SociologyIndian Society: Challenges of Cultural Diversity

Consider the following statements on the Constituent Assembly view of…

Consider the following statements on the Constituent Assembly view of minorities:

(A) Minorities are called an explosive force that can blow up the whole fabric of the state.
(B) The history of Asia is said to bear appalling testimony to this.
(C) No minority in India is said to have refused safeguards to avoid majority rule.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → A and C only

(A) Minorities are called an explosive force that can blow up the whole fabric of the state. — Correct. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar told the Constituent Assembly that minorities are an explosive force. If that force erupts, it can blow up the whole fabric of the state.

(B) The history of Asia is said to bear appalling testimony to this. — Incorrect. He gave the history of Europe as the appalling testimony to this danger.

(C) No minority in India is said to have refused safeguards to avoid majority rule. — Correct. He recalled Carson in Ireland, who refused all safeguards because his minority did not want to be ruled by the majority. No minority in India has taken that stand.

NCERT (2026-27): “Minority Rights and Nation Building …
To diehards who have developed a kind of fanaticism against minority protection I would like to say two things. One is that minorities are an explosive force which, if it erupts, can blow up the whole fabric of the state. The history of Europe bears ample and appalling testimony to this fact. The other is that the minorities in India have agreed to place their existence in the hands of the majority. In the history of negotiations for preventing the partition of Ireland, Redmond said to Carson “Ask for any safeguard you like for the Protestant minority but let us have a United Ireland.” Carson’s reply was “Damn your safeguards, we don’t want to be ruled by you.” No minority in India has taken this stand.”