The Importance of National Integration

India is a nation known for the enormous diversity it has. Of course, this is a unique possession in our nation but having anything special comes with its own price. The fact that we have diversity in terms of our thoughts, our voices, our religions, our ethnicity and our culture itself raises the question of how long would this nation stay together, how exactly does the nation prevent its disintegration, how is it that people with such diversity can stay together?

India is a nation known for the enormous diversity it has. Of course, this is a unique possession in our nation but having anything special comes with its own price. The fact that we have diversity in terms of our thoughts, our voices, our religions, our ethnicity and our culture itself raises the question of how long would this nation stay together, how exactly does the nation prevent its disintegration, how is it that people with such diversity can stay together?

The Idea Of Indian Nationalism

The concept of nationalism arose in the 20th century itself when Indian nationalist movements were being fought to get our nation free from the hands of British colonisation. Nationalism, in the most straightforward language, is the belief that a nation should be the simplest form of political organisation. It can take many different forms based on what the nation and the bodies governing the movements believe and wish. Nevertheless, conceptualising India as a nation that is free and has its own governing bodies and decision-making power was a big decision. 

National Integration

The concept of national integration is that the society must be aware of the existence of a shared identity as the citizens of a nation. Simply said, it restates the concept of Unity in Diversity, of the fact that even if we know that we all belong to different religions, ethnicities, classes, castes and have language barriers. Still, we all recognise that we all are a part of one nation and we stand united for that nation. This is the spirit that brings the people of the nation closer and affects the behaviour and determination of the citizens. 

Going by the definition, many scholars have proposed the definition of National Integration. Let us have a look at some:

• Dr S. Radhakrishnan says that national integration is a concept of the people made stronger or weaker just by people’s beliefs and actions, not by any of the worldly things one can think of. 
• H.A. Ghana defines national integration as the socio-psychological and educational process by which a sense of unity and harmony develops in the minds of the citizens and the feeling of loyalty towards their nation is cultured in them. 

National integration is essential to-

• Stable democracy
• Improve economic growth
• Develop the nation
• Make people a responsible and aware citizen

Causes Of National Integration:

1. Casteism
2. Communalism
3. Provincialism
4. Political parties
5. Linguistic differences
6. Economic disparity

In 1961, the then Prime Minister J.L.Nehru found a way to combat the evils breaking the nation’s unity. At that time, the National Integration Conference decided to set up a National Integration Council, which is an extra-constitutional body chaired by the PM, to review all the matters in the purview of national integration and make recommendations accordingly. The first meeting by NIC took place in 1962, and by 2019, sixteen meetings had been held. 

Conclusion-

India, known for its extensive diversity, needs to preserve its integration and maintain the diversity it withholds. Various external and internal factors keep on influencing national integrity. If not worked upon, these challenges will lead to the nation’s destruction and riots in the country. India is a developing nation working continuously and tirelessly towards making a move ahead. Still, it is not to be done at the cost of national integrity, so the National Integration Council was set up. The national integration council is the monitoring body working to preserve the nation’s integrity all throughout.