The primary task was to shape a nation that was united yet accommodated the massive geographical and cultural diversity. People feared that a diverse India could not remain one country for long.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the "Iron Man of India," used a mix of "carrots and sticks" (diplomacy and firm pressure).

Why is he called the architect of Indian integration? Hyderabad (Nizam): What was the "Razakars" issue? SRC 1953: What were its main recommendations?

Challenges of Nation Building: Class 12 Political Science Notes (HOT Topics)

A religious state would contradict the democratic and civilizational values of the national movement.