India’s Internal Challenges

Akali Dal put many demands in Anandpur Sahib Resolution:

1. Chandigarh should be put in Punjab.

2. Recruitment in Indian army from Punjab region should increase.

3. The state of Punjab should have more autonomy.

Note: The demands increased further when Akali Dal took charge in 1977. They wanted more power for Punjab.

We can end communalism by:

1. Interacting and befriending people of different religions.

2. Understanding economic and social problems through logic rather than prejudice.

3. Understanding the political and historical reasons behind fights between people of different religions.

Note: Communalism can be ended only by building trust between people of different religions. Without trust, rumours and fights easily spread.

Regionalism sees one’s own region as superior to other regions. It develops mainly due to the developmental differences between two regions.

Regionalism becomes strong when:

1. In India, some states like Gujarat and Punjab developed after Independence while some like Bihar still remained backward.

2. The developed states achieved more in education and health while the backward states suffered more from unemployment, poverty etc.

3. A difference began between both types of states and this caused disagreements as well as deepened regionalism.

Communalism is the extreme loyalty towards one’s own religion which leads to the belief that it is superior to other religions. It causes hatred towards people belonging to other religions and consequently fights with them.

Regionalism is the excessive pride in one’s region and its culture, history, development etc which leads to the belief that other regions are inferior. It is usually caused by the differences in economic and industrial development between regions.

Operation Blue Star became necessary because:

1. Khalistan supporter Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had his followers to capture the Golden Temple after President’s Rule was imposed on Punjab in 1983.

2. They turned Golden Temple into a fort and this caused a lot of tension in Punjab.

3. The military was ordered to get the terrorists out of Golden Temple and Major General Kuldeep Singh Drar led the operation.

We should fight communalism because:

1. People of different religions stop coming together, celebrating festivals or even trusting each other.

2. People become prejudiced and falsely belief that they are being treated unfairly by the government and society because of their religion.

3. The differences and suspicion then becomes a threat to the national unity.

1. Mizo National Front

2. Naga National Council

3. People’s Liberation Guerilla Army

1. MEGHALAYA: Meghalaya is a state in the North-East region of India sharing its border with Bangladesh. The word means ‘the abode of clouds’ in Sanskrit. Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the highest annual rainfall in India. Interestingly, Meghalaya follows a matrilineal system where the property is inherited by the youngest daughter.

2. MANIPUR: Manipur is a state in the North-East region of India sharing its border with Myanmar. Kingdom of Manipur used to be a princely state during colonial times. Manipuri is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. Interestingly, Manipur is acknowledged as the birthplace of the sport, polo.

3. SIKKIM: Sikkim borders Nepal, Autonomous Region of Tibet and Bhutan. It is the least populated state in India. It is the world’s second-largest producer of spice. Kangchenjunga, world’s third highest mountain lies partly in Sikkim.

4. TRIPURA: Tripura is third smallest state of the country sharing borders with Bangladesh. Tripuri dynasty ruled the state for centuries before 1949. It has the highest literacy rate in India. However, Tripura is still behind in its economic development.