Social Science 4 Marks Each

The roots of regional imbalance or Inequality in the regional development can be traced back to the British rule. The British rulers deliberately developed regions/provinces like Bombay and Punjab which were beneficial to them and deliberately neglected provinces like Bihar and Orissa. This led to a wide disparity in economic and social development.
→ India is sub-continental in size, with large variations in the terrain and natural resources. This results in uneven agricultural production and industrial development.
→ The Planning Commission was established by the Government of India in 1950 to tackle the Issue of regional imbalance in socio-economic development and to take suitable action to reduce the regional disparity. However, the regional pressures and political differences led to a tug-of-war to have development schemes among the states. As a result, regional disparity in socio-economic development continued to exist.
→ We witness differences among the states in per-capita income. level of literacy, education and health-related services, level of industrialisation. development of means of transport and communication and the rate of urbanisation. As a result we have states with high, middle and low level of development.
→ An additional dimension has been the regional Imbalance within the state. Maharashtra is a developed state. However, Marathwada is the backward region within Maharashtra. Likewise Rayalseema was backward region in Andhra Pradesh.
→ Some states in India have very high level of Industrialisation; whereas there is little or no industrialisation in some states.
→ Regionalism has led to inter-state boundary and river water disputes such as those between Maharashtra and Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana.
→ There is (wrong) insistence that the forest and mineral wealth found within the state must be used only for the development of that state alone.

India has diversity of race, religion, caste, language and culture. However, there was underlying unity in the midst of diversity and diverse people lived in peace and harmony for many centuries.
→ Language, caste and religions are among the significant factors that led to the emergence of regionalism in the post-independence period.
→ Linguism led to the demand for unilingual states. The issue of Hindi as national language led to divide between pro-Hindi and anti-Hindi states as well as anti-Hindi agitations.
→ Regionalism has emerged in the north-eastern states due to the cultural differences among a large number of tribal communities.
→ Casteism led to division of Punjab into Punjab and Haryana.
→ The regional imbalance in economic and industrial development accounts for highly developed, moderately developed and backward states. This flares up regional sentiments.
→ The regional differences within the states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh led to the demand for separate states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh. Uttarakhand and Telangana. The regional differences in Maharashtra have led to the demand for a separate state of Vidarbha.
→ The regionalism led to the emergence of the regional political parties. Their leaders fuelled regional sentiments for political purposes which aggravated regionalism.
→ Some scholars perceive regionalism as a threat to the unity and integrity of India: whereas some other opine that regional sentiments be accommodated due to the diversity of the Indian nation.

India has made remarkable progress in scientific and technological development in the post-independence period.
→ The contribution of scientists like Dr Homi Bhabha, Dr Raja Ramanna, Dr Vikram Sarabhat and Dr C. V. Raman: and the technocrats like Sir M. Visvesvaraya. Sam Pitroda, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and E. Sridharan is noteworthy.
→ The women scientists include botanist Janki Amma. chemist Asima Chatterjee. Dr Indira Ahuja in the field of medicine, mathematician Shakuntala Devi and astronauts Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.
→ Indian Institute of Science. Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Space Research Organisation. Physical Research Laboratories have made remarkable contribution.
→ The 'Green Revolution was brought about by agricultural research, agro technology and making available means of irrigation. India has reached self-sufficiency in food production due to the 'Green Revolution'.
→ India has made big leap in nuclear science and technology. The scientists at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) have developed nuclear reactors to manufacture atomic energy. India has carried out two successful nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998 at Pokhran in Rajasthan India has developed nuclear devices and missiles for the defence of the country.
→ Extraordinary has been India's progress in space research. India has launched satellites like Aryabhatta. Bhaskara and Rohini in space. India has developed GSLV to launch the satellites in space.
→ India has also made remarkable progress in tele-communication and information technology The use of telephones, mobile phones, television and computer has increased considerably.
→ The use of biotechnology has progressively increased in the industries, agriculture, energy and health sectors.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in the 'Interim Government'.
→ Sardar Patel was a man with iron will and foresight. He was ably helped by Shri V. P. Menon. Home Secretary in completing the task of integration of 562 princely states.
→ They had drafted the 'Instrument of Accession' and 'Stand-Still Agreement' (To maintain condition as on 15th August, 1947) and started the process of Integration with amazing speed.
→ He made a fervent appeal to the rulers of the princely states to respect the wishes of their subjects, willingly surrender their states and cooperate in laying the foundation of a strong. unified and prosperous India.
→ He personally discussed the issues related to merger and clarified doubts of the rulers. He assured the rulers of safeguarding their privy purse, status and interests. 559 rulers had willingly signed the 'Instrument of Accession' and later joined the Indian Union.
→ In response to the request of the people of Junagadh, he sent the Indian army and forced the Nawab to flee to Pakistan. Thereafter by holding a plebiscite, he merged Junagadh with the Indian Union in November, 1947.
→ He perceived the intention of the Nizam of Hyderabad to retain independence as a potent threat to India. After efforts of conciliation failed. he brought about the merger of Hyderabad by 'Police Action' in September. 1948.
→ He forced Maharaja Harisingh of Kashmir to sign the 'Instrument of Accession' before despatching the Indian army to vacate the Pakistani aggression.
→ Sardar Patel was the architect of India's integration. A historian compares integration of India brought about by Sardar Patel with Unification of Germany by Prince Bismarck and states that Patel completed the whole process in less than two years without any bloodshed.

India became a sovereign republic on 26th January, 1950. At that time Goa. Diu and Daman were the Portuguese colonies in India.
→ The Government of India had negotiated the merger of the Portuguese colonies without success.
→ The people in Goa had started agitations for merger with India. They undertook Satyagrah The Portuguese government resorted to violence and imprisoned many Satyagrahis.
→ 'Goa Mukti (Vimochan) Andolan' was launched in India. The Satyagrahis tried to enter Goa, Dis and Daman. In this encounter many Satyagrahis died in the police firing.
→ Realizing that negotiations and peaceful means had failed, the Government of India decided to 'liberate' Goa. Diu and Daman by undertaking 'Military Action'.
→ 'Operation Vijay' was launched under the leadership of General J. N. Chaudhari on 160 December, 1961. The Indian army entered Goa Diu and Daman. Little resistance was offered by the Portuguese army. Governor General De-Silm surrendered on 19th December and thereby the Portuguese rule over Goa, Diu and Daman came to an end.

There were 562 small and big princely states when India became independent.
→ These states accounted for 48% of the total area and about 20% of the total population of India. Kashmir. Hyderabad and Mysore were big states.
→ It was a massive task to convince the rulers of these states to merge with the Indian Union. This task needed to be completed with speed.
→ Maharaja Krishna Kumar Sinh of Bhavnagar was the first ruler to implement responsible government in his state on 15th January, 1948. The efforts of Sardar Patel led to the formation of the United Saurashtra state and Bhavnagar merged into this state on 15th February, 1948.
→ With the valuable help of Shri V. P. Menon, then the Home Secretary, 'Instrument of Accession' and 'Stand-Still Agreements' were drafted. Sardar Patel appealed to the rulers of these states to respect the wishes of their subjects and national interest and voluntarily surrender their kingdoms to help him to lay foundation of a strong, united and prosperous India. He gave assurance to the rulers on behalf of the Government of India. that their privy purse. status and interests will be protected.
→ This reassured the rulers of the princely states. 559 of 562 rulers willingly merged their states with the Indian Union -by signing the Instrument of Accession before 15th August, 1947. The merger of Kashmir.
→ Junagadh and Hyderabad did not take place Junagadh was merged with the strong will of the people, accompanied by military action.
→ Hyderabad was merged with the Police Action taken by the Indian army.
→ Maharaja Hartsingh of Kashmir signed the 'Instrument of Accession' to defend his state with the help of India. Thereafter the Indian army vacated the Pakistani aggression.

(A) Merger of Hyderabad: Hyderabad. the biggest princely state in India was ruled by Nizam-ul-Mulk, who had declared intention to retain independence of Hyderabad after 15th Angust. 1947.
→ Sardar Patel had conveyed to the Nizam that he should respect the wishes of his subjects and merger of Hyderabad was in the interest of everyone.
→ Disregarding the advice of the Government of India. Kasim Rizvi and his paramilitary organisation-Razakars, the officials and the army started harassing people and committed many atrocities.
→ The Government of India decided to undertake Police Action' for 'liberation' of Hyderabad. "Police Action" was completed, with the surrender of the Nizam.
→ At the time of merger of Hyderabad, on 18th September. 1948 Nizam was given assurance that his interests will be protected. → Valuable assistance was extended by Shri K. M. Munshi in this process.
(B) Merger of Junagadh: The Nawab of Junagadh had merged his state with Pakistan on 15th August, 1947.
→ Sardar Patel decided to take action against the Nawab.
→ Around the same time the people of Junagadh. living in Mumbai, established Aarzt Hukumat'. The people all over Saurashtra condemned the Nawab's decision to merge with Pakistan.
→ The Nawab started torturing the people.
→ The Indian army and navy surrounded Junagadh on all four sides. Fearing for his life. the Nawab fled to Pakistan.
→ The Government of India conducted a plebiscite in Junagadh on 9th November, 1947, wherein the people of Junagadh voted for merger with India.
→ Thus, integration of Junagadh was an outcome of the wisdom of Sardar Patel and strong will of the people of Junagadh.

The Indian Constitution came into force on 26th January, 1950. There were four 'unequal types of states in the Indian Union. These werr as follows:
1. Class 'A' states: (1) Assam (2) Bihar (3) Bombay (4) Madras (5) Orissa (6) Punjab (7) Uttar Pradesh (8) West Bengal
[Please note that the Telugu speaking ares was a part of the Madras state, After violent agitations of people. Telugu speaking area was separated from the Madras state and AndArt Pradesh was established in 1953.]
2. Class 'B' states: (1) Hyderabad (2) Jamm and Kashmir (3) Madhya Bharat (4) Mysort (5) PEPSU-Patiala and East Punjab States Unio (6) Rajasthan (7) Saurashtra (8) Travancore-Cochil
3. Class 'C' states: (1) Ajmer (2) Bilaspu (3) Bhopal (4) Coorg (5) Delhi (6) Himachal Pradest (7) Kuchch (8) Manipur (9) Tripura (10) Vind Pradesh
4. Class 'D' state: Andaman-Nicobar islands

Maharaja Harisingh had not signed the Instrument of Accession prior to 15th August, 1947.
→ Pakistan strongly desired and exerted pressure on the ruler of Kashmir to merge with Pakistan. Eventually the Pakistani army Invaded Kashmir to forcibly acquire that state. Maharaja of Kashmir made an appeal to the Government of India to protect his state.
→ The Government of India conveyed that first he should sign the Instrument of Accession and then only the Indian army would be sent.
→ Maharaja Harisingh signed the "Instrument of Accession and the Indian army was 'air-lifted' to Kashmir to vacate the invasion.
→ The Indian army forced the Pakistani army out of Kashmir. However, the Pakistani army managed to retain its control over one-third of the Kashmiri territory.
→ The Government of India had lodged a complaint with the UN about unauthorised occupation of the territory in Kashmir by Pakistan. The Security Council ordered 'cease fire.
→ The Kashmir issue has remained unresolved. Pakistan continues to retain control over Azad Kashmir-Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).