Page 1
In this chapter…
In the first chapter of this book we studied the
process of ‘nation-building’ in the first decade
after Independence. But nation-building is
not something that can be accomplished
once and for all times to come. In the course
of time new challenges came up. Some of the
old problems had never been fully resolved.
As democratic experiment unfolded, people
from different regions began to express
their aspirations for autonomy. Sometimes
these aspirations were expressed outside
the framework of the Indian union. These
involved long struggles and often aggressive
and armed assertions by the people.
This new challenge came to the fore in the
1980s, as the Janata experiment came to an
end and there was some political stability at
the centre. This decade will be remembered
for some major conflicts and accords in the
various regions of the country, especially
in Assam, the Punjab, Mizoram and the
developments in Jammu and Kashmir. In
this chapter we study these cases so as to
ask some general questions.
• Which factors contribute to the tensions
arising out of regional aspirations?
• How has the Indian state responded to
these tensions and challenges?
• What kind of difficulties are faced in
balancing democratic rights and national
unity?
• What are the lessons here for achieving
unity with diversity in a democracy?
Regional aspirations
are usually expressed
in the language of the
region and addressed
to the local population
or the rulers. This
unusual poster from
Uttarakhand movement
appeals to all the
Indian citizens in seven
different languages
and thus underscores
the compatibility of the
regional aspirations with
nationalist sentiments.
chap 7_PF.indd 1 chap 7_PF.indd 1 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM
2024-25
Page 2
In this chapter…
In the first chapter of this book we studied the
process of ‘nation-building’ in the first decade
after Independence. But nation-building is
not something that can be accomplished
once and for all times to come. In the course
of time new challenges came up. Some of the
old problems had never been fully resolved.
As democratic experiment unfolded, people
from different regions began to express
their aspirations for autonomy. Sometimes
these aspirations were expressed outside
the framework of the Indian union. These
involved long struggles and often aggressive
and armed assertions by the people.
This new challenge came to the fore in the
1980s, as the Janata experiment came to an
end and there was some political stability at
the centre. This decade will be remembered
for some major conflicts and accords in the
various regions of the country, especially
in Assam, the Punjab, Mizoram and the
developments in Jammu and Kashmir. In
this chapter we study these cases so as to
ask some general questions.
• Which factors contribute to the tensions
arising out of regional aspirations?
• How has the Indian state responded to
these tensions and challenges?
• What kind of difficulties are faced in
balancing democratic rights and national
unity?
• What are the lessons here for achieving
unity with diversity in a democracy?
Regional aspirations
are usually expressed
in the language of the
region and addressed
to the local population
or the rulers. This
unusual poster from
Uttarakhand movement
appeals to all the
Indian citizens in seven
different languages
and thus underscores
the compatibility of the
regional aspirations with
nationalist sentiments.
chap 7_PF.indd 1 chap 7_PF.indd 1 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM
2024-25
Region and the Nation
1980s may be seen as a period of rising regional aspirations for
autonomy, often outside the framework of the Indian Union. These
movements frequently involved armed assertions by the people,
their repression by the government, and a collapse of the political
and electoral processes. It is also not surprising that most of these
struggles were long drawn and concluded in negotiated settlements
or accords between the central government and the groups leading
the movement for autonomy. The accords were reached after a
process of dialogue that aimed to settle contentious issues within the
constitutional framework. Yet the journey to the accord was always
tumultuous and often violent.
Indian approach
In studying the Indian Constitution and the process of nation-building
we have repeatedly come across one basic principle of the Indian
approach to diversity – the Indian nation shall not deny the rights of
different regions and linguistic groups to retain their own culture. We
decided to live a united social life without losing the distinctiveness
of the numerous cultures that constituted it. Indian nationalism
sought to balance the principles of unity and diversity. The nation
would not mean the negation of the region. In this sense the Indian
approach was very different from the one adopted in many European
countries where they saw cultural diversity as a threat to the nation.
India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity.
Democracy allows the political expressions of regional aspirations
and does not look upon them as anti-national.
Besides, democratic politics allows parties and groups
to address the people on the basis of their regional
identity, aspiration and specific regional problems.
Thus, in the course of democratic politics, regional
aspirations get strengthened. At the same time,
democratic politics also means that regional issues
and problems will receive adequate attention and
accommodation in the policy making process.
Such an arrangement may sometimes lead to
tensions and problems. Sometimes, the concern for
national unity may overshadow the regional needs
Does it mean
that regionalism is
not as dangerous as
communalism? Or may
be, not dangerous at
all?
7
chapter
regional
aspirations
chap 7_PF.indd 2 chap 7_PF.indd 2 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
Page 3
In this chapter…
In the first chapter of this book we studied the
process of ‘nation-building’ in the first decade
after Independence. But nation-building is
not something that can be accomplished
once and for all times to come. In the course
of time new challenges came up. Some of the
old problems had never been fully resolved.
As democratic experiment unfolded, people
from different regions began to express
their aspirations for autonomy. Sometimes
these aspirations were expressed outside
the framework of the Indian union. These
involved long struggles and often aggressive
and armed assertions by the people.
This new challenge came to the fore in the
1980s, as the Janata experiment came to an
end and there was some political stability at
the centre. This decade will be remembered
for some major conflicts and accords in the
various regions of the country, especially
in Assam, the Punjab, Mizoram and the
developments in Jammu and Kashmir. In
this chapter we study these cases so as to
ask some general questions.
• Which factors contribute to the tensions
arising out of regional aspirations?
• How has the Indian state responded to
these tensions and challenges?
• What kind of difficulties are faced in
balancing democratic rights and national
unity?
• What are the lessons here for achieving
unity with diversity in a democracy?
Regional aspirations
are usually expressed
in the language of the
region and addressed
to the local population
or the rulers. This
unusual poster from
Uttarakhand movement
appeals to all the
Indian citizens in seven
different languages
and thus underscores
the compatibility of the
regional aspirations with
nationalist sentiments.
chap 7_PF.indd 1 chap 7_PF.indd 1 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM
2024-25
Region and the Nation
1980s may be seen as a period of rising regional aspirations for
autonomy, often outside the framework of the Indian Union. These
movements frequently involved armed assertions by the people,
their repression by the government, and a collapse of the political
and electoral processes. It is also not surprising that most of these
struggles were long drawn and concluded in negotiated settlements
or accords between the central government and the groups leading
the movement for autonomy. The accords were reached after a
process of dialogue that aimed to settle contentious issues within the
constitutional framework. Yet the journey to the accord was always
tumultuous and often violent.
Indian approach
In studying the Indian Constitution and the process of nation-building
we have repeatedly come across one basic principle of the Indian
approach to diversity – the Indian nation shall not deny the rights of
different regions and linguistic groups to retain their own culture. We
decided to live a united social life without losing the distinctiveness
of the numerous cultures that constituted it. Indian nationalism
sought to balance the principles of unity and diversity. The nation
would not mean the negation of the region. In this sense the Indian
approach was very different from the one adopted in many European
countries where they saw cultural diversity as a threat to the nation.
India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity.
Democracy allows the political expressions of regional aspirations
and does not look upon them as anti-national.
Besides, democratic politics allows parties and groups
to address the people on the basis of their regional
identity, aspiration and specific regional problems.
Thus, in the course of democratic politics, regional
aspirations get strengthened. At the same time,
democratic politics also means that regional issues
and problems will receive adequate attention and
accommodation in the policy making process.
Such an arrangement may sometimes lead to
tensions and problems. Sometimes, the concern for
national unity may overshadow the regional needs
Does it mean
that regionalism is
not as dangerous as
communalism? Or may
be, not dangerous at
all?
7
chapter
regional
aspirations
chap 7_PF.indd 2 chap 7_PF.indd 2 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
114 Politics in India since Independence
and aspirations. At other times a concern for region alone may
blind us to the larger needs of the nation. Therefore, political
conflicts over issues of power of the regions, their rights and
their separate existence are common to nations that want to
respect diversity while trying to forge and retain unity.
Areas of tension
In the first chapter you have seen how immediately after
Independence our nation had to cope with many difficult issues
like Partition, displacement, integration of Princely States,
reorganisation of states and so on. Many observers, both within
the country and from outside, had predicted that India as one
unified country cannot last long. Soon after Independence,
the issue of Jammu and Kashmir came up. It was not only a
conflict between India and Pakistan. More than that, it was a
question of the political aspirations of the people of Kashmir
valley. Similarly, in some parts of the north-east, there was no
consensus about being a part of India. First Nagaland and then
Mizoram witnessed strong movements demanding separation
from India. In the south, some groups from the Dravid movement
briefly toyed with the idea of a separate country.
These events were followed by mass agitations in many parts
for the formation of linguistic States. Today’s Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat were among the regions
affected by these agitations. In some parts of southern India,
particularly Tamil Nadu, there were protests against making
Hindi the official national language of the country. In the
north, there were strong pro-Hindi agitations demanding that
Hindi be made the official language immediately. From the late
1950s, people speaking the Punjabi language started agitating
for a separate State for themselves. This demand was finally
accepted and the States of Punjab and Haryana were created
in 1966. Later, the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and
Jharkhand were created. Thus the challenge of diversity was
met by redrawing the internal boundaries of the country.
Yet this did not lead to resolution of all problems and for
all times. In some regions, like Kashmir and Nagaland, the
challenge was so complex that it could not be resolved in the
first phase of nation-building. Besides, new challenges came
up in States like Punjab, Assam and Mizoram. Let us study
these cases in some detail. In this process let us also go back
to some of the earlier instances of difficulties of nation building.
The successes and failures in these cases are instructive not
merely for a study of our past, but also for an understanding
of India’s future.
Why does the
challenge always
come from the border
States?
chap 7_PF.indd 3 chap 7_PF.indd 3 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
Page 4
In this chapter…
In the first chapter of this book we studied the
process of ‘nation-building’ in the first decade
after Independence. But nation-building is
not something that can be accomplished
once and for all times to come. In the course
of time new challenges came up. Some of the
old problems had never been fully resolved.
As democratic experiment unfolded, people
from different regions began to express
their aspirations for autonomy. Sometimes
these aspirations were expressed outside
the framework of the Indian union. These
involved long struggles and often aggressive
and armed assertions by the people.
This new challenge came to the fore in the
1980s, as the Janata experiment came to an
end and there was some political stability at
the centre. This decade will be remembered
for some major conflicts and accords in the
various regions of the country, especially
in Assam, the Punjab, Mizoram and the
developments in Jammu and Kashmir. In
this chapter we study these cases so as to
ask some general questions.
• Which factors contribute to the tensions
arising out of regional aspirations?
• How has the Indian state responded to
these tensions and challenges?
• What kind of difficulties are faced in
balancing democratic rights and national
unity?
• What are the lessons here for achieving
unity with diversity in a democracy?
Regional aspirations
are usually expressed
in the language of the
region and addressed
to the local population
or the rulers. This
unusual poster from
Uttarakhand movement
appeals to all the
Indian citizens in seven
different languages
and thus underscores
the compatibility of the
regional aspirations with
nationalist sentiments.
chap 7_PF.indd 1 chap 7_PF.indd 1 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM
2024-25
Region and the Nation
1980s may be seen as a period of rising regional aspirations for
autonomy, often outside the framework of the Indian Union. These
movements frequently involved armed assertions by the people,
their repression by the government, and a collapse of the political
and electoral processes. It is also not surprising that most of these
struggles were long drawn and concluded in negotiated settlements
or accords between the central government and the groups leading
the movement for autonomy. The accords were reached after a
process of dialogue that aimed to settle contentious issues within the
constitutional framework. Yet the journey to the accord was always
tumultuous and often violent.
Indian approach
In studying the Indian Constitution and the process of nation-building
we have repeatedly come across one basic principle of the Indian
approach to diversity – the Indian nation shall not deny the rights of
different regions and linguistic groups to retain their own culture. We
decided to live a united social life without losing the distinctiveness
of the numerous cultures that constituted it. Indian nationalism
sought to balance the principles of unity and diversity. The nation
would not mean the negation of the region. In this sense the Indian
approach was very different from the one adopted in many European
countries where they saw cultural diversity as a threat to the nation.
India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity.
Democracy allows the political expressions of regional aspirations
and does not look upon them as anti-national.
Besides, democratic politics allows parties and groups
to address the people on the basis of their regional
identity, aspiration and specific regional problems.
Thus, in the course of democratic politics, regional
aspirations get strengthened. At the same time,
democratic politics also means that regional issues
and problems will receive adequate attention and
accommodation in the policy making process.
Such an arrangement may sometimes lead to
tensions and problems. Sometimes, the concern for
national unity may overshadow the regional needs
Does it mean
that regionalism is
not as dangerous as
communalism? Or may
be, not dangerous at
all?
7
chapter
regional
aspirations
chap 7_PF.indd 2 chap 7_PF.indd 2 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
114 Politics in India since Independence
and aspirations. At other times a concern for region alone may
blind us to the larger needs of the nation. Therefore, political
conflicts over issues of power of the regions, their rights and
their separate existence are common to nations that want to
respect diversity while trying to forge and retain unity.
Areas of tension
In the first chapter you have seen how immediately after
Independence our nation had to cope with many difficult issues
like Partition, displacement, integration of Princely States,
reorganisation of states and so on. Many observers, both within
the country and from outside, had predicted that India as one
unified country cannot last long. Soon after Independence,
the issue of Jammu and Kashmir came up. It was not only a
conflict between India and Pakistan. More than that, it was a
question of the political aspirations of the people of Kashmir
valley. Similarly, in some parts of the north-east, there was no
consensus about being a part of India. First Nagaland and then
Mizoram witnessed strong movements demanding separation
from India. In the south, some groups from the Dravid movement
briefly toyed with the idea of a separate country.
These events were followed by mass agitations in many parts
for the formation of linguistic States. Today’s Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat were among the regions
affected by these agitations. In some parts of southern India,
particularly Tamil Nadu, there were protests against making
Hindi the official national language of the country. In the
north, there were strong pro-Hindi agitations demanding that
Hindi be made the official language immediately. From the late
1950s, people speaking the Punjabi language started agitating
for a separate State for themselves. This demand was finally
accepted and the States of Punjab and Haryana were created
in 1966. Later, the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and
Jharkhand were created. Thus the challenge of diversity was
met by redrawing the internal boundaries of the country.
Yet this did not lead to resolution of all problems and for
all times. In some regions, like Kashmir and Nagaland, the
challenge was so complex that it could not be resolved in the
first phase of nation-building. Besides, new challenges came
up in States like Punjab, Assam and Mizoram. Let us study
these cases in some detail. In this process let us also go back
to some of the earlier instances of difficulties of nation building.
The successes and failures in these cases are instructive not
merely for a study of our past, but also for an understanding
of India’s future.
Why does the
challenge always
come from the border
States?
chap 7_PF.indd 3 chap 7_PF.indd 3 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
Regional Aspirations 115
Jammu and Kashmir
As you have studied in the
previous year, Jammu and
Kashmir had a special status
under Article 370 of the Indian
Constitution. However, in spite
of it, Jammu and Kashmir
experienced violence, cross
border terrorism and political
instability with internal
and external ramifications.
It also resulted in the loss of
many lives including that of
innocent civilians, security
personnel and militants.
Besides, there was also a
large scale displacement of
Kashmiri Pandits from the
Kashmir valley.
Jammu and Kashmir
comprises three social and
political regions — Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh. The Jammu region is a mix of foothills and
plains. It is predominantly inhabited by the Hindus. Muslims, Sikhs
and people of other denominations also reside in this region. The
Kashmir region mainly comprises of the Kashmir valley. It is inhabited
mostly by Kashmiri Muslims with the remaining being Hindus, Sikhs,
Buddhists and others. The Ladakh region is mainly mountainous.
It has very little population which is almost equally divided between
Buddhists and Muslims.
Roots of the Problem
Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a Princely State. Its
ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh did not want to merge either with India
or Pakistan but to have an independent status for his state. The
Pakistani leaders thought that Kashmir region ‘belonged’ to Pakistan,
since the majority population of the State was Muslim. But this is
not how the people of the state themselves saw it— they thought of
themselves as Kashmiris above all. This issue of regional aspiration
is known as Kashmiriyat. The popular movement in the State, led
by Sheikh Abdullah of the National Conference, wanted to get rid
of the Maharaja, but was against joining Pakistan. The National
Conference was a secular organisation and had a long association
with the Congress. Sheikh Abdullah was a personal friend of some of
the leading nationalist leaders including Nehru.
Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Source: https:/ /pib.gov.in
chap 7_PF.indd 4 chap 7_PF.indd 4 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
Page 5
In this chapter…
In the first chapter of this book we studied the
process of ‘nation-building’ in the first decade
after Independence. But nation-building is
not something that can be accomplished
once and for all times to come. In the course
of time new challenges came up. Some of the
old problems had never been fully resolved.
As democratic experiment unfolded, people
from different regions began to express
their aspirations for autonomy. Sometimes
these aspirations were expressed outside
the framework of the Indian union. These
involved long struggles and often aggressive
and armed assertions by the people.
This new challenge came to the fore in the
1980s, as the Janata experiment came to an
end and there was some political stability at
the centre. This decade will be remembered
for some major conflicts and accords in the
various regions of the country, especially
in Assam, the Punjab, Mizoram and the
developments in Jammu and Kashmir. In
this chapter we study these cases so as to
ask some general questions.
• Which factors contribute to the tensions
arising out of regional aspirations?
• How has the Indian state responded to
these tensions and challenges?
• What kind of difficulties are faced in
balancing democratic rights and national
unity?
• What are the lessons here for achieving
unity with diversity in a democracy?
Regional aspirations
are usually expressed
in the language of the
region and addressed
to the local population
or the rulers. This
unusual poster from
Uttarakhand movement
appeals to all the
Indian citizens in seven
different languages
and thus underscores
the compatibility of the
regional aspirations with
nationalist sentiments.
chap 7_PF.indd 1 chap 7_PF.indd 1 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:11 AM
2024-25
Region and the Nation
1980s may be seen as a period of rising regional aspirations for
autonomy, often outside the framework of the Indian Union. These
movements frequently involved armed assertions by the people,
their repression by the government, and a collapse of the political
and electoral processes. It is also not surprising that most of these
struggles were long drawn and concluded in negotiated settlements
or accords between the central government and the groups leading
the movement for autonomy. The accords were reached after a
process of dialogue that aimed to settle contentious issues within the
constitutional framework. Yet the journey to the accord was always
tumultuous and often violent.
Indian approach
In studying the Indian Constitution and the process of nation-building
we have repeatedly come across one basic principle of the Indian
approach to diversity – the Indian nation shall not deny the rights of
different regions and linguistic groups to retain their own culture. We
decided to live a united social life without losing the distinctiveness
of the numerous cultures that constituted it. Indian nationalism
sought to balance the principles of unity and diversity. The nation
would not mean the negation of the region. In this sense the Indian
approach was very different from the one adopted in many European
countries where they saw cultural diversity as a threat to the nation.
India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity.
Democracy allows the political expressions of regional aspirations
and does not look upon them as anti-national.
Besides, democratic politics allows parties and groups
to address the people on the basis of their regional
identity, aspiration and specific regional problems.
Thus, in the course of democratic politics, regional
aspirations get strengthened. At the same time,
democratic politics also means that regional issues
and problems will receive adequate attention and
accommodation in the policy making process.
Such an arrangement may sometimes lead to
tensions and problems. Sometimes, the concern for
national unity may overshadow the regional needs
Does it mean
that regionalism is
not as dangerous as
communalism? Or may
be, not dangerous at
all?
7
chapter
regional
aspirations
chap 7_PF.indd 2 chap 7_PF.indd 2 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
114 Politics in India since Independence
and aspirations. At other times a concern for region alone may
blind us to the larger needs of the nation. Therefore, political
conflicts over issues of power of the regions, their rights and
their separate existence are common to nations that want to
respect diversity while trying to forge and retain unity.
Areas of tension
In the first chapter you have seen how immediately after
Independence our nation had to cope with many difficult issues
like Partition, displacement, integration of Princely States,
reorganisation of states and so on. Many observers, both within
the country and from outside, had predicted that India as one
unified country cannot last long. Soon after Independence,
the issue of Jammu and Kashmir came up. It was not only a
conflict between India and Pakistan. More than that, it was a
question of the political aspirations of the people of Kashmir
valley. Similarly, in some parts of the north-east, there was no
consensus about being a part of India. First Nagaland and then
Mizoram witnessed strong movements demanding separation
from India. In the south, some groups from the Dravid movement
briefly toyed with the idea of a separate country.
These events were followed by mass agitations in many parts
for the formation of linguistic States. Today’s Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat were among the regions
affected by these agitations. In some parts of southern India,
particularly Tamil Nadu, there were protests against making
Hindi the official national language of the country. In the
north, there were strong pro-Hindi agitations demanding that
Hindi be made the official language immediately. From the late
1950s, people speaking the Punjabi language started agitating
for a separate State for themselves. This demand was finally
accepted and the States of Punjab and Haryana were created
in 1966. Later, the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and
Jharkhand were created. Thus the challenge of diversity was
met by redrawing the internal boundaries of the country.
Yet this did not lead to resolution of all problems and for
all times. In some regions, like Kashmir and Nagaland, the
challenge was so complex that it could not be resolved in the
first phase of nation-building. Besides, new challenges came
up in States like Punjab, Assam and Mizoram. Let us study
these cases in some detail. In this process let us also go back
to some of the earlier instances of difficulties of nation building.
The successes and failures in these cases are instructive not
merely for a study of our past, but also for an understanding
of India’s future.
Why does the
challenge always
come from the border
States?
chap 7_PF.indd 3 chap 7_PF.indd 3 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
Regional Aspirations 115
Jammu and Kashmir
As you have studied in the
previous year, Jammu and
Kashmir had a special status
under Article 370 of the Indian
Constitution. However, in spite
of it, Jammu and Kashmir
experienced violence, cross
border terrorism and political
instability with internal
and external ramifications.
It also resulted in the loss of
many lives including that of
innocent civilians, security
personnel and militants.
Besides, there was also a
large scale displacement of
Kashmiri Pandits from the
Kashmir valley.
Jammu and Kashmir
comprises three social and
political regions — Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh. The Jammu region is a mix of foothills and
plains. It is predominantly inhabited by the Hindus. Muslims, Sikhs
and people of other denominations also reside in this region. The
Kashmir region mainly comprises of the Kashmir valley. It is inhabited
mostly by Kashmiri Muslims with the remaining being Hindus, Sikhs,
Buddhists and others. The Ladakh region is mainly mountainous.
It has very little population which is almost equally divided between
Buddhists and Muslims.
Roots of the Problem
Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a Princely State. Its
ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh did not want to merge either with India
or Pakistan but to have an independent status for his state. The
Pakistani leaders thought that Kashmir region ‘belonged’ to Pakistan,
since the majority population of the State was Muslim. But this is
not how the people of the state themselves saw it— they thought of
themselves as Kashmiris above all. This issue of regional aspiration
is known as Kashmiriyat. The popular movement in the State, led
by Sheikh Abdullah of the National Conference, wanted to get rid
of the Maharaja, but was against joining Pakistan. The National
Conference was a secular organisation and had a long association
with the Congress. Sheikh Abdullah was a personal friend of some of
the leading nationalist leaders including Nehru.
Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Source: https:/ /pib.gov.in
chap 7_PF.indd 4 chap 7_PF.indd 4 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM 18-May-2023 11:30:36 AM
2024-25
116 Politics in India since Independence
Dravidian movement
‘Vadakku Vaazhgiradhu; Therkku Thaeikiradhu’
[The north thrives even as the south decays].
This popular slogan sums up the dominant
sentiments of one of India’s most effective
regional movements, the Dravidian movement,
at one point of time. This was one of the
first regional movements in Indian politics.
Though some sections of this movement
had ambitions of creating a Dravida nation,
the movement did not take to arms. It used
democratic means like public debates and the
electoral platform to achieve its ends. This
strategy paid off as the movement acquired
political power in the State and also became
influential at the national level.
The Dravidian movement led to the formation of
Dravidar Kazhagam [DK] under the leadership
of Tamil social reformer E.V. Ramasami
‘Periyar’. The organisation strongly opposed
the Brahmins’ dominance and affirmed
regional pride against the political, economic
and cultural domination of the North. Initially,
the Dravidian movement spoke in terms of
the whole of south India; however lack of support from other States limited the
movement to Tamil Nadu.
The DK split and the political legacy of the
movement was transferred to Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
The DMK made its
entry into politics
with a three pronged
agitation in 1953-54.
First, it demanded the
restoration of the original
name of Kallakudi railway
station which had been
renamed Dalmiapuram,
after an industrial house
from the North. This demand
brought out its opposition to
the North Indian economic
and cultural symbols. The
second agitation was for
p p pol ol ol olit it it it tic c ic i al al al al al al al l l l l l l l leg egac ac ac ac ac cy y y y y y of of of of of of of t t t t t t t th he he he he he he he he
rr rr rr r ed ed ed ed t to o o o Dr Dr Dr D D D D D av av v v v vid d id id da a a a a
MK MK MK K). ). ) )
e e e e
d d d
t to o o o
mi m c
h he e
f for r
the wh whol ole e of of s sou ou o th I I I Ind nd ndia ia ia; ho h h how w
E.V.
Ramasami
Naicker
(1879-1973):
Known as
Periyar (the
respected);
strong
supporter of
atheism; famous for his anti-
caste struggle and rediscovery
of Dravidian identity; initially
a worker of the Congress
party; started the self-respect
movement (1925); led the
anti-Brahmin movement;
worked for the Justice party
and later founded Dravidar
Kazhagam; opposed to Hindi
and domination of north India;
propounded the thesis that
north Indians and Brahmins
are Aryans.
Anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu, 1965
Credit: The Hindu
116
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