GM Friend,
Regionalism In India - The role of the state in shaping regionalism & impact of regionalism due to language ,religion are the factor of regionalism.
Regionalism In India - 1. Definition: The definition of regionalism will depend on one's attitude-positively, regionalism is the political attribute associated for their region with the people's love for and regional culture, language etc. with a view to asserting the identity of that region in the context of the country or the State of which the region is a part-a manifestation of diversity of India-negatively regionalism may be interpreted as excessive attachment to one's region in preference to the country or the State.
Of which the region is a part often regionalism is painted as an unalloyed evil-some of the national leaders have bemoaned the growth of regionalism in recent years, yet the growth is going on.
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Top 5 Control Over Public Administration.
History Of Regionalism In India
2. Nature of Regionalism: In general, the people of any region having certain homo- geneous conditions or situations such as one language, one religion, the same historical background etc., feel a sense of brotherhood and commonness distinct from their attach- ment to the country or the Province of which they are a part-sometimes, the people of a region may consider themselves a separate nation within the country, this phenomenon known as sub-nationalism-in the Indian context regionalism is mainly based on langu- age although exceptations are there-regio- nalism justified on the ground that without love of and identification with one's locality and region, patriotism, nationalism and universal brotherhood will not be meaningful -however, excessive regionalism may pose problems to nationalism or national inegration -in India regionalism has given rise to certain political conditions and problems-the different manifestations of regionalism are discussed below.
3. Secessionism: Extreme regionalism may lead to secessionist demand and promotion of fissiparous tendencies-the demand for a Sikh homeland' within the Indian Union by Master Tara Singh and others since 1950s-the demand subsided with the bifurcation of Punjab into Punjab and Haryana in 1966-its revival in a recent times in the name of Khalistan-the demand for full autonomy and separation by the North-Eastern tribal people including Nagas, Mizoes, Tripura tribals etc.,- the demand taking the form of armed rebellion against the Union Government-the Shillong accord of 1975 with Nagas-the New Delhi accord with the Mizo leader Laldenga in 1986-the secessionist demand of DMK given up in 1962.
Factors Of Regionalism In India
4. Demand for Separate Statehood: The division of Madras Province in 1953 because of the demand for separation of Telugu- speaking areas from the rest of the Province -the reorganisation of States on linguistic basis in 1956 and later-creation of States of Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960; Punjab and Haryana in 1966; Meghalaya in 19 2 etc., on the basis of regionalism-even now demands for separation of certion regions from the respective States persist, e.g. Vidherba in Maharashtra, -the demand of the Nepalis in Darjeeling district of West Bengal for Gorkhaland taking a serious turn nowdays--some of the Union Territories, not content with their status directly under the Union, have demanded statehood, e.g. Goa, Delhi etc.
5. Inter-State Disputes: A virulent form state of regionalism which has created serious problem from time to time is its association with inter-State boundary and river water disputes--the Maharashtra-Karnataka boun- dary dispute regarding the Belgaum area, not settled so far despite the Mahajan Commis- sion report of 1969-the dispute between Punjab and Haryana over Chandigarh has created a monstrous problem in the form of upheavel in Punjab and Haryana failure of Indira Gandhi award of 1970 and Rajiv- Longowal accord of 1985--numerous river water disputes exist in India-practically all the States are having some dispute or the other with the neighbouring State.
Growth Of Regionalism In India
6. Emergency and growth of Regional parties: An important consequence of regionalism in India in recent times is the formation and growth of regional parties - wherever Regional parties were started seriously, very soon they have been able to establish their hold over the people deeply cutting into the vote banks of the national parties-even popularity of Janata Party in Karnataka, of CPI (M) in West Bengal can be explained mainly in terms of regionalism.
7. Demand more Powers to States: The desire of State Governments to run their own affairs free from the overlordship of the Centre -even Congress-ruled States clamouring for more powers and more freedom to carry on the administration-the demand for autonomy voiced by the D.M.K., A.I.A.D.M.K., Akali Dal-even a National Party like the C.P.I. (M) in favour of more powers to the States.
8. Linguistic Chauvinism: Fanatical attach- ment to language is termed as linguism-in the Indian context, linguistic chauvinism is yet an- other manifestation of regionalism, harmful to unity of the nation-the most conspiscuous exhibition of linguistic chauvinism in India is associated with crude attempts to impose Hindi down the throats of unwilling non-Hindi speaking population-Hindi was made the official language of the Union because of one- vote majority achieved in the then Congress Party in the Constituent Assembly through the pressure of the top level leaders-hectic efforts made by the Central Government at the ins- tance of Hindi fanatics have led to agitations in various parts of the country particularly in Tamil Nadu-language fanatism is also seen in the language riots in the border districts of certain States, e.g. Belgaum in Karnataka- resentment of the North-Eastern people against Bengali may also be interpreted as another form of linguism.
Effect Of Regionalism In India
9. Causes of Regionalism: Regionalism is world wide phenomenon, showing different manifestations in various countries-till the time of Independence regionalism was not pronounced although its germination was linked to the political participation of the people in the national and freedom movementsince since 1920's in a country of India's dimensions whose unity lies in diversity, regional senti- ments cannot be wished away-the economicbasis of regionalism may be seen in the fight for economic benefits-manifestation of region- alism in the matter of employment-the Centre-State conflicts and Inter-State conflicts over the location of industries and projects, another manifestation of regionlism-since politics is the game of power, regionalism is as much relevant to national politics as nationa- lism is relevant to international politics.
10. Steps to be taken: Given the nature of regionalism, its positive aspects should be differentiated from its negative aspects-the claims of economically backward regions is a sign of their awakening and should be wel- comed-the claims of advanced states to main- tain their tempo of development should also be considered to the extent possible-efforts should be made to resolve the Inter-State dis- putes through common forums and conferences without imposing unacceptable solutions on the unwilling States and regions-conflicts are inherent in the working of any polity, society and economy-the modern commitment to the resolution of conflicts through negotiations without violence should be applied to the problems of regionalism as well.
Conclusion :-
Potential cause for regionalism ,regionalism is serious to development, progress and Unity of nation. Regionalism one played important role in building of the nation , regionalism impact have positive as well as negative.
