The need of national integration and international understanding is felt essential all quarters in modern times.

The countries are coming close to each other now-a-days through rapid communication revolution. The sense of unity, co-operation and mutual relation are to be fostered among people to ensure a peaceful living in the globe, TV programmes on the role of UNESCO, UNO and World Bank for international understanding as well as common cultural programmes like Celebration of National Day, Birth Centenary of greatmen for strengthen national integration are widely welcomed. It basically means people coming together, and understanding each others differences and cultures, and mixing those cultures all together so that we might all have an understanding of each other, and merge together in a peaceful way
National Integration: Introduction: India is a vast country having diversified cultures, religions, customs, languages, habits and even ways of thinking. Even though there existed a solid political unity during the period of Independence struggle, soon after, India became independent in the year 1947. The strength of fundamental unity has slowly eroded. With the emergence of the Democratic Republic, the general feeling of Indianness and the unity in diversity which organized all the groups together as the people of India, has slowly eroded giving rise to fissiparous tendencies, regional loyalties and linguistic fanaticism, shaking the very foundation of national solidarity. Today we are facing new challenges to our integrity. The political parties for their electoral success have exploited the communal, sectarian, and parochial tendencies. Meaning of National Integration: National integration is more than a slogan. It means bringing about the prevailing economic, social and cultural differences among people within a tolerable stage. It is a dynamic reality. It is concerned with the development of nationalism. It is the feeling of oneness that binds the people of diversified cultures of a nation together. It implies doing away with interests and prejudices based on linguistic and cultural diversity. It is concerned with creating and strengthening among people of patriotism and national pride. It is unity in diversity and a combination of economic, social, political, cultural and emotional integration According to the Emotional Integration Committee Report (1962), the attributes of national emotional integration are as follows: i) A strong feeling of brotherhood and nationhood that sinks and ignores individuals, parochial linguistic and religious differences ii) The common mental bond that binds all people irrespective of their differences towards the aesthetic, spiritual and material progress. iii) Creation of a feeling of oneness and mental outlook towards the welfare of the country above narrow sectarian interests. iv) A harmonious blending of personal emotion in an individual with his social obligation resulting in a well balanced personality. v) A feeling of harmony and the welding of diverse elements of society into a very compact and homogenous unit. vi) A firm conviction on the part of each individual that he is an integral component of the whole social unit for the healthy development of self and community. Causes of National Disintegration: i) Communalism, and local, regional, linguistic, caste, communal and state loyalties. ii) Inequality in social and economic spheres. iii) Favoritism and corruption. iv) Unemployment problems. v) Prejudice and fanaticism.

vi) Lack of patriotism, narrow politics, dynamic leadership. vii) Religious and language fundamentalism. Activities to Promote National Integration: The various committees and commissions appointed by the Government of India have widely deliberated on the different aspects of national integration and have recommended a number of measures for promotion of national emotional integration. Role of Education: Education is the potential instrument to bring about purposeful behavioural changes in the individual. It helps to achieve social integration by alleviating social prejudices and by creating a strong desire for a rational social order Education should aim at achieving personal integration by developing integrated personality of the individual and by inculcating right values, scientific temper of mind, right attitudes, productive imagination and creative intelligence. Education should develop cultural awakening, cultural understanding and appreciation, so as to transmit cultural values for promotion of cultural integration. Education should inculcate national ideals and true patriotic outlook to pave way for the promotion of emotional integration. In order to achieve the above mentioned national integration goals, the following changes and activities have to be carried out: Proper reforms in curriculum should be made from the point of view of our national needs and national achievements. Common prayers and observations of religious festivals in the educational institutions. Avoiding comments on casteism or communalism in the classroom. Conducting a short course on national literature. Encouraging the study of one of the Indian languages other than the regional language. Arranging co-curricular activities centering around human understanding. Organizing National ceremonies, symbols, songs, national pledges, etc. Compiling a short anthology of songs in all languages for wide circulation. Emphasizing the points of interdependence cooperation and integration by way of educational programmes. Encouraging the participation of people of different castes and religions in national fairs and festivals. Organizing dramas, seminars, debates and discussions advocating the concept of national harmony. Increasing use of mass media for harnessing national unity. Revising textbooks so as to emphasize national unity and love of the country. Providing opportunities inculcating broad humanism and single-minded devotion to decent values. International Understanding: Introduction: The world today has undergone radical changes. Globalization, the advent of technology in communication network, transport system and life styles, have erased the margin of distance and time. There is a greater awareness for the necessity of establishing lasting peace among the nations of the world after the impact of international wars. In recent years, the concept of one World of one Community has assumed greater significance. After the World War II, the concepts of unity in diversity and the interdependence of nations for the sustained economic growth and political safety have assumed greater significance. As pointed out by Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, the former President of India and the great philosopher, The World once divided by oceans and continents today is united physically, but there are still suspicions and misunderstandings. It is essential for us not to live apart but to live together, understanding each other, knowing one anothers fears and anxieties, aspirations and thought. That is what we are expected to do. Meaning of International Understanding: International understanding implies the acceptance of the rights of all nations for an honorable existence. It implies the elimination of the fear of war, ignorance, prejudices, values of co-operation and mutual understanding. It is for the development of global interdependence

between people and nation. Internationalism knows no barriers of caste, creed or colour, no differences of religion or culture. It is cosmopolitan and believes in the dignity of the individual and the equality and fraternity of all human beings. It is interdependent living of independent lives. Internationalism is for developing awareness, and respect for all people, their culture and ways of life, so as to inculcate the faith in one world society and one human culture and to promote world peace. It emphasizes the need to create conditions for establishing healthy relations between different nations and for settling any disputes among them through negotiations, discussions and compromise. Need For International Understanding: To develop a sense of world citizenship. To prevent human exploitations and large scale damages by war. To stop competition and promote co-operation and interdependence of nations. To safeguard the national interest. To prevent narrow nationalistic ideas. To promote democratic ideals and the concept of peaceful co-existence. To prevent exclusiveness and isolation. To synchronise cultures. Role of Education in Promoting Internationalism Teaching about the United Nations. Teaching about Human Rights. Radical changes in the contents of the curriculum at all levels. Encouraging through music, fine arts, literature and science. Organisation of international camps, celebration of international days, exhibition of films, organisation of study tours, cultural exchange programmes, and organisation of world citizenship programmes. Activities 1. Narrate life situations where you have acted with responsibility? 2. Recollect the situations in your life when you have shown commitment? 3. Have you practiced dutifulness in your schooldays? Illustrate the situations. 4. Through the T.V. Programme, short story, news items, film, biography and folk song, depict the values.