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FOREWORD, The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005 recommends that children's life at, school must be linked to their life outside the school. This principle marks a departure, from the legacy of bookish learning which continues to shape our system and, causes a gap between the school, home and community. The syllabi and textbooks, developed on the basis of NCF signify an attempt to implement this basic idea., They also attempt to discourage rote learning and the maintenance of sharp, boundaries between different subject areas. We hope these measures will take us, significantly further in the direction of a child-centred system of education outlined, in the National Policy on Education (1986)., The success of this effort depends on the steps that school principals and teachers, will take to encourage children to reflect on their own learning and to pursue, imaginative activities and questions. We must recognise that, given space, time, and freedom, children generate new knowledge by engaging with the information, passed on to them by adults. Treating the prescribed textbook as the sole basis of, examination is one of the key reasons why other resources and sites of learning, are ignored. Inculcating creativity and initiative is possible if we perceive and treat, children as participants in learning, not as receivers of a fixed body of knowledge., These aims imply considerable change in school routines and mode of functioning., Flexibility in the daily time-table is as necessary as rigour in implementing the, annual calendar so that the required number of teaching days is actually devoted, to teaching. The methods used for teaching and evaluation will also determine, how effective this textbook proves for making children's life at school a happy, experience, rather than a source of stress or boredom. Syllabus designers have, tried to address the problem of curricular burden by restructuring and reorienting, knowledge at different stages with greater consideration for child psychology and, the time available for teaching. The textbook attempts to enhance this endeavour, by giving higher priority and space to opportunities for contemplation and wondering,, discussion in small groups, and activities requiring hands-on experience., NCERT appreciates the hard work done by the textbook development committee, responsible for this book. We wish to thank the Chairperson of the Advisory Group, on Social Science, Professor Hari Vasudevan and the Chief Advisors for this book,, Shri Yogendra Yadav and Professor Suhas Palshikar for guiding the work of this, committee. Several teachers contributed to the development of this textbook; we, are grateful to their Principals for making this possible. We are indebted to the, institutions and organisations which have generously permitted us to draw upon, their resources, material and personnel. We are especially grateful to the members, of the National Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Departnent of Secondary, and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development under the, Chairpersonship of Professor Mrinal Miri and Professor G. P. Deshpande, for their, valuable time and contribution. As an organisation committed to systemic reform, and continuous improvement in the quality of its products, NCERT welcomes, comments and suggestions which will enable us to undertake further revision and, refinement., Director, New Delhi, National Council of Educational, 20 December 2006, Research and Training

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LETTER TO THE READERS, As India completes sixty years as an independent and democratic country, it is time to look back, and reflect on this period. So much of the trends and patterns af our politics as well as the strengths, and weaknesses of our democracy have been shaped during these six decades. Yet it is surprising, how little the younger citizens of our country know about this history. Yau would have a good idea, of the freedom struggle because you study that in the History textbooks. You would also know, something about our contemporary politics fram the media. But very few young citizens know, much about the period that connects the freedom movement to contemporary politics. This is, the gap the present book seeks to fill. It tells you the story of the journey of our democracy during, the last sixty years so that you can make sense of the political reality that surrounds all of us., This book is not a chronicle, all or even main events during the past six decades. We have tried, to weave the history of the last sixty years around some major issues and themes. The first eight, chapters of the book cover a certain period of this historyy, but in a selective manner by focussing, on one issue or theme that dominated those years. The final chapter offers an overview of various, issues that have emerged in the most recent period., Politics is often understood as a power game played by some big leaders. Politics is, of caurse,, about power. But politics is also about taking collective decisions, about sorting out differences,, about reaching consensus. That is why we simply cannot run our callective affairs withaut palitics., Similarly, big leaders no doubt influence the course of palitics. But politics is much more than a, story of individual ambitions and frustrations. That is why you will not find much emphasis on, personalities in this baok. You will find some biographical sketches so as to give you a rich sense of, those times. But we do not expect you to memorise these biographical details., In order to give you a feel of the times, we have included many photographs, cartoons, maps and, other images. As in other books, Unni and Munni are there to share their innocent yet irreverent, questions and comments with you. By now you know that what Unni and Munni say is not the, opinion of the textbook. You, and even the authors, may or may not agree with Unni and Munni., But you should, like them, begin to question everything., This book refrains from passing judgement on events and personalities of this period. The objective, of this book is to equip you with information and perspectives so that you can take more informed, and well thought out positions on politics, either as students of Palitical Science ar as citizens of, the country. That is why we tell the story in an open-ended and non-partisan manner. This has not, been easy, for there is no way a book like this can side-step all the 'cantroversial' issues. Many of, the significant issues of this period were and continue to be subjects of deep political differences., The Team that prepared this book decided to follow certain norms to ensure non-partisan treatment, of the subject. Firstly, it presents mare than one viewpoint when dealing with controversial subjects., Secondly, wherever available, it uses authentic sources like the reports of various Commissions or, court judgements, to reconstruct crucial details. Thirdly, it uses a variety of sources from scholarly, writings to different newspapers and magazines, etc. to tell the stary. Fourthly, the book avaids, detailed discussion of the role of political leaders who are still active in politics., Writing this textbook turned out to be particularly challenging for we do not have sufficient, information on this period. Most of the archival material is still clased to the researchers. There, are not many standard histories of this period that a textbook like this can draw upon. The Textbook, Development Committee turned this challenge into an opportunity. We are grateful to the Team, members who spared their valuable time for preparing the drafts of the various chapters. We, would like to place on record our gratitude to Professors Rekha Chowdhary and Surinder Jodhka, for contributing drafts for the sections on Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab respectively., Given the significance and the sensitive nature of the book, it was decided to put the drafts through, many rounds of scrutiny by a group of Political Scientists and historians. We decided to request