Regionalism and Regional Inequality | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Defining Regionalism

Regionalism refers to strong loyalty and affection for a specific region, often leading to the prioritization of regional interests over national ones. It can manifest in the desire for regional development at the expense of other areas and resistance to outsiders settling or working in the region.

It involves distinct groups with unique identities coexisting within the same state, often sharing a strong sense of collective identity and sometimes seeking greater autonomy or independence.

• Regionalism differs from nationalism by focusing on regional identity and interests, potentially hindering national unity. It is a widespread phenomenon in India, characterized by organized movements and agitations.
• Post-independence, regionalism has been a driving force in Indian politics, shaping the agendas of regional parties and reflecting deep-seated linguistic, ethnic, and cultural diversities.
• Stemming from feelings of regional deprivation and identity, regionalism encompasses various forms, including economic, linguistic, and political regionalism.
• It often arises from neglected socio-political issues and can be viewed positively as a quest for self-identity or negatively as a response to relative deprivation.
• The "son of the soil" doctrine illustrates a form of regionalism where states are seen as exclusive homelands for the main linguistic group, influencing job competition between locals and migrants.

Regionalism is the intense loyalty and affection towards a specific region, often leading to prioritizing regional development over national interests. It can manifest in a distorted sense of regional progress at the expense of other areas and a reluctance to accept people from different regions.

• Distinct groups with unique identities coexist within the same state, often concentrated in specific areas.
• Regionalism represents a preference for one's region over the nation or other regions.
• Ethnic groups often strive for independence from the national state, seeking political power.
• Opposes nationalism and hinders national integration, rooted in shared cultural, linguistic, historical, or social backgrounds.
• In India, regionalism is a nationwide phenomenon, manifesting through organized agitations and campaigns.
• Since India's independence, regionalism has been a powerful force in politics, forming the basis for many regional parties.
• In the post-independence period, regionalism has acted as both a conflicting and collaborating force.
• It is deeply ingrained in India's diversity of languages, cultures, tribes, religions, and communities.
• Regionalism stems from regional concentration and is often fueled by a sense of regional deprivation.
• Political scholars categorize various forms of regionalism, such as economic, linguistic, and political.
• It reflects neglected socio-political elements that struggle for expression in mainstream politics and culture.
• Feelings of frustration and exclusion contribute to the rise of regionalism.
• Prejudices and biases significantly influence people's political behavior and party affiliations.
• Positive Regionalism: Represents a quest for self-identity and fulfillment among residents of a region.
• Negative Regionalism: Reflects a sense of relative deprivation experienced by the people of an area.
• The "Son of the Soil" doctrine explains a form of regionalism where a state is seen as belonging exclusively to its main linguistic group.
• This theory can lead to job competition between local and migrant educated youth, especially in urban areas.

Causes of Regionalism

• The distribution of languages along geographical boundaries and isolated settlement patterns fosters a sense of regionalism among people.
• Sometimes, people live in areas that feel like separate regions, cut off from the rest of the country, which can lead to feelings of separatism among the inhabitants.

Historical Causes:

• Historical factors can lead people to believe they are distinct from others. A sense of regionalism may arise if a particular region feels politically dominated by other regions.

Economic factors:

• Uneven development across the country is often seen as a major cause of regionalism and separatism.
• Some regions remain economically backward even after independence, with little effort made to achieve regional balance in industrial, agricultural, and economic development.
• This disparity has created feelings of relative deprivation, driving demands for separate states, as seen in North East India.
• In some cases, the "sons of the soil" theory has been used to advocate for the interests of neglected local populations.

Political and Administrative Factors:

• Regional political parties and local leaders often exploit regional sentiments to gain power.
• They focus on regional issues in their election manifestos and promise regional development, fueling feelings of regionalism.
• Parties like ADMK and AIDMK in Tamil Nadu have successfully leveraged this strategy.

Effort to preserve culture:

• National government efforts to impose a specific ideology, language, or cultural pattern can trigger regionalism movements.
• For instance, resistance to the imposition of Hindi as an official language in southern states stemmed from fears of northern dominance.
• Similarly, the Assam anti-foreigner movement was initiated by the Assamese to safeguard their cultural identity.

Product of cultural and social differences:

• As India has not yet fully achieved the goal of a cohesive nation-state, various groups struggle to align their interests with national interests, perpetuating regionalism.
• Increased awareness among people in backward areas of their discrimination has also fueled regionalism, which local political leaders exploit effectively.

How to combat regionalism?

• Development of Transport and Communication:Improving transport and communication networks is essential to facilitate easier visits between regions and foster friendly relations among people from different areas.
• Removal of Regional Imbalance:Uneven economic development and regional imbalance contribute to regionalism. Efforts should be made to distribute national resources in a planned manner to address this issue.
• Economic Development of Deprived Regions:Priority should be given to the economic development of regions experiencing relative deprivation to integrate them into the national mainstream.
• Central Government Intervention:The central government should refrain from interfering in state affairs unless necessary for national interest, allowing states the freedom to manage their own affairs.
• Acculturation:Promoting frequent cultural contacts between regional groups can help break down regional barriers and foster a sense of nationalism.
• Action on Regional Parties:Regional parties that exploit regional sentiments should be banned. Issues should be resolved peacefully and constitutionally, without politicizing regional demands.
• Proper Education:Education plays a crucial role in promoting national integration and reducing separatist tendencies among citizens.
• Appeal through Mass Media:Mass media, especially electronic media, can be powerful agents of social change. Efforts should be made to encourage feelings of nationalism through mass media communication.

Form of Regionalism in India

• Demand for Separate Statehood: People in certain areas seek the creation of separate states.
• Demand for Full Statehood: Residents of specific Union Territories advocate for full-fledged statehood.
• Inter-State Dispute Settlement: Certain groups demand favorable resolutions for inter-state disputes.
• Secession Demand: Some areas express the desire to secede from the Indian Union.

Regionalism's rise and growth are rooted in the national political system's failure to meet people's aspirations. In some cases, these demands have escalated into violent movements, reflecting widespread popular participation.

Proper Regionalism

• Definition: Regionalism in India often manifests as a demand for a separate space or state within the Union, aiming to ensure security and identity for specific linguistic or ethnic groups.
• Historical Context: The movement was notably initiated by Telugu-speaking residents of the former Madras Presidency.
• Forms of Protest: Protests included attacks on state property and hunger strikes, most famously exemplified by Potti Sriramulu, who died after fasting for 52 days in 1952. His death was pivotal in the creation of Andhra Pradesh and the subsequent redrawing of India’s map along linguistic lines.
• Emergence of Regional Parties: Such protests led to the formation of influential regional parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Madras, Akali Dal in Punjab, Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, and Asom Gana Parishad in Assam. These parties won state elections by advocating for regional rights, explicitly identifying as regional in their names.
• Sub-Regionalism: This involves minority groups within states, united by language or ethnicity, seeking to carve out their own territories. Notable examples include the Nepalis in West Bengal and Bodo-speakers in Assam, both advocating for separate states.
• Successful Movements: Protests by the hill communities of Uttar Pradesh resulted in the creation of Uttarakhand, while tribal and other residents of the Chhotanagpur Plateau successfully campaigned for the state of Jharkhand from Bihar.

Parochialism

• Parochialism, a form of regionalism, can manifest in benevolent ways, as seen in the Bengali Bhadralok who often claim superiority in literature, music, dress, and cuisine over other Indian regions.
• However, parochialism can also take a violent turn, such as the attacks on Bihari laborers by the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in Assam, where the belief is that only Assamese speakers have the right to reside in the state.
• Historical instances of bloodshed include the actions of the Shiv Sena in the mid-1960s, where South Indians in Bombay were targeted as outsiders. This involved attacks on restaurants, offices, and factories that employed South Indians.
• More recently, the Shiv Sena has also targeted Bengalis and Biharis, while the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has focused on North Indians.
• The attacks on Bihari laborers by ULFA are criminal acts but should be viewed in a historical context. They reflect a distorted version of a sentiment that has been present since the early days of the Indian Republic, rooted in attachment to language and locality.

Secessionism from the Indian Union

• Demand for a separate nation within India.

Evolution of violent regionalism:

• Originated with A. Z. Phizo’s Naga National Council and T. Muivah’s National Socialist Council of Nagaland.
• Similar movements observed in Kashmir and the Khalistan movement.

Examples of violent regionalism:

• Demand for Tamil Nadu: In 1960, the DMK and Tamil organisations campaigned for the secession of Madras state from India to form an independent Tamil Nadu. The DMK proposed the secession of Madras, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Mysore to create an independent republic of Dravida Nadu.
• Demands for Sikhistan and Punjabi Suba: After the partition of British India in 1947, the Sikh population in areas that went to Pakistan was significantly reduced. This led to demands for Sikhistan and a separate Punjabi-speaking state.
• Punjabi Suba Movement: The Akali Dal sought the creation of a province for Punjabi people, which later became a basis for the demand for a separate Sikh country.

Demand for Mizoram:

• The Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF), later the Mizo National Front (MNF), led a major uprising in 1966 against the government due to the handling of the Mautam famine.
• The MNF demanded secession and even claimed areas in Burma as part of Mizoram. The MNF was banned after the Chinese aggression, but the secessionist movement continued for two decades.
• The Mizoram Peace Accord in 1986 marked the end of the insurgency, granting Mizoram statehood in 1987.

Problems in Northeast and Demand for Nagaland:

• Naga resistance began with the Naga Club in 1918, demanding autonomy. The British designated the Naga territory as a "backward area," leading to minimal interference and reliance on traditional institutions.
• Post-independence, the Naga National Council (NNC) declared Nagaland an independent state in 1947. The NNC led a violent secessionist movement, boycotting elections and forming an underground government and army.
• Nagaland became a state in 1963, and the Shillong Accord in 1975 aimed to resolve the conflict by disarming some NNC leaders. The NNC split, with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) emerging as a major insurgent group.
• The NSCN split into factions, with the NSCN (IM) becoming prominent. Various ceasefire agreements and negotiations occurred, culminating in a framework agreement in 2015 for a settlement within the Indian federation with special status, although not yet implemented.

Formation of regional militant organisations:

• Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC): Formed in 1995 to establish an Achik nation in the Garo Hills.
• Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC): Established in 1992 to free the state from alleged Garo and non-tribal Indian domination.
• Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA): Formed in 2009 to establish a separate "Garoland" for the Garo people.

Inter State Disputes

Interstate Disputes in India: A Form of Regionalism:

• Interstate disputes in India reflect a form of regionalism, where states contest over boundaries, resources, and territories.

Chandigarh Dispute: Punjab and Haryana are in conflict over the ownership of the city of Chandigarh.

Boundary Disputes:

• Maharashtra and Karnataka: Dispute over Belgaum, where a Marathi-speaking population is surrounded by Kannada speakers.
• Karnataka and Kerala: Dispute over areas including Kasargod.
• Assam and Nagaland: Dispute over the Rangma reserved forests in the Ram Pagani area.

Water Resource Disputes: Significant disputes over the water resources of major rivers involving multiple states:

• Yamuna River: Involving Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Narmada River: Involving Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
• Krishna River: Involving Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Cauvery River: Involving Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.

In these disputes, state Chief Ministers act like spokespeople for independent nations, striving to secure the maximum benefits for their respective states.
The intensity of these disputes sometimes gives the impression that India functions like a multi-national country, with states prioritizing their own interests.