The subject of Social Studies taught in the school draws its content and derives its purpose from all the social sciences. The main aim of teaching is to help pupil acquire information and cultivate attitudes, which will make him a good citizen i.e. a useful member of the society to which he belongs. It seeks to realize this aim by helping him to understand the society in which he lives, its nature and composition, its political and social institutions, and the problems of its development. It also helps him to know his rights and responsibilities. This knowledge is necessary to enable him to appreciate the need for harmony between himself and the society.
Social Studies have great potentialities, which can be utilized for developing attitudes and ideas indispensable for promoting national unity. To promote national integration the teaching of some topics should be so undertaken as to help develop the following broad understandings:
- The Indian nation is composed of people who follow different religions (or none at all), speak different languages and have diverse ways of living. However, in spite of all these differences, they are the citizens of India and enjoy equal rights.
- The Indian nation is in the process of transforming itself into a modern nation by building a developed, self-generating economy, by rooting out poverty and bringing about a just social order. This process of transformation can be hastened and sustained only through the united efforts of all the people of India. This also requires constant vigilance and ceaseless struggle against forces, interests, practices, and attitudes which impede this transformation. These forces are fostered by and in their turn, foster prejudices and narrow loyalties based on caste, community, language and region.
- The people of India are sovereign and masters of their destiny. Their problems are common. They can be solved only by developing among people an attitude of respect for each other. The development of each region or area is closely connected with the development of all. The people of India constitute a nation. A part of the nation cannot develop in isolation of or in conflict with the rest of the country.
Although it is at the middle and secondary stages that such content can be effectively presented, a useful beginning can be made at the primary stage. The child can be made familiar with the variety of religious beliefs, food habits, languages, customs and festivals in his neighborhood, his State and in his country as a whole. He can be helped to develop appreciation and respect for this variety. Some idea of the constitution and the working of governments at the local, State, and national levels is usually given at this stage. Through this content, the concept of citizenship and the equality of all citizens can be made clear. The concept of nation can also be explained by teaching the children the elements of the Constitution, Parliament and working of the government at the Centre. By teaching them the rights and duties of citizenship the idea that these rights and duties apply uniformly to all Indians can be brought home even at the earlier stage of education. This will help them realize the values of equality and mutual respect.
There are greater potentialities for developing these ideas in the higher classes. A few topics are cited here for purposes of illustrating these ideas.
A. The constitution of India
Teaching of the constitution can be utilized for developing ideas conducive to national unity. The constitution is the fundamental law of the Indian nation; we derive all the basic values of our nationhood from it.
Constituent Assembly
The history of the framing of the Constitution should be appropriately taught. The Indian national movement demanded that the Constitution of India be framed by the people of India themselves through a Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly, when it was convened, was representative of all the people of India, belonging to its different regions and religions. The Constitution as framed, was given to the nation by the people themselves since the Assembly worked as a body fully representative of the people. The Preamble of the Constitution and all its implications should be explained to the students.
Single Citizenship
This means that one is not a citizen of a part of India, but of the country as whole. This single citizenship unites all the people into a common bond. It gives each one the same status and makes him equal to any other.
Fundamental Rights
Each citizen enjoys certain Fundamental Rights irrespective of caste, colour, creed etc. and these are guaranteed by the Constitution. These rights bind the people into a nation, which is democratic and secular in character. Any violation of these rights will amount to a violation of the fundamental values of the nation. Force which create antagonism on the basis of differences in religion, caste and language attack these fundamental values as their activities restrict and impinge on the Fundamental Rights of others. Some current events can be cited as illustrations while teaching this topic. For instance, the case of communal rights can be cited to give an idea of the harm caused to the nation when some people act in a manner, which violates the Fundamental Rights of others.
Directive Principles of State Policy
In the Preamble of the Constitution, the people of India solemnly resolved to secure to all its citizens justice-social, economic and political- liberty, equality and fraternity. This can only be done by the reconstruction of the Indian society. Some of the principles of governance which will help reconstruct Indian society are given in the Constitution. Though not enforceable by the courts, it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws and in its various activities to promote the welfare of the people. These principles spell out the aim of promoting the prople’s welfare as a whole. The welfare of each section of society is dependent upon the welfare of all. By relating these principles to the needs of the people and the steps taken or proposed to be taken to promote welfare, the pupils can be helped to look at problems from the point of view of the interests of the people as a whole and not from a narrow sectional angle. In this context, the efforts made by the State through Planning can be discussed and the pupil’s understanding of achievements and problems can be deepened.
Parliamentary character of our government
Through the teaching of the Parliamentary form of government enshrined in the Constitution and its methods of working, the concept of the sovereignty of the people can be made clear. The concept of adult franchise which is also an expression of the sovereignty of the people, as well as their equality should be properly explained. The system of elections to the State legislatures and parliament and of the Head of the State and Vice President should be taught to illustrate the ideas of people’s sovereignty and responsible government. The fact that of every legislation, law and authority the people alone are the sources should be stressed. The importance of political parties in a parliamentary democracy as the machinery through which the people express their aspirations should be brought out. The pupils must be helped to study critically the programmes and practices of the political parties so that they can develop the capacities to discriminate between policies and practices and identify those which promote welfare, bring about unity among the people and help the nation’s development.
The federal character
There are various provisions in the Constitution to regulate the relations between the Union and the States. They are basic to the task of strengthening the unity of the country and the development of Indian society and all its parts. This should be taught with a view to promoting the basic purposes behind these provisions. The idea that essentially there is no conflict between the aims of the Union and of the States and that their constitutional relationship is designed to ensure smooth administration and facilitate the overall development of Indian society should be made clear. The States of the Union of India have been organized in a manner that helps strengthen democracy through decentralization of power and authority on such matters as can be dealt with more efficiently at the regional or local level. Among other things, this organization contributes to the more complete growth of the social and cultural life of all people in different parts of the country. However, it is important to stress that states are not isolated units and the development of each State is dependent on the development of other states and of the country as a whole. Many projects of economic development have been implemented by the Union Government on its own or in collaboration with State governments. Taking them as illustrations the teacher can help inculcate in minds of pupils the idea that all these projects have been of benefit to the people of the country as a whole and that harmonious relations between one state and another and between the Centre and the States are essential for the total development of Indian society.
Constitutional procedures
An understanding of the constitutional procedures is essential for the peaceful solution of the problems. As the people are sovereign, they have a right to change the laws they make and this includes the right to amend the Constitution itself. It should be impressed upon young minds that these rights are the best guarantee of good government, that laws represent the will of the people and that these or other laws can be changed if the people want to change them.
Narrow sectional demands that are likely to harm society, as a whole can never be met. Acts of violence and anarchy seeking change of law or fresh laws have no place in a democratic and parliamentary form of government which provides for peaceful constitutional means to achieve such on objectives. Such acts as damage and destruction of public or private property harm the entire nation and retard the pace of development. They may adversely affect the very cause for which they are indulged in. Even if the grievances are legitimate, such violent acts alienate the sympathies of the rest of the population. The best and the only method for realization of demands and fulfillment of aspirations in a democracy are through democratic constitutional procedures.
B. Teaching of contemporary problems – Economic and Social
Instruction in contemporary problems is an important method of inculcating ideas of unity among peoples. For the solution of every national problems unity is indispensable. When these problems are analyzed from the point of the entire country, the pupil gets an opportunity to acquire a broad national perspective in thinking and behaviour.
The teaching of problems of economic development should deepen the pupil’s understanding of problems such as improvement of the standard of living, growth of agriculture and industries, their mutual relationships, unemployment, economic inequalities, natural and human resources, availability of capital etc. The pupils should be encouraged to understand that the problem of economic development is one that affects every section of our society. Similarly, problems like unemployment and low standard of living are not problems of anyone caste, community or region. The interests of all people are interdependent. The pupils should become familiar with achievements in the sphere of economic development since independence. Examples of these achievements in the fields of basic industries, major irrigation projects etc. should be cited. It should be emphasized that these achievements have laid the foundation for further development of Indian economy and have, in one form or the other, benefitted all the regions of the country. The need for the balanced development of all the regions should be explained.
Five – Year Plans
The achievements and failures of Five-Year Plans may be studied critically. The social aims of the Plans should be emphasised to make the student understand the aims of building a socialistic society and establishing a social order. This will help foster a broad forward looking outlook among the pupils.
Current social problems
The teaching of current social problem is intimately connected with the development of a broad national and secular outlook. The goal of Indian social progress is a just social order in which every citizen will have equal and adequate opportunities to develop himself fully. The damage caused by forces arising from narrow interests can be discussed in a forthright manner. How communication and casteism adversely affect the very interest of the community and caste which the communalist and casteist forces profess to serve, should be stressed by showing that these forces divert the people’s attention from their real problems. Certain social problems like illiteracy, religious dogmatism, superstitions, health and hygiene, slums, status of woman, backwardness etc. should be taught with a view to creating a modern scientific outlook. This will help the pupils to overcome narrow prejudices.
Defence of the country
The problem of the country’s defence is a significant subject because it makes the students realize the importance of unity. The teaching of this subject should enable the pupils to understand that defence is not exclusively a military problem. The capacity to defend the country depends ultimately upon the unity and social cohesiveness of the people. A people divided among themselves by narrow loyalties will render their country weak and vulnerable to aggression.