Major Challenges to the National Integration of India: Communalism and Casteism

Abstract

National integration in India is under threat due to many reasons like casteism, communalism,
regionalism, linguism, and politics of minorities, politics of backward classes, and politics of
secession, and terrorism. The most formidable threats are communalism and casteism.
Communalism is an obstacle to nationalism as an aggression on multiethnic, multi-religious and
multi-lingual community. Casteism initiates several disasters that are enough to maintain
comprehensive unrests in the country. Communal and caste riots have occurred and are presently
occurring in our country. Due to these riots, internal and external security of the country is in
danger and the country's economy is also affected. Under these conditions, there is no feeling of
common brotherhood and nationalism. The basic objective of this paper is to explore how
communalism and casteism become causes of serious concern and obstacle to the national
integration. This paper concludes with some suggestions to combat these challenges.