ABSTRACT
The idea of the Indian nation-state as a central unity that must be preserved and protected from both foreign and internal threats is now a sociopolitical reality of great importance. Indian's take great pride in their democracy and are deeply committed to democratic processes in pursuit of their various and often conflicting objectives. Environmental degradation has emerged as a serious problem in the last three decades, and regional tensions, including the ongoing fighting in Kashmir that has taken more than sixty thousand lives in the last decade, continue to threaten the political integrity of the nation. From the perspective of personal and social welfare as well, it appears that India's central challenge is the elimination of poverty, for the first condition of well-being is that the people have adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education. The Gandhian vision emphasized the importance of village life and local ideas and values.
