Retrospecting National Unity, Safety and Security in India: Foraging an United Nationhood

Sambeet Satapathy,Sandeep Satapathy

doi:10.3844/jssp.2016.64.67

Abstract

Unlike many other developing nations India experiences a unique spatio-temporal cultural, economic, political diversity both natural and manmade. It is thus important to understand the source of national identity, the centripetal force that has held all the elements together. Historically exposure to various unifying forces in form of kingdoms and empires both native and foreign has contributed much to its composite culture. India exhibited exceptional tolerance and collaboration. The struggle for independence further strengthened the national identity which was later reaffirmed by the constitution of India. However, certain contemporary issues like lop sided development and disparities, extreme regionalism, insurgency, left wing extremism and ethnic discrimination and violence have challenged the national unity and endangered safety and security. The paper strives to redefine the existing ideologies and social norms of national unity. However, we suggest reinforcing national unity by inclusion of a cultural, political and economic unity to forge a united nationhood both in concept and practice.

Highlights

For a country as vast as India, diversity is the longitudinal local time difference of two hours with its vast span of geographical boundaries. Beyond this spatio-temporal diversity of place and time, with climate ranging from alpine to tropical rainforests and approximately twenty-two national languages and numerous dialects spoken, several new dimensions get added to the diversified image of the unified nation. It consists of twenty-nine states of which few are as vast and populous than several important European countries (Banks, 2007; Bopegamage, 1971)
States like Maharashtra and Gujarat thrive on modern capitalist modes of production, states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha still are largely dependent on agricultural economy
The starking reality is that still regions like Vidharba in Maharashtra and KBK in Odisha have witnessed drought, famine, hunger and mortality. This diversity Sui-generis raises in mind the question that what holds India as a nation? Is it the shared political belongingness to one state or the composite cultural heritage or the spirit of nationalism rooting from our past struggle for independence? The question that still is a debate is what gives India the identity of a nation and keeps it united despite of its natural and manmade diversities

Summary

Introduction

For a country as vast as India, diversity is the longitudinal local time difference of two hours with its vast span of geographical boundaries. In addition to the existing provisions and several instances of subsequent amendments for ensuring effectiveness of federal polity (Goswami, 2004), three tier system of government, All India services, integrated judiciary (Kohli, 2001), Single citizenship and freedom of trade, commerce and habitation (Krishna, 1996) have further consolidated the striving efforts of this developing nation for promoting united nationhood over prevailing regionalism, extreme nationalism, fascism and aggressive expansionism. The recent Land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh to converge the existing enclaves into territorial limits and give the enclave dwellers right to choose their nationality has been a historic movement in resolving boundary disputes and proclaiming national unity Several such policies are based on social theories like melting pot theory, but the adaptiveness of these theories need to be examined and curcumstancially restructred to encompass a practical national identity. The key for widely-felt national unity relies on participative governance where the voice of powerless and backward sections make their distinct presence

Conclusion

Conflict of Interest