Vol. 8, Issue 11, Part E (2022)

The problem of National Integration is universal and it involves reconciliation of all diversities to build up national solidarity. Nationalism and regionalism do not go together. If Nationalism represents the ‘forces of unity and cohesion’, regionalism is a symbol of ‘Particularistic identity’. National integration has been a very serious and prominent challenge in all the developing countries including India. For a proper analysis of the concept of national integration it is necessary to know the meaning of certain concepts. The first and foremost concept is the term integration itself which may be defined as “a process of becoming whole. The process of National Integrations, therefore, tries to achieve the forces of national unity, solidarity and cohesion and the regional identity and freedom. In brief, national integration helps building up the national character out of the individual character. It involves national cohesiveness through territorial unity. Amidst socio-cultural, regional, religious, linguistic and economic diversities, national integration aims at the process of uniting together various parts of the society into a “functions whole”, where in there shall be “reduction of all barriers and tolerance of all differences unity, shared values and consensus.” However, national integration lacks a precise definition. To a common man, the term ‘integration’ implies ‘the process of becoming a whole’. It is more a psychological, behavioural and emotional concept. In a limited sense, it (National integration) believes in a sense of territorial nationality which overshadows or eliminates the subordinate parochial loyalties (Myron Weiner: Politics and Social Integration).