India’s Internal Challenges

Chapter 3 · Textbook Solutions

🕌 Communalism 🗺️ Regionalism ⚔️ Operation Blue Star 📜 Anandpur Sahib Resolution

📖 1. Answer the Following Questions in Detail.

(1) Which demands were put forward through the ‘Anandpur Sahib Resolution’ by the Akali Dal?

Ans:

In 1973, the Akali Dal passed the ‘Anandpur Sahib Resolution’. The following demands were made in this resolution:

1Chandigarh should be made a part of Punjab.
2The Punjabi-speaking parts of other states should be included in the state of Punjab.
3The recruitment of people from Punjab in the Indian Army should be increased.
4More autonomy should be given to the state of Punjab.

(2) What can we do to end communalism?

Ans:

iIt is necessary that we all counter communalism with all our strength. For this, we should mix freely with people of different religions and accept each other’s good practices and ideas.
iiWe should be able to look at and understand our economic and social problems rationally. We should not mix these matters with religion.
iiiWe should look for the economic, political, or historical reasons that are responsible for disrupting religious harmony. This is the only way to put an end to communalism and strengthen national unity.

(3) When does regionalism become strong?

Ans:

iRegionalism sees one’s own region as superior to other regions. It develops mainly due to the developmental differences between regions.
iiRegionalism refers to an over-adherence to the language, culture, socio-political structures, and economic growth of one’s own region or territory, which leads to disregard for people of other regions.
iiiIt is grounded in the uneven industrial and infrastructural development of various regions of the same nation. For example, states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu are well developed economically and industrially, whereas states like Odisha, Bihar, and Assam have remained relatively undeveloped.
ivThe disparity in the availability of education, employment, and other civic amenities between developed and backward regions of the country leads to regionalism.
vThe people of economically backward states often feel neglected and deprived, whereas the people of developed states may become narrow-minded and refuse to share the benefits of their development with others.
viThis is how regionalism becomes strong and poses a challenge to national unity.

(1) Communalism

Ans:

iCommunalism can be described as the lack of trust and a sense of belonging among various religious communities in a nation.
iiFear, jealousy, and hostility grow out of irrational notions and prejudices that people of a particular community may harbour against other religious faiths.
iiiA sense of superiority towards one’s own religion becomes inconsistent with ideals like national unity and secularism.
ivPeople who have excessive pride in their own religion or ethnicity may disrespect or harm members of other communities. Hence, communalism is considered an anti-national ideology.

(2) Regionalism

Ans:

iRegionalism refers to an over-adherence to the language, culture, socio-political structures, and economic growth of one’s own region or territory, which leads to disregard for people of other regions.
iiIt is grounded in the uneven industrial and infrastructural development of various regions of the same nation. For example, states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu are well developed, whereas states like Odisha, Bihar, and Assam have remained relatively undeveloped economically and industrially.
iiiThe disparity in the availability of education, employment, and other civic amenities between developed and backward regions of the country gives rise to regionalism.
ivThe people of economically backward states often feel neglected and deprived, whereas the people of developed states may become narrow-minded and refuse to share the benefits of their development with others.

(1) It became necessary to carry out the ‘Operation Blue Star’.

Ans:

1980

In 1980, the movement for an ‘Independent Khalistan’ took root in Punjab.
Stage 2

The leader of the Akali Dal, Sant Harcharan Singh Longowal, directed his activists from the Golden Temple to stage protests against the government.
Stage 3

On the other side of the Golden Temple, armed followers began gathering around the staunch Khalistan supporter Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. During this period, terrorist activities began to increase.
1981

Bhindranwale was arrested in 1981, accused of the murder of newspaper editor Lala Jagatnarayan. After this incident, the situation in Punjab worsened considerably.
1983

Due to these serious developments, President’s Rule was imposed in Punjab in 1983.
Stage 6

Bhindranwale moved to and took shelter at a religious place called Akal Takht inside the Golden Temple complex.
1984

Bhindranwale’s armed followers captured the Golden Temple and built barricades of sandbags, turning the area into a fort-like stronghold. This greatly disturbed peace in Punjab and posed a major challenge to Indian democracy. Hence, it became necessary to carry out Operation Blue Star.

(2) We should fight communalism with all our strength.

Ans:

iIt is necessary that we all counter religious communalism with all our strength, as it is a direct threat to national unity and secularism.
iiFor this to become a reality, we should mix freely with people of different religions and accept each other’s good practices and ideas.
iiiWe should be able to look at and understand our economic and social problems rationally, and we should not mix these issues with religion.
ivWe should look for the economic, political, or historical reasons that are responsible for disrupting religious harmony.
vThis is the only way to put an end to communalism and strengthen national unity.

Write the full forms of the following abbreviations.

Ans:

MNF

Mizo National Front

NNC

Naga National Council

PLGA

People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army