Day 39 – Q 5.Do boundaries of Indian states represent regional consciousness? Critically examine.
5. Do boundaries of Indian states represent regional consciousness? Critically examine.
क्या भारतीय राज्यों की सीमाएं क्षेत्रीय चेतना का प्रतिनिधित्व करती हैं? समालोचनात्मक जांच करें।
Introduction:
Regional consciousness is awareness or knowledge where people identify themselves with a geographical area, either on the basis of language or same ethnicity. Regional consciousness leads to regionalism.
Body:
Following demand for creation of states on the basis of language, after independence, states were reorganized in India on linguistic lines through state reorganization act 1956.
With state boundaries drawn on the basis of language, people speaking same language were united under a region. People are emotionally attached to their language and this attachment forms basis of social cohesion of the people of state. Thus, in a way division of state boundaries on language resulted into regional consciousness which has manifested in various forms like,
- Insider-outsider complex: a complex that nurtures nativism and son-of-the-soil ideology. Ex: ‘Mumbaikar’ call of shiv sena for jobs.
- Regional pride rooted in language leading to hatred against people from other states. Ex: Hindi speaking people being attacked in Karnataka, protest against usage of Hindi posters in Metro stations in Karnataka.
- Regional pride is extended further in the event of border dispute and sharing of river water. This is very much evident from recent conflict between Karnataka and Tamilnadu over sharing of Cauvery water, or border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka.
- Rise of regional parties.
However, language is just one factor. In today’s India, regional consciousness is also result of various other factors like,
- Prevailing regional disparities. Ex: led to creation of new states- Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Telangana .regional consciousness of people of Vidharba region, Bundelkhand region.
- Ethnicity as a major reason in North Eastern states. Ex: Anti migrant issue in Assam.
- Religion as a major factor in case of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Socio-economic and political reasons. Ex: Gorkhaland.
Despite globalization, modernization (cosmopolitan nature), economic integration and increased migration within country ‘Regional Consciousness’ still prevails.
Conclusion:
Regionalism is an issue in both developed and developing world. India is no exception. Regional consciousness is not antithetical to nationalism rather it contributes in the growth of nation as it unites people of region, highlight their regional problems through their demands which further helps in national integration.
Best Answer: tango
