The problem of Regionalism in India
Regionalism is the attachment toward one's own region or state instead of to the entire country. India is a large country having continental dimensions and comprising no fewer than 28 States and 7 Union Territories. It is a
multi-racial, multi-lingual nation. There are scores of regional languages, various strains of culture, and different loyalties, single as
well as multiple. Amidst the amazing diversities, it is natural that regional feelings, regional parties, regional institutions, and
similar other organizations meant for voicing the aspirations of local people and providing forums for them, should emerge.
Indeed, with the passage of years, the multi-faceted aspirations, which together may be described as regionalism, have gained
strength. It is not a new phenomenon.
In fact, the fillip given to regionalism by the emergence of the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) in
Andhra Pradesh in 3982 has a historical continuity. The growth of this trend can be traced back to the fast unto death by Potti
Srivamulu over the demand for the creation of Andhra Pradesh which set in motion the reorganization of the State along linguistic
lines in 1956. In principle, regionalism need not be regarded as an unhealthy or anti-national phenomenon—unless it takes a
militant, aggressive turn and encourages the growth of secessionist tendencies, (as it did in Punjab during the past five years or so).
National unity is not impaired if the people of a region have genuine pride in their language and culture. But regionalism
develops into a serious threat to national unity if politicians do not go beyond their regional loyalty and claim to stand only for
their regional interests if regionalism is to be regarded as an unhealthy phenomenon, decentralization too would be objectionable,
which of course it is not. So there is nothing basically contradictory between nationalism and regionalism. Nor does the growth of
regional values and consolidation of regional forces as such pose a challenge to the central administration of the country.
The people in India differ greatly from one another in respect of language and social habits. India is divided among states mainly on the basis of language. The Government of India, shortly after independence began reforming the provinces on a linguistic basis. It was expected that this would make each region or state a compact homogeneous whole, facilitate administration, and help its rapid progress, thus benefiting the country as a whole.
But the linguistic division of the country has already given rise to feelings that threaten the very unity of the motherland. Though the States of India are united under a common banner and common central government, we think of ourselves as natives of Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, etc. first and Indian afterward.
At times, the feeling of regionalism in India gets so strong that people of one state often starts treating the people of other states as foreigners. The Constitution of India lays down that every Indian shall enjoy equal rights in every part of the country.
Indeed the evil of Regionalism has already become so serious that fears have arisen in many quarters about the unity of the country. People need to understand that India is a union of states. Our pride is in Unity in diversity. The problem of Regionalism is evil. We should be tolerant and respect the people as human brothers.
Characteristics of regionalism
i) Regionalism is conditioned by economic, social, political, and cultural disparities.
ii) Regionalism at times is a psychic phenomenon.
iii) Regionalism is built around as an expression of group identity as well as loyalty to the region.
iv) Regionalism presupposes the concept of the development of one's own region without taking into consideration the interest of other regions.
v) Regionalism prohibits people from other regions to be benefited from a particular region.
Impact of Regionalism in India
Positive
Scholars believe that regionalism plays important role in building a nation if the demands of the regions are
accommodated by the political system of the country. Regional
recognition in terms of statehood or state autonomy gives
self-determination to the people of that particular region and
they feel empowered and happy. Internal self-determination of
community, whether linguistic, tribal, religious, regional or
their combinations, has remained the predominant form in
which regionalism in India has sought to express itself,
historically as well as at present time.
Negative
Regionalism is often seen as a serious threat to the
development, progress, and unity of the nation. It gives internal
security challenges to the insurgent groups, who propagate the
feelings of regionalism against the mainstream politico-administrative setup of the country.
Regionalism definitely impacts politics as days of collation of governments and alliances are taking place. Regional demands
become national demands, policies are launched to satisfy
regional demands, and generally, those are extended to all
pockets of the country, hence national policies are now dominated
by regional demands. E.g. MSP was given to sugarcane, it was
helpful for farmers in Maharashtra but it was
implemented across all states resulting in agitations of farmers
belonging to UP, Punjab, and Haryana. Meanwhile, it sowed a seed of defection among ministers and targeting to the corresponding minister.
Nationalism and Regionalism
Historians of modern India have highlighted, how the growth
in Indian nationalism against British colonialism since the
nineteenth century also gave birth to an intense awakening
among various region-based linguistic nationalities for identity
and self-determination, often in opposition to the pan-Indian
nationalism. To mobilize people from all over India, leaders of
mainstream nationalism have to recognize and mobilize the
local leaders, they had to reach out to the people in local
languages. Mass mobilization was only possible when
people became aware of their regional needs and their
importance.
Mainstream Indian nationalism had continuously grappled with regional nationalism. Under the heavy weight of the regional identities of the people of India, the Indian National
Congress (INC) could have hardly remained immune from it.
It gradually became, in fact, an inter-regional coalition of
forces. And for that reason only and to further strengthen the
feeling of nationalism, INC used to have their annual meetings
in different regions of India, raising the consciousness of
people against colonial exploitation.
Federalism and Regionalism
The role played by Indian federalism in ensuring India’s unity,
stability, and survival as a polity in the face of persistent
regionalism, often verging on separation, rooted in manifold
and complex social and cultural diversity, and mass poverty,
illiteracy, extreme regional unevenness in development, and
widespread inequality.
The question has assumed special
significance in the aftermath of the disintegration of the multiethnic and multinational Soviet Union, and the split up of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The need for federalism is enhanced in countries with
ethnically distinct regions where the territorial accommodation
of distinct groups of people is of paramount importance. For
those countries, a combination of shared rule (for general
purposes of unity) and some kind of self-rule (for
regional/local purposes of diversity) is a must if unity and
integrity are to be maintained.
Indian federalism is seen as a method of accommodation of
regionalism in India.
Federalism is seen here as a political
equilibrium, which results from the appropriate balance
between shared rule and self-rule. In the post-Second World
War period, many post-colonial countries adopted federalism
as a method of governance in multi-ethnic contexts.
India’s rich diversity sometimes looks like an obstacle to
unity. But the latest election has proved that a commitment to
resolving differences peacefully and democratically can
transform diversity into a source of strength.
Suggestive Measures
i) Doing away with regional imbalance
ii) Check on regional political parties
iii) Top priority for the economic development of deprived zones
iv) Restructuring of the society
v) Acculturation
vi) Developed means of transport and communication
vii) Proper education
viii)Appeal through mass media
ix) Create enough employment opportunity
x) Provide Special Packages to backward states
xi) Special category status to Bifurcated State in India
xii) Improve National Integration
Conclusion
Several regional political parties have merged in recent years
and have gained strength for obvious reasons. The handful of
national parties cannot, by the very nature of things,
adequately represent and pursue regional causes. Most of the
national parties have even failed to live up to the people's
expectations. That explains why more State-based parties have
been formed in various regions and is quite successful in their
aims. Regional parties are not a new phenomenon. Several
parties have been existing in the country for the last many
decades.
They have held power, or are still holding power, in
many states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa,
Pondicherry, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and other States in
the North-Eastern region. But never before were regional
parties dubbed as anti-national or regarded as a threat to the
nation's unity. People repose confidence in regional parties
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because they believe that they alone can safeguard the
interests of the State concerned and can fight for the legitimate
rights and powers of the States without being hamstrung by
their association with a national party. Regional parties
naturally concentrate on safeguarding and promoting regional
interests. But they do not sacrifice the larger interests of the
country.
It is also significant that in the Lok Sabha a regional
party now forms the largest opposition group.
Among the causes of the growth of regionalism is prolonged
maladministration and neglect of an area or State by the
Central, Government. There has been a creeping
disillusionment against Central rule. Regional symbols,
regional culture, history, and in many cases a common
language, all promote regionalism. The Centre's indifference
to the development of certain regions has created imbalances.
Some areas particularly in the North, are well developed, with
adequate infrastructure while others are way behind. This
explains why there is Telegu Desam in Andhra Pradesh, DMK
in Tamil Nadu, and the Jharkhand Movement in Bihar.
There is much concern among leaders of Congress (I)
about the growth of regionalism in the country. It is looked
upon with suspicion and is even regarded as a challenge to
democracy and national integration. But this concern is largely
unwarranted; Regionalism will come into conflict with
nationalism only when it becomes aggressive and when
members of the various regional parties tend to forget that
they are Indians first and last, citizens of the same country.
Non-regional conflicts are however a cause for concern.
There
are constitutional means to deal with regional conflicts, while
the communal and caste conflicts have often to be settled in
the streets. Inter-regional or center-region disputes have never
created a serious explosion whereas communal clashes
frequently cause havoc.
Unfortunately, there are important differences among the
regional parties themselves in the country. The differences of
approach and policy have hindered the formation of an
effective, durable, and viable combination of regional parties
so as to facilitate the emergence of a national alternative to the
ruling party at the center. The growth of regional parties in
itself is not incompatible with the process of nation-building.
In a democracy, ideological options are open in the sense that
any individual or group can adopt any ideology, provided, of
course, it is within the legal framework.
Political parties have
the freedom to compete for power and pursue their respective
ideologies. Since ideologies are no respecters of geographical
boundaries, they also check the exclusiveness of regional
identities. In fact, it has been the decline of the party system in
recent years that has inflated the role of regionalism in the
country.
As for the cures, three suggestions may be made. First, there
should be a greater spirit of accommodation on the part of the
Central authorities. This implies a reversal of the process of
concentration of power which has admittedly been much in
evidence in the country, causing resentment among the
opposition-governed State.
Power and authority must be
shared on an equitable basis between the Centre and the
constituent units, of the Indian Federation. Harmonious,
balanced growth should be the administration's aim, not
suppression of local desires and demands. Of course, firmness
is necessary when regionalism, assumes militant forms, as it
has done in Punjab m the form of operation Blue Star and
Operation Thunder, where in recent years certain groups of
misguided youth started running a parallel government and
creating chaos.
Regionalism must not be allowed to become a
shield for militancy, extremism, establishing a reign of terror
and carrying on other anti-national activities.
The regional party's patriotism should not be suspected, regionalism does not weaken India. The majority groups should
not become arrogant or obsessed with power. They should be
generous towards the minorities, religious, cultural and
linguistic Suppression of regional aspirations is not the right
remedy.