Discuss the factors for the growth of
regionalism in India.
Introduction
Regionalism
is a situation where the authority or influence of a particular area or region
is encouraged. It could be considered a political, cultural or simply an
emotional experience. This feeling or ideology can be observed in individuals
who are passionate about where they live or political leaders who aim to gain
popularity through these activities. Regionalism is not only an expression of
one’s affection to the region, but it can also take the form of art,
literature, and historical objects. One’s strong connection with one’s
language, ideas, and culture promotes regionalism as one’s ideology.
· The word “regionalism” has
two meanings. In a negative sense, it is a strong and often unpleasant (for
those not from the place) loyalty to one’s home region over the country or
state
· In a positive
sense, it is a political quality related to people’s passion for their
territory, culture, language, and other aspects to protect their independence
· Positive
regionalism is a good thing as it promotes individuals to form a sense of
brotherhood and similarity based on shared language, religion, or history
· The bad notion
of regionalism poses a serious danger to the country’s unity and integrity
· In general, the
term “regionalism” has been used in a negative light in India
· The feeling of
regionalism might arise as a result of the ruling authorities’ continued
ignorance of a particular area or region, or as a result of increased political
awareness of people who have been discriminated against
· Some political
leaders frequently create feelings of regionalism to keep control over a
specific territory or group of people
Causes of
Regionalism
· Geographical
Factors: India has a diverse geography. There are different types of climates
throughout the country. This change in geography affects the regional practices,
food habits, and way of life
· Linguistic
Factors: India enjoys a large number of languages, but this can also cause one
to feel more connected to a region than the country, thus promoting regionalism
· Steps such as
making Hindi the national language affected non-Hindi speakers and increased
regionalism
· Historical
Factors: India has faced the authority of many. The control of regions was
sometimes done separately and sometimes together, like by Akbar
· As India faced
colonization, the British policy of divide and rule led to growing regionalism
· The
discrimination or neglect faced by areas such as North East have caused
feelings of regionalism
· Regional leaders
try to gain support by promoting regionalism
· Those regions
that have been discriminated against have begun to recognize themselves as part
of a region, not a nation
Forms of
Regionalism:
In India,
regionalism has taken many forms, including:
· Demand for State
Autonomy: States have frequently demanded greater autonomy from the centre as a
result of regionalism. Regional tensions have been seen as the Centre becomes
more involved in the affairs of the states. The demand for autonomy, or
self-dependence has also been expressed by areas inside various Indian states
· Secession from
the Union: This is a sort of regionalism that is extremely dangerous. It
appears when states want independence from the Centre and attempt to create
their own identity separate from the nation
· Disputes between
states over the distribution of river water, as well as the importance given by
states to the majority language and persons from their states in job
possibilities, have also caused regionalism
· The migration of
people from a developing state to a developed state for job opportunities has
often resulted in a discriminatory attitude toward the migrants, as seen in the
problems in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Regionalism’s
Development in India:
· In India’s
political structure, regionalism is not a new phenomenon. It was used by the British
in the pre-independence days
· The British
encouraged people in various regions to think in terms of their region rather
than the nation as a whole, to continue their control over India during the
national movement
· Following
independence, the leaders attempted to create in the people a sense of
belonging to a single nation. The framers of the Constitution hoped to
accomplish this by establishing universal citizenship
· A united court,
all Indian services, and a powerful central government were all supplied with
the same goal in mind
· However, given
the diversity of the country and cultures, regionalism quickly emerged in India
· The desire for
the linguistic reorganisation of states was the beginning of regionalism, but a
major factor of regionalism was the DMK’s win in Tamil Nadu in the 1960s
· Initially, the
central leadership believed that regionalism was a minor political phenomenon
limited to Tamil Nadu, and hence did not harm national unity
· The Akali
movement quickly gained momentum in Punjab, while Sheikh Abdullah resurrected
the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir
· During these
early years, all Indian political parties continued to work with these regional
groups in the hopes of absorbing them into their organisations
· The Indian
National Congress, which had a monopoly on power from 1947 to 1967 and had a
policy of going back and forth with regional forces, contributed to the rise of
regionalism in India
· To boost their
power, local Congress leaders supported the expansion of regionalism and
tightened their influence over local party organisations
· The central and
regional leadership built a strong bond. The development of regionalism was
aided by the close relationship between the central and regional authorities
Conclusion
Regionalism
refers to the ideology where one promotes one’s regional identity over the
national identity. It can be positive and negative if taken too far.
Regionalism in India is usually believed to be a negative factor since it harms
the unity of the nation. Several reasons including geographical factors,
historical factors, linguistic factors and even political factors have led to
the growth of regionalism in India. There are various forms of regionalism such
as secessionism, state disputes, and demands for autonomy. Political leaders,
in their need for power, have tried to create feelings of regionalism. This
problem needs to be effectively handled for unity and a common national
identity.
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