1. Challenges at Independence (1947)

• Independence on 15 August 1947.
• Came with Partition → violence, displacement, communal riots.

Three challenges:

1. Nation-Building– unify a diverse land.
2. Establishing Democracy – implement Constitution, rights, elections.
3. Development with Justice – uplift poor, ensure equality.

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2. Partition: Displacement & Rehabilitation

• India + Pakistan created.
• Punjab & Bengal divided.
• 80 lakh migrated, 5–10 lakh killed.
• Minorities faced insecurity and violence.

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3. Mahatma Gandhi’s Role

• Focused on **peace in Kolkata & Delhi** instead of celebrations.
• Worked for **communal harmony**.
• Assassinated **30 Jan 1948** by Nathuram Godse.

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4. Integration of Princely States

• 565 princely states at independence.
• Led by Sardar Patel & V.P. Menon.
• Most signed Instrument of Accession.
• Complex cases:

• • Junagarh → Nawab wanted Pakistan; people chose India via plebiscite.
  • Hyderabad → Nizam wanted independence; Razakars suppressed by “Operation Polo” (1948); joined India.
  • Kashmir → Maharaja signed accession after Pakistan tribal invasion (1947–48 war).
  • Manipur→ Signed accession (1947), elections held (1948), merged fully in 1949.

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5. Reorganisation of States

• **Demand for linguistic states** grew.
• **Potti Sriramulu’s death (1952)** → Andhra State created (1953).
• **States Reorganisation Act (1956)** → 14 states + 6 union territories.
• Later reorganisations:
  • Maharashtra & Gujarat (1960)
  • Punjab, Haryana, Himachal (1966)
  • NE states (Nagaland 1963; Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura 1972; Mizoram & Arunachal 1987)
  • Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand (2000)
  • Telangana (2014)

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6. Significance

• Linguistic states **strengthened unity** instead of weakening it.
• Nation-building = **democracy + diversity + justice**.