4.6 Education for national integration

            National integration implies social, cultural, political, economic, geographical, linguistic, religious, emotional, psychological and educational unity among the people living in a certain territory having sovereignty. Thus, national integration means unity in diversity. A nation may have diverse community, culture, ethnicity, class, caste, language but there is a sense of unity of emotional attachment which is called nationality. It is an emotional psychological attitude or feeling of oneness, common ideals of life and common code of behaviors. The sentiment of nationalism is a must for national integration.

            It is national integration that keeps any nation united. It is essential for any country at any time. The world history says that lack of national integration leads a nation to political instability, restlessness, national tension and ultimately partition and struggle for deviation which is possible to be turned into terrorism. No doubt, the more one nation has sense of nationality, the more it becomes strong. Without national integration, there is no progress in democratic set up. Actually nationalism is a feeling of devotedness toward nation beyond the idiosyncratic selfish individualism. It is mutual co-operation, love, respect and feeling of brotherhood among the people and culture of the nation.

            National integration is being threatened by a variety of aspects as National Partiality, Communalism, Castesism, Regionalism, Provincialism, Social discrimination, Linguistic antagonism, Prejudice and fanaticism, Economic disparity, Unemployment, Corruption, Illiteracy, Lack of decent leadership, Political thinking, Irrelevant education.  These elements are the hurdles that bring hurricane in the feeling of national integration. In fact, it is education which can enhance the feeling of national integration to individuals. Actually national integration can be build through the educational process. 'National integration cannot be build by brick and mortar or with chisel and hammer. It has to grow silently in the minds and hearts of men and the process by which it can be achieved is education'. In fact, school age of an individual is impressionable period and national integration is the matter of feeling touched with emotions. If a person gets the value and importance of national integration, he undoubtedly becomes sensitive toward national integration throughout his life. Feeling of nationality is common feeling for the common interest. And it is education that helps to equip such common consciousness to all persons of a country. Education is developed for the sake of national development. The fate of each and every individual out and out depends on the destiny of the country. If each and every individual realize that their lives and future are determined by the fortune destiny. Tragedies and conflicts of the nation and its failures and success are their also, undoubtedly they become conscious to national integration. And, if there is anything that can realize individuals the importance and values of national integration, it is nothing except education. If education cannot strengthen the feeling and attitude of national integration, cohesion and solidarity, the personal freedom of an individual is also threatened.

            No country develops without national integration, and national integration cannot be imagined without education because only one means of rising national integration is education. That is why education is a must for national integration. Education is rooted to human life, and national integration to his fate. National integration can be enhanced through education. So education is a must for national integration.