The concept of nation state award in the modern period. One of the earliest assertions regarding the so virginity of the nation-state and democratic rights of citizen was made by the revolution ories in France in 1789 .
Nation states claim that their boundaries define not just a territory but also unique culture and shared history.
The national identity may be expressed through symbols like a flag national anthem national language of certain ceremonial practices among other things. Most modern state include people of different religions languages and cultural traditions. But the national identity of a democratic state is supposed to provide citizens with a political identity that can be shared by all the members of the state. Democratic States usually try to define The Identity so that it is as inclusive as possible. That is which allows all citizens to identify themselves as a part of the nation. But in practice most countries tend to define their identity in a way which makes it is easier for some citizens to identify with the state than others. It may also make it easier for the state to extend and citizenship to some people and some not. This would be as true of the United States which prides itself on a being a country of immigrants as any other country France for instance is a country which claims to be both secular and inclusive. It includes not only paper of European origin but also citizens who originally came from other areas such as North Africa .
Culture and languages are important features of its national identity and all citizens are expected to assimilate into it in the public aspects of their life .
They may however retain their personal beliefs and practices in their private lives.
This may seem like a reasonable policy but it is not always simple to define what is public and what is private and this has given rise to some controversies.
Religious belief is supposed to belong to the private sphere of the citizen but sometimes religious symbols and practices may enter into their public life .
We may have heard about the demand of Sikh school boys in France to wear the Turban to school and of Muslim girls to wear the head scarf with their school uniform.
This was disallowed to buy some schools on the ground that it involved bringing religious symbols into the public sphere of state education.
Those whose religions did not demand such practices naturally did not face the same problem. Clearly assimilation into the national culture would be easier for some groups than for others.
The criteria for granting citizenship to new applicants varies from country to country .
In countries such as Israel or Germany factors like religion or ethnic origin may be given priority when granting citizenship.
In Germany there has been a persistent demand from Turkish workers who were at one time encouraged to come and work in Germany that their children who have been born and brought up in Germany should automatically be granted citizenship.
This is still being debated .There are only a few example of the kinds of restrictions which may be placed on citizenship even in democratic countries which Pride themselves on being inclusive.
India defines itself as a secular democratic Nation state the movement for Independence was a broad based on and deliberate attempts were made to bind together people of different religions reasons and cultures .
True,partition of the country did take place in 1947 when differences with the Muslim League could not be resolved but this only strengthened the resolve of Indian national leaders to maintain the secular and inclusive character of the Indian nation state they were committed to build.
This resolvers embedded in the constitution.
The Indian Constitution attempted to accommodate a very diverse society.
To mention just a few of these diversity is it attempted to provide full and acquire citizenship to groups as different are scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes many women who had not previously enjoyed equal rights some remote communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands who had little contact with modern Civilization and many others.
It also attempted to find a place for the country it had to provide equal rights to all without at the same time forcing people to give up their professional beliefs languages are cultural practices.
It was therefore a unique experiment which was undertaken through the constitution.
The Republic Day parade in Delhi symbolises the attempt of the state to include people of different reasons cultures and religions.
The provisions about citizenship in the constitution can be found in the path of to and in subsequent laws passed by parliament.
The constitution adopted and essentially democratic and inclusive notion of citizenship.
In India citizenship can be acquired by birth decent registration naturalization for inclusion of territory.
The rights and obligations of citizens are listed in the constitution.
There is also a provision that the state should not discriminate against citizens on Grounds only of religion race ‚caste, sex ‚place of birth or any of them.
The rights of religious and linguistic minorities are also protected.
However ‚even such inclusive provisions have given rise to struggles and controversies.
The women’s movement the dalit movement or struggles of people displaced by development projects represent only a few of the struggle being waste by people who feel that they are being the night full rights of citizenship.
The experience of India indicates that democratic citizenship in any country is a project and ideal to work towards.
New issues are constantly being raised as society is changed and new demands are made by groups who feel that they are being marginalised.
In a democratic state these demands have to be negotiated.