When India gained independence in 1947, it faced several pressing challenges that needed immediate attention to ensure stability and development. Two of the most significant challenges were:
1. Challenge of National Integration:
India was a newly formed nation that had just undergone Partition, resulting in large-scale communal violence and displacement of millions of people. Bringing together diverse regions, religions, and languages under a single national identity was one of the toughest challenges. The leaders had to ensure unity in diversity while promoting secularism and democracy.
2. Challenge of Economic Development:
India inherited an underdeveloped economy from British colonial rule. Agriculture was backward, industries were limited, and poverty was widespread. To address this, the government adopted planned economic development through Five-Year Plans, focusing on industrialization, self-reliance, and modernization of agriculture.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the two biggest challenges before India after independence were to achieve national unity and to ensure economic progress. These laid the foundation for India’s long-term development as a democratic and independent nation.