Nationality Question and National Integration: Reflections on Paradoxes Confronting the Indian State

Abstract

The paper examines the nationality question
in India and takes a critical look at the role of the
Indian state in dealing with the problems of
nationalities primarily by using the unifying ideology
of ‘national integration’ as a process of statebuilding.
It focuses on the reactions of different
nationalities, with special reference to the responses
of some regional parties which have been articulating
the aspirations of smaller nationalities, to attempts at
assimilation and examines the contradictions arising
out of the two parallel processes of national
integration and identity assertion by nationalities. The
paper concludes by observing that the aspirations of
nationalities need not come in conflict with statebuilding
in India, provided the Indian State refrains
from all assimilationist moves including a resort to a
forced integration which will alienate rather than
integrate the emerging nationalities.