and After

● Challenges Before the New-born Nation

● The Indian States

● Making of the Constitution for India

● The Evolution of Nationalist Foreign Policy

● First General Elections

● Developments under Nehru’s Leadership (1947-64)

● After Nehru. . .

Chapter 33

Challenges Before the New-born Nation

First Day of Independent India

August 15, 1947 started an epoch that ended India’s colonial subjugation and looked forward to a new India—India as an independent country. The Constituent Assembly of India met at 11 p.m. on August 14, 1947. Rajendra Prasad presided over the session. In a ceremony held in the Constituent Assembly (in Parliament House) at midnight of August 14-15, 1947,

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Jawaharlal Nehru, speaking as the first prime minister of Independent India, gave his historic speech. Nehru said, “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom...”

On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, as Prime Minister of India, hoisted the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of Red Fort in Delhi.

First Government After Independence Challenges Challenges before the Boundary Commission Regions Most Affected by Riots Challenges Associated with Division of Resources Division of Civil Government Division of Finances Division of Defence Personnel and Equipment Assassination of Gandhi Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Refugees East Punjab Bengal Delhi Pact on Minorities Centres of Refugee Settlements in India Communists and Independence Why Communists were Sceptical about Independence?Shift from Antagonistic Strategy to Constitutional Democracy I. The Company’s Struggle for Equality from a Position of Subordination (1740-1765)II. Policy of Ring Fence (1765-1813)III. Policy of Subordinate Isolation (1813-1857)IV. Policy of Subordinate Union (1857-1935)Curzon’s Approach Post-1905 Butler Committee V. Policy of Equal Federation (1935-1947): A Non-Starter VI. Integration and Merger Plebiscite and Army Action Gradual Integration Background Constituent Assembly Formation Two Constituent Assemblies: India and Pakistan Evaluation of the Assembly for India After Independence Work : Committees and Consensus 1880 to First World War: Anti- Imperialism and Pan-Asian Feeling World War I 1920s and 1930s—Identifying with Socialists After 1936—Anti-Fascism After Independence Panchsheel and Non-Alignment Panchsheel Non-Alignment Groundwork for the Elections The Election Commission Legislation for Polls Independent India Goes to the Polls for the First Time Challenges Conduct of Elections Results Lok Sabha State Leislatures Political Developments Debate Over National Language Linguistic Reorganisation of the States Growth of other Political Parties The Socialist Party Praja Socialist Party The Communist Party Bharatiya Jana Sangh The Swatantra Party Communal and Regional Parties An Undemocratic Deed Concept of Planning for Economic Development Progress of Science and Technology Social Developments Developments in Education Social Change Under Nehru Foreign Policy Relations with Neighbours India and Pakistan Kashmir Issue Indus River Water Dispute India and China Developments in Tibet and Panchsheel Sino-Indian War, 1962 Consequences of Sino-Indian War India and Nepal India and Bhutan India and Sri Lanka The Lal Bahadur Shastri Years (June 1964 – January 1966)Political Journey after Independence Prime Minister: Continuing Nehru’s Legacy but with Change Challenges Economic Ideas A Forerunner of Economic Reform Skip a Meal Idea New Institutions and Projects Foreign Relations The Indo-Pak War Peace Agreement at Tashkent The Tashkent Declaration Shastri’s Death Indira Gandhi: the First Phase (January 1966 to March 1977)Political Journey after Independence Prime Minister Congress Split and Minority Government at the Centre The 1971 Elections: Indira Triumphant Problems The JP Movement The Allahabad High Court Decision and the Imposition of Emergency State of Emergency (1975–1977)Indira Gandhi and JP— Both to be Blamed?Elections of 1977 —Indira Gandhi Developments in the Political System Changes in the Congress Growth of Regional Interests Annexation of Sikkim Language Policy to Curb the Anti-Hindi Disturbances Clipping the Wings of the Judiciary The Forty-Second Amendment Act: A Mini Constitution of Sorts Socio-Economic Policies Nationalisation of Banks and Other Sectors of Economy Abolition of Princely Privileges MRTP Act Steps for Equity and Poverty Reduction Tackling Economic Problems Devaluation of the Rupee Fourth Five-Year Plan Green Revolution Success Fifth Five-Year Plan The Indo-Pak War of 1971 and the Birth of Bangladesh The 1970 Polls in Pakistan and Unrest in East Pakistan Refugee Influx in India and Indian Response War and Liberation of East Pakistan The Simla Agreement Text of the Simla Agreement Foreign Policy and Relations with other Countries The Smiling Buddha The Janata Party Years (March 1977 – January 1980)Fresh State Assembly Elections New President of India Downslide of the Janata and Rise of Congress (I)Charan Singh the Prime Minister who never Faced Parliament Fresh Lok Sabha Elections and End of Janata Party Rule Legacy of the Janata Rule Restoration of Democratic Rights Economic Contradictions Foreign Relations Social Changes and Movements Indira Gandhi: the Second Phase (January 1980 to October 1984)Foreign Relations Unrest in States Legacy The Rajiv Years (October 1984 to December 1989)Anti-Sikh Riots The Bhopal Gas Tragedy Tackling the Tensions in States Positive Steps taken on the Domestic Front Anti-Defection Act Environmental Legislation Improving Local Government First Steps towards Liberalising the Economy Technology Missions Computerisation Education Policy The Negative Side The Shah Bano Case The Babri Mosque Gates Opening The Bofors Scandal Agrarian Unrest Foreign Relations The IPKF Misadventure General Elections of 1989 The V.P. Singh Years (December 1989 to November 1990)Implementation of the Mandal Commission Report Mandal to Mandir: the Rath Yatra and Fall of the Government The Chandra Shekhar Government (November 1990 to June 1991)Elections of 1991 The Narasimha Rao Years (June 1991 to May 1996)Panchayati Raj and Nagarpalika Acts Foreign Policy Negative Aspects The Babri Masjid Demolition Corruption Scandals Kashmir General Elections of 1996 Rise of the Dalit Voice Between 1996 and 1999: Three Prime Ministers Vajpayee’s Short-Lived Term as Prime Minister United Front Government: Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral General Elections NDA Years (March 1998 to October 1999)The Lahore Summit Kargil War NDA: Second Stint (October 1999 to May 2004)Terrorist Trouble and Relations with Pakistan Relations with US Kashmir Elections The Downside Significance of NDA 2004 General Election The UPA Years (May 2004 to May 2009; May 2009 Social Welfare Measures Foreign Relations New President Terror Attacks Situation in States Trouble in Kashmir 2009 Election and UPA Back in Power Telangana Issue Social Welfare Measures and Legislations Space Venture to Mars Corruption Charges and Lokpal Act Conditions Before General Election The 2014 General Election The NDA Government (May 2014 – May 2019)Socio-Economic Policies and Programmes of Importance Disbanding Planning Commission and Setting up NITI Aayog JAM Trinity: Jan Dhan-Aadhar-Mobile Health Policy Steps Directed Towards Economic Reform Farmers Infrastructure Welfare Schemes Security Tackling Maoists Kashmir Situation and the Pakistani Involvement Foreign Relations Social Situation General Election and Return of the NDA Factors behind the NDA Victory 1. Personalities Associated with Specific Movements Swadeshi Movement Non-cooperation Movement Civil Disobedience Movement Quit India Movement 2. Governors-General and Viceroys of India: Significant Events in their Rule