Regionalism

Regionalism refers to the political or cultural principle that focuses on the promotion of the interests of a particular region or group within a nation or international entity. It involves advocating for specific regional needs, characteristics, and identities, often leading to demands for autonomy or increased political power within a state.

Factors of Regionalism:

• Historical and Cultural factors: 

• Historical forces foster regional awareness. 
• Cultural groups draw inspiration from local heroes. 
• Customs, social, economic, and religious complexes reinforce historical memories.

• Demographic: 

• Unwanted migration disrupts regional demography, affecting economic activities and native ethnic identity. For example, Assam protests against illegal migrants from Bangladesh to preserve Assamese identity.

• Economic: 

• Economics shape regionalism and Scarcity of know-how, corruption, and law and order issues create a dismal politico-economic landscape. 
• Regionalism arises due to unequal benefit sharing in development.

• Reasons for Regional Disparity:

• Low economic growth hampers development due to high population growth. 
• States struggle with land reforms and feudal mentality. 
• Backward states lack adequate infrastructure for agriculture. 
• Developed states prioritize social expenditure on education, health, and sanitation. Tamil Nadu and Kerala set benchmarks for healthcare. 
• Political and administrative failures lead to sub-regional movements. Examples include Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Telangana. 
• Better-developed regions protest resource diversion to underdeveloped areas. Example: Harit Pradesh demand by Green Revolution beneficiaries.

Some major political movements and Incidents reflecting regionalism are: 

• Dravida Nadu demand: 

• The Self-Respect Movement Started in Tamil Nadu in 1925, focussed on empowering Dalits and non-Brahmins, later opposed Hindi imposition, and calling for a separate Dravidistan. 

• Telangana Movement: 

• Telangana dissatisfaction with agreement implementation grew after the formation of Andhra Pradesh. 
• In 1969, discontent intensified against 1956 Gentleman’s agreement as guarantees were about to lapse. 
• Government employees and opposition threatened direct action. 
• This finally led to the formation of a separate Telangana state on June 2, 2014.
• Disparity between the regions originated from colonial rule, with Andhra under direct crown rule and Telangana under the less efficient rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad.

• Shiv Sena agitation against Kannadigas: Launched in Maharashtra under the banner of Marathi pride. In 1966, Shiv Sena launched its agitation against Kannadigas.
• Bodoland demand in Assam: Led by Assam Bodo Students Union, seeking a separate state due to educational and job disparities in backward regions.

Inter-State Disputes

• Boundary disputes: 

• Examples: 

• Between Karnataka and Maharashtra on Belgaum where the Marathi speaking population is surrounded by Kannada speaking people

• between Kerala and Karnataka on Kasargod

• between Assam and Nagaland on Rengma reserved forests

• Water dispute: 

• Example: 

• Use of water of three rivers mainly Narmada, Krishna and Cauvery in which states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra were involved. 

• Disputes also arose regarding use of Cauvery waters among the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. 

• Dispute between Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh over the use of waters of Ravi River. 

• Issue over SYL – Satluj Yamuna link is looming between Haryana and Punjab.

Impacts of Regionalism in India:

Positive Impacts:

• Nation Building: It can contribute to nation-building if regional demands are addressed.
• Regional Empowerment: Statehood or autonomy grants self-determination and empowerment. 
• Democratic Engagement: Regional identities foster engagement with local governance. For example, the Tripura Tribal Autonomous District Council (TTADC) has helped protect tribal identity and reduce political extremism.
• Cultural Diversity: Regionalism respects socio-cultural diversity.

Negative Impacts:

• Internal Security Challenges: Regionalism can threaten national unity and development, leading to insurgency. 
• Political Impact: Regional demands influence national policies in coalition governments.
• Vote Bank Politics: Regional leaders exploit regionalism for vote bank politics, impacting democracy. 
• Uneven Development: Development plans may favor regions associated with influential leaders, causing unrest. 
• International Diplomacy: Regionalism affects international relations, as seen in Tamil Nadu's opposition to PM's visit to Sri Lanka and West Bengal's disagreements on border and Teesta river agreements.

Efforts to Address Regionalism in India:

• Federal Structure: The federal system allows for the distribution of power between the centre and states, ensuring regional concerns are addressed at the state level.
• Autonomous Councils: The establishment of autonomous councils, like in Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura, protects the interests and identities of minority groups.
• Coalition Governments: Coalition governments have accommodated regional parties in the center, allowing for regional issues to be given a national platform.
• Language Policies: The three-language formula promotes unity among linguistic groups.
• Panchayati Raj Institutions: Decentralization empowers local bodies.
• Developmental Schemes: Special packages promote balanced regional development. 
• National Integration Council: Promotes harmony and unity among regions, communities.
• Inter-State Council: This constitutional body facilitates coordination between the states and the center, addressing regional disparities and promoting balanced growth.
• Zonal Councils: These statutory bodies aim to promote interstate cooperation and coordination, helping mitigate regional imbalances.

Reorganisation of States:

• The reorganization of states in India, primarily on linguistic lines, is a significant event in the country's post-independence history. This process began after independence in 1947 to meet the aspirations of diverse linguistic and cultural groups.

Before independence:

• Demand for linguistic reorganisation: Tilak advocated for linguistic reorganisation of provinces.
• Demand of All India Congress Committee (AICC): AICC demanded a Telugu-speaking state carved out of the Madras Presidency based on the recommendation of its Lucknow session.  
• Acceptance of the demand for linguistic reorganisation: Following that, the Congress accepted the creation of linguistic states in principle at its Nagpur session in 1920. 

• First state carved out on linguistic lines: Due to the efforts of Madhusudan Das, Odisha was the first Indian state to be formed on linguistic grounds in 1936, and it became Orissa Province. 

Movement for linguistic states after independence:

• Dhar Commission (1948): Led by Justice S.K. Dhar and was established to investigate the desirability of linguistic provinces, but it advocated against it due to concerns over national unity and administrative challenges. 
• JVP Committee (set up in December 1948 and submitted its report in April 1949): Initially rejected language as the basis for state reorganization. However, Potti Sriramalu's hunger strike and death in December 1952 demanding Andhra State led to the creation of Andhra by separating Telugu-speaking areas from Madras.

• State Reorganisation Commission (Fazal Ali Commission): Set up due to the intensified demand for linguistic states. It recommended linguistic and cultural similarities, unity and integrity of India, administrative and economic considerations for state reorganization. 

• Outcome: States Reorganisation Act 1956 and 7th Amendment Act 1956 were passed, abolishing Part-A and Part-B states and establishing 14 states and 6 Union Territories. 
• Rajapramukh institution and special agreements with princely states were abolished.
• Article 371's control was repealed, and only Andaman and Nicobar, Delhi, and Manipur remained Union Territories.

Reasons behind the opposition to linguistic reorganisation of states: 

• Basis of reorganisation: Regionalism can occasionally sacrifice national interests in favour of local interests, and this policy boosted regionalism. Other considerations like administrative and economic weighting must be given due consideration as well.
• Threat to minority languages: Minority languages become more vulnerable. For minority languages like Naga, Bodo, and others, there have been numerous calls for independent linguistic states.
• Threat to one’s culture: Recently, there has been a worry of losing one's language and culture, as evidenced in Karnataka by laws encouraging Kannadigas in blue-collar occupations.

Strengthening of Indian Unity through Linguistic Reorganization:

• End to Division: The process halted potentially divisive tendencies that could have fragmented the country on linguistic lines.
• Political Autonomy: It satisfied the desire of communities for self-governing political units.
• Vernacular Development: It promoted the growth and use of local languages, boosting literacy rates.
• Political Participation: The use of local languages in governance and public discourse encouraged widespread political engagement.
• Cultural Preservation: It enabled the safeguarding and celebration of local customs and traditions, enhancing cultural diversity. For example, Chhath celebrations in Gujarat.
• Fair Distribution: There have been no major complaints about resource distribution based on language, maintaining the federal structure of the country.

Conclusion

Various factors contribute to unfulfilled proposals for state creation, including ethnicity, underdevelopment, and logistical challenges. Some individuals seek separate states to preserve their ethnic traditions, while others desire better development.