3.5. Rajiv Gandhi 5.3.6. P.V. Narasimha Rao 5.3.7. United Front Government 5.3.8. Vajpayee 5.4. Relations with China 5.4.1. Jawaharlal Nehru 5.4.1.1. Chinese Invasion 5.4.2. Indira Gandhi 5.4.3. Janata Government 5.4.4. Rajiv Gandhi 5.4.5. Narasimha Rao 5.4.6. United Front Government 5.4.7. Vajpayee 5.4.8. Manmohan Singh 5.5. Relations with Pakistan 5.5.1.