Essay on National Integration:
Independence and partition came to India at one and the same time. The British policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ led to large scale butchery. People were slaughtered in the name of religion. Within a few years, thereafter the forces of separation come to the forefront. That is why the slogan of “National Integration” has to be raised. The National Integration Conference was held in Delhi in October 1961.
National Integration is the most important problem India is facing today. It means a feeling of oneness and unity, harmony and love, cooperation and coordination among the Indian people. Unless we develop this sense of unity and subordinate our narrow considerations to the national interest, we might lose our independence.
In simple words, national integration means cementing all the Indian people into one single nation. The bond of nationality should override considerations of caste, language and religion. We must be prepared to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of India. Our history teaches us that India became a slave whenever there was disintegration.
There is no dearth of political parties which advocate secession from India. They exploit the religious sentiments of the people. Consequently, people think more in terms of caste, religion, language and region. They do not bother to think in terms of India. I am a Punjabi. He is a Bengali. Still another person is Tamil. If it is so, who is an Indian?
National Integration is also essential for social peace and harmony. The safety and prosperity of our country depend upon national Integration. Our States are like the limbs and persons like the muscles of our mother India. An ailment anywhere paralysed the whole. Prosperity and health of different states mean the health and prosperity of the whole of India. We have to fight it collectively. Only then can we hope to win.
There is no mechanical or chemical way of bringing about national integration. It has to be brought about gradually and progressively. The first step in this direction lies in emotional integration. Education should be directed to secularism. All the communal parties should be banned. Doordarshan and All India Radio should inculcate national outlooks. There should be National Integration Councils at various levels. Writers and artists can also contribute a lot.
National Integration must grow out of the people. It cannot be brought about by empty slogans and speeches. The people must realize that the good of the country and their welfare are interlinked. They must realize that disintegration will go against their very existence.
The only means to achieve this lies in giving a fair deal to the common man.
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