Notes-Class 9-History-Chapter-3-India’s Internal Challenges-Maharashtra Board

Mizoram :

• The government gave administrative autonomy to the Mizo majority areas of Lushai hills after independence.
• Mizo leaders demanded autonomous Mizo province in 1954.
• Laldenga established Mizo National Front (MNF) in 1961.
• He demanded ‘Greater Mizoram’, an Independent nation, carved out of Tripura, Manipur and Mizo majority areas from the Lushai hills.
• MNF announced the emergence of Independent Mizoram in March 1966. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi handled the situation firmly and suppressed the rebellion.
• Mizoram was given status of Union Territory in 1972 and later of a full-fledged state in 1985 by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Laldenga became the Chief Minister of the State.

Nagaland :

• Naga tribals, known as martial tribe, had settled in Eastern Himalaya, the Naga hills and the border areas of Assam and Myanmar.
• Angami Zapu Fizo and educated Nagas formed Naga National Council (NNC) in 1946.
• They demanded an independent state of Nagaland.
• NNC announced establishment of an independent federation of Nagaland in 1955. Military action was taken to put down the skirmishes — rebellion.
• Nagaland was given the status of a Union Territory (in 1956). It became a full-fledged state on 1“ December 1963 by putting together the’ Naga majority territory and part of Tuensang.

Assam :

• Dominance of Bengalis in Assam led to intense agitation by All Assam Students Union and Assam Ganasangram Parishad in 1983.
• According to Accord signed in 1985 by the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Union Home Minister Shankarrao Chavan and Assamese leader Prafullakumar Mohanto, the infiltrated Bangladeshis were sent outside Assam.
• Prafullakumar Mohanto became the Chief Minister of Assam after the elections to the Legislative Assembly held in 1986.
• Peace was established in Assam by following the democratic process.

Arunachal Pradesh :

• NEFA created in 1954 was named as Arunachal Pradesh in 1972.
• It became a full-fledged state on 20th February, 1987. North-east region is on the path of progress through democratic process, spread of education and industrialization.

Communalism :

• Communalism means narrow or excessive pride in one’s own religion.
• The seeds of communalism were sown by the British. (This led to the unfortunate partition of India on the basis of religion in 1947. An important point not given in textbook.)
• Fanaticism is at the root cause of communalism.
• It results in mutual suspicion and distrust among the followers of different religions. The outlook of people become prejudiced.
• Even social and economic problems are perceived from the religious angle. People (wrongly) believe that they have no influence in politics and are unjustly treated because they belong to a particular religion.
• They become too sensitive about their religion and co-religionists.
• Any (perceived) insult to their religion and religious symbols lead to communal riots.
• Hundreds of innocent people are killed and property worth crores of rupees is destroyed.
• Social unity and in turn national unity receives a blow.
• It is necessary to counter communalism. We should mix with people of different religions, accept their good practices and ideas.
• We should understand socio-economic problem rationally and not mix this up with religion. We should search for the reasons that are responsible for disturbing communal harmony.
• In this way, we can put an end to communalism and strengthen national unity.

Regionalism :

• Regionalism is excessive pride about one's region. Feeling superior than others is morbid due to this kind of an excessive regional pride.

• Regionalism thrives on regional imbalance in development. Some states achieved higher economic and industrial development, while some states remained backward.
• The developed — advanced states also achieved progress in health, civic amenities and education; whereas less developed states remained backward in all these sectors areas.
• The backward states feel that they were kept away from the benefits of development. Thereby understanding between the states is broken. This has a negative impact on national unity.
• Efforts are being made to solve the problem of regional imbalance in economic development.
• Regionalism can affect the development as well as backward states.
• People in the developed states begin to feel that they are superior and look down upon the people in the less developed states. They are not willing to share benefits of development with the backward states.
• On the other hand, the people in the backward states are aroused by (appeal to) their regional identity, signification of local traditions and culture (by regional political parties). This leads to regionalism and endangers national unity.
• The evils of regionalism can be tackled by reducing the imbalance in development.

Significant events :