(i) The Second World War ended in the year 1945. After the end of war, ideological differences emerged between the US and the USSR.  
(ii) Both of them embarked upon increasing their influence on the newly independent countries. The entire world was divided into two armed camps.
(iii)It was the beginning of a cold war. Therefore, in the Bandung summit of the Afro-Asian countries, it was decided that they would not join any of the groups and would remain neutral and not align with any of the two powers. Thus, non-alignment movement, as named by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, came into being. The main contributors to the non-alignment movement were the representatives of India, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Ghana and Indonesia.

Second five-year plan was formulated in the year 1956. Following were its main features:
(i) It laid stress on the development of the heavy industries such as iron and steel industry and on the construction of large dams.
(ii) The Planning Commission believed that heavy industries should be encouraged for the cause of development of the nation as they are regarded as the backbone of an economy.
(iii)Dams were required to supply electricity to the industries and water to agricultural fields.

(i) After the formation of Andhra Pradesh on linguistic lines, other linguistic groups also started making similar demands. To address these demands, States Reorganization Commission was set up.
(ii) It submitted its report in 1956 and recommended the redrawing of provincial boundaries on linguistic basis.
(iii) Thus, people speaking Assamese, Bengali, Oriya, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu, etc. were organised on the basis of their respective language

(i) The Central and State governments confronted each other on the matter of sharing of power. The conflict was resolved by providing three lists of subjects: Union list, State list and Concurrent list.
(ii) The subjects of governance were summarily divided in these lists.
(iii)The subjects under Union list were reserved for Central government and the subjects under State list for State governments. However, both Central and State governments could make legislation on the subjects mentioned in Concurrent list

(i) Mira Behn was one of the followers of Mahatma Gandhi. Second Five Year plan focused on the development of science and technology.
(ii) It was opposed by Mira Behn. She was of the view that science and technology might give huge returns, but at the end, they will lead to despair as these developments would be done at the cost of nature.
(iii) She said that we should frame our policies considering the laws of nature and should not disturb the natural balance

In 1947, India's population was large, it was almost 345 million. This large population was divided. It was divided between high castes, low castes between the majority Hindu community and other religious communities.
The citizens of this vast land spoke many different languages, wore different kinds of dresses, ate different kinds of foods and practised different professions

The Indian Constitution gives the division of power in the form of three lists, known as Union List, State List and Concurrent List. The Union List includes subjects like taxes, defence and foreign affairs. Union List would be the exclusive responsibility of the Centre.
The State List would be taken care of principally by the states. It includes subjects like education and health. The centre and the states would have joint responsibility in case of the Concurrent List. It includes subjects like forests and agriculture

A veteran Gandhian Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger strike demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers. As the fast went on, it attracted much support, hartals and bandhs were observed. When Potti Sriramulu died on 15^th December 1952, the protest became intense and widespread.
The Central Government had no option but to admit the demand of separate state. On 1^st October, 1953, new state Andhra Pradesh came into being.

The right to vote granted in United Kingdom and the United states in stages. First only men of property had the vote. Then men who were educated were added. Working class men got the vote only after long struggle.
Lastly, after a long struggle, American and British women were granted the voting right

After division of India in 1947 into India and Pakistan (West and East), the Urdu speaking rulers of West Pakistan kept torturing the Bengali speaking population of East Pakistan. A time came when the East Pakistani Population rose in revolt against West Pakistan. The government committed atrocities on the Bengalis and thousands of them came to India as refugees.
The Bengali population formed Mukti Vahini under the leadership of Muziburr Rehman. After a long struggle Bangladesh achieved Independence in 1971.

Mira Behn (Madeleine Slade 1892-1982)1 daughter of the British Rear-Admiral Sir Edmond Slade, was a British woman who left her home in Britain to live and work with Mahatma Gandhi.
Madeleine devoted her life to human development, the advancement of Gandhiji's principles and the freedom struggle in India Gandhiji gave her the name 'Mira Behn', after Mira Bai, the great devotee of Lord Krishna. She arrived in India in 1925 and took active part in Non-cooperation Movement and imprisoned during 1932-33. She established the Kisan Ashram near Roorkee. After Independence, she established Pashulok Ashram near Rishikesh and a settlement name Bapu Gram and the Gopal Ashram in Bhilangana in 1952.

Mahatma Gandhi dream of one nation was shattered due to the partition of India, into India and Pakistan. The Congress leaders were sceptical about a further division of states on the basis of language.
The partition of India resulted in the death of millions of people who were killed in the riots between the Hindus and the Muslims.
They feared that this may happen if the country was further divided on linguistic lines.
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel were against the creation of linguistic states

Dr. BR Ambedkar played an important role in drafting the Indian Constitution. He felt that political democracy had to be accompanied by economic and social democracy. He felt that giving all the people the right to vote did not make them equal socially or economically. In politics we have recognised the principle of one man one vote and one value.
But in our social and economic structure, we continue to deny the principle of one man one value.
Dr. Ambedkar reiterated that the divison between the upper caste and the lower caste has to be wiped out four India to be a true democracy

In 1950, the Indian. Government set-up a Planning Commission to help design and execute suitable policies for economic development. It had to achieve a balance between the different regions and states. The First Five Year Plan was launched in 1951 which mainly focused in development of the primary sector like irrigation and energy, agriculture and community development, transport and communications industry, social services, land rehabilitation etc.
The most important feature of this phase was active role of state in all economic sectors. The Second Five Year Plan followed the Mahalanobis model and tried to develop the Public Sector. This plan (1956) focused strongly on the building of large dams, which came under the control of the State

The Constituent Assembly took the decision that while Hindi would be the official language of India, English would be used in the courts, the services and communications between one state and another.
The advantage of this decision is:
It would keep the whole of India united. The South Indian states would not separate themselves from India.
The disadvantage of this decision is :
It would hamper the development and growth of Hindi all over India.