Name: Subhabrata Sarkar

Reg No: 200255 of 2020-2021

Admit Roll No: RAB/NAS/200240

Paper: DSE 5.1

Subject: Political Science (Hons.)

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Why is State regarded as a positive
instrument for resolving the conflict
in a heterogenous state like India?

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Context

What is State……………………………………………………… 4-6

Importance of state……………………………………………… 7

India and her heterogenous identity…………………. 8

Role of heterogenous state like

India for resolving conflicts…………………………… 9-12

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………… 13

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Before answer this question, firstly we need to know
about what is state.

What is State?
The state is the most universal and most
powerful of all social institutions. The state is a
natural institution. Aristotle said man is a social
animal and by nature he is a political being. To
him, to live in the state and to be a man were
indentical.
The modern term 'state' is derived from the word
'status'. It was Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 - 1527)
who first used the term 'state' in his writings. His
important work is titled as 'Prince'.
The state is the highest form of human association.
It is necessary because it comes into existence out
of the basic needs of life. It continues to remain for
the sake of good life.
Aristotle defined the state as a 'union of
families and villages having for its end a perfect and
self - sufficing life by which it meant a happy and
honourable life'.
According to German philosopher Hegel, “State is the
march of god in the Earth.” He taught that the state
is the highest phase of synthesis.

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To Holland, the state is 'a numerous assemblage of
human beings generally occupying a certain territory
amongst whom the will of the majority or class is
made to privail against any of their number who
oppose it.'
According to Garner, 'State is a community of
people occupying a definite form of territory free of
external control and possessing an organized
government to which people show habitual
obedience.'
Prof. Laski defines 'state as a territorial
society divided into government and subjects whose
relationships are determined by the exercise of
supreme coercive power.'

If we look at the origin of

state, ancient writers generally regarded the state
as the highest aim of human life. Accordingly, ancient
writers ignored or minimized the concept of
individual freedom and exalted and glorified the
importance of the state. Plato and Aristotle taught
that the best life of the individual was possible only
in the state. The state was formed for their people
to achieve a good life. If we look, we can find that
there are many theories about it. But in every theory
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one thing is common, that state has been formed for
the people to achieve a good life. Except Marxists, in
their thinking, the state has been created to protect
the interest of the most dominant class that controls
over the means of production. That’s why they
theorize a stateless society. That’s a different topic,
in here we are talk about state, and its positive
impression towards their people.

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Importance of State:
Most of classical and modern philosophers held a
similar view of the high importance of the state.
They pointed out the value of collective
responsibility and control through governmental
agencies. The state was justified because it was a
natural, historical growth.

The state is badly needed for the public good,

maintenance of law and order, social welfare,
establishment of justice, economic and political
welfare of the people. In the absence of the state
anarchy will prevail and there will be chaos and
confusion in society. the maintenance of army, navy,
police, and many officials, the raising and spending of
vast sums of money, and the exercise of extensive
and varied powers are essential. These functions aim
to maintain internal peace, order, and safety, the
protection of persons and property, and the
preservation of the state’s own existence and
external security.

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India and her Heterogenous identity:
India is a cultural heterogenous state. Heterogenous
state means, in this state society is a diverse society
in terms of ethnic groups, race, religion, culture,
language etc. If we look at the Indian culture and
tradition it is too much rich from the history.
Diversity is the reality of the Indian society. In the
context of diversity, a popular slogan prevalent here,
“Unity of diversity”. British historian Vincent Smith
and later on popularised by our first Prime Minister,
Jawaharlal Nehru. The basis of unity is unique
because it did not emerge out of similarity. Unity in
this slogan does not mean uniformity. This unity is
organic in nature, because this emerges from
differences. Very much like the unity of different
organs of the human body. As in an organism,
although the organs of the body are different in
their shape, size and function yet they contribute to
the maintenance of the body; similarly in Indian
society, there are so many social groups which are of
different shape, size and perform different
functions but they all contribute to the maintenance
of the Indian society.

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Role of Heterogenous State like India
for resolving conflicts:
Managing ethnic diversity is a prime concern of
almost every State government, mainly multicultural
states like India. India always trying to achieve
success in maintaining and promoting diversities amid
its manifold problems like poverty, illiteracy, regional
disparities, social exclusion and ethnic conflicts.
Amidst the complexities India's enviable record of
maintaining its integrity is exemplary not only in
South Asia but the entire world. India’s
democratically designed decentralised system
catering to the diverse ethnic needs of the
population has served to integrate the country
amidst divergent and periodic spells of ethnic
movements and sought to rectify the neglect for
institutionalisation of multiculturalism and add a
novel dimension to decentralisation.

Managing cultural diversities is one of the

fundamental challenges of our times. In the post-cold
war period and recent social transformations cultural
diversity has increasingly shaped the foundations of
majority of social conflicts and political
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deliberations. And this quest for recognition of
identity has led to severe identity assertion conflicts
and movements throughout the world. Expanding
cultural freedom in the era of globalisation presents
challenges and dilemmas. In the present era conflicts
have become more complex and multi-dimensional
that considerable interlinking of divergent factors
and ethnic groups becoming more and more assertive
of their rights. Democracy alone cannot sustain and
promote diversity as it signifies power of the people.
""People"" in most cases implies the majorities who
have access to the seats of political power often
ruling by marginalising the minorities thus giving rise
to exclusionary tendencies. Even if countries are not
disintegrating, minorities are being marginalised.

India battles her admirers

by her veritable feast of peculiarities. India
represents the world's largest democracy with a
huge range of complexities. Despite the problem of
language, religion, tribes and more seriously questions
of identity, yet the country has worked to stay
united. Economically decentralisation is said to
promote efficiency in the delivery of local services

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and public goods. Politically decentralisation is said to
strengthen accountability and national integration.
Decentralisation exercises the right to self-
determination. It is often seen as an aid to national
integration and strengthening of democratic
institutions.

At the same times it cannot be said that

decentralisation provides an answer to all ethnic
conflicts. The Constitution of India which took two
years, eleven months and 18 days in the making has
crafted a text which provides ""space"" for the
myriad and complex diversities. Instead of
discouraging differences, the Constitution takes
them for granted and offers adequate facilities for
their expression and development. It may be recalled
that the Bengali language problem in Pakistan led to
the disintegration of that country. As a consequences
the monolingual state of Bangladesh was created.
Similarly in Sri Lanka, the adoption of the policy of
""Sinhala only"" and being indifferent and adopting a
non-accommodative stance towards the Tamils drew
the country into a protracted civil war resulting in
much turmoil in that Island state. India is a quasi-

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federal state. It means in India Central government
has more power than state. And because of that
India can deal well with all the separatist movements.
A single policy cannot be applied to all. That’s why
Indian policy makers always keep in mind the
interests of every groups.

That’s how the mechanism of Indian state system

play an important role to resolving the conflict among
the multicultural society.

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Conclusion:
India is confronted with a large number of separatist
movements. It is not surprising because of India’s
ethnic and religious diversity. And this huge diversity
causes political inequality. Many of those movements
being small or even dormant only proves the multiple
tensions that such a large state like India has to
manage. The North and Northeast part of India
(Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland,
Tripura, Manipur and Assam) held many separatist
movements. The people from those part claimed that
they are separated from the Indian mainstream.
Naxalbari movement and Khalisthani movement took a
large form. India have been faced too much
challenges since independence for sustain its
existence and her heterogenous identity.

And lastly that should be said, state like India

obviously regarded as a positive instrument for
resolving conflicts in a heterogenous society, but it
should also be remembered that state treat all its
people equally with respect their ethnic, religious and
linguistic identities.

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References:
 “State: Sovereign Political entity”, Britannica
 Kumar Vivek, “Cultural Heterogeneity and
Exclusion in India”, Mainstream Weekly, 27 April
2008
 Mukherjee, Jhumpa, “Conflict Resolution in
Multicultural Societies - The Indian Experience”,
Sage publication.

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