Regional diversity and Regionalism

Diversity in India

(Regional diversity and Regionalism)

"Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and test of our civilisation"

Mahatma Gandhi

★  Region

★  Regionalism

• Politics of regionalism
• Positive & Negative aspect

★  Landmarks led to regionalism

★  Basis of regionalism

★  Types of regionalism

★  Impact of regionalism

Region - Region is defined as a homogenous area which is physically as well as culturally distinct from the neighbouring areas.

The people who are residing in a region have sufficient awareness of being similar and at the same time distinct with respect to other region (because of the different consciousness they develop)

Different consciousness → Regional identity → Start practicing political loyalty more towards region rather state/nation → Regionalism

Regionalism

In India, Regionalism is bound to happen as it is rooted in India's diversity with respect to caste, language, religion, culture, etc. When all these factors get geographically concentrated along with the feeling of relative deprivation. It is known as regionalism.

Politics of Regionalism 

Positive manifestation - 

1. If there is a need to concretise your distinct identiy with respect to language, ethnicity, etc. 
• For example - Linguistic re-organisation
2. If you claim for administrative convenience.
• For example - Creation of Uttarakhand
3. If the ground is socio-economic development.
• For example - Creation of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, etc.

Negative Manifestation - 

1. If one resort to violent means.
2. If one demand secession (i.e., when territorial integrity is threatened)
3. If one's demand is communal in nature (i.e., based on religion, caste, etc)
4. If one resort to 'Sons of Soil Policy'

Sons of Soil Policy - It is a believe that the original inhabitants have the primary right over the resources of that land.

When the original inhabitants of the region claim rights over the resources of the land along with the exclusion of outsiders, it is referred as Sons of Soil Policy.

For example - Maharashtra for Marathas.

Factors responsible for Son of Soil Policy -

1. Where there is no/lack of culture of out migration.
2. Struggle for middle class jobs.
3. Presence of strong regional party. (for example - Shivsena in Maharashtra)
4. Administrative failure to accommodate the needs of both, the migrants and the natives.
5. Rising aspirations → relative deprivation → natives resort to Son of Soil Policy
• For example - Exodus of Ramdasi Sikh community from Khasi areas.

At the time of Britishers

Dalit converts Sikhs (also known as Ramdasi Sikhs) were taken to the Khansi areas to do minimal jobs.

As they were working under the British, they had stability and security of income → provides education to their children → got better opportunities in Government and Private jobs → started dominating economy of Khansi areas → feeling of relative deprivation among Khansis → Son of Soil Policy.

Question for practice 

Despite large scale internal migration, Son of Soil Policy is not so prominent in the context of India. Comment.

Landmarks which led to the emergence of regionalism

1. Democratic form of government.
2. Integration of Princely states.
3. Linguistic re-organisation of states.
4. Politico-administrative reason (selfish interest of politicians)

Democratic form → nation building based on democratic ideas → every region wanted a fair deal in the process of development and anything sort of expectation will lead to dis-enchantment.

Integration of Princely states

Small states (like Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaipur, etc) were integrated in large state (like Rajasthan) but people still continue to nurse their loyalty towards the old territorial units.

Linguistic reorganisation - Along with other factors, it played a decisive role in emergence of regionalism since it is like opening of Pandora box as we are very linguistically diverse.

Linguistic re-organisation → is like a opening of Pandora box → subsequent demands are rising for new states.

Selfish interest of politicians - It was the selfish interest of the politicians who exploited the narrow and sectarian/regional sentiments of ignorant masses for fulfilling their vested interest.

Basis of regionalism 

1. Historical basis
2. Geographical basis
3. Socio-cultural basis (including language, caste, religion, etc)
4. Politico-administrative basis
5. Economic basis

Historical factors 

It supports regionalism on the basis of cultural heritage, folklores, myths, etc. 

For example - The demand for Dravidistan was supported by the theory that Dravidian speaking area has once non-stratified polity. However, it was destroyed by Aryan conquest and Brahmanical hegemony.

Geographical factor 

1. Presence of natural resources
2. Climate
3. Landforms
4. International borders
5. Connectivity with mainland
6. Buffer areas (like Bundelkhand between UP and MP)
7. Inter-State river sharing
8. Coastal areas

Socio-Cultural factors 

1. Language (Linguistic reorganisation, Punjab issue was presented on the issue of Language)
2. Caste (Brahmanical domination and demand of Dravidistan)
3. Religion (demand of a separate Sikh state)
4. Development (Kashmir issue was presented on the issue of development)

Politico-Administrative factors 

Politics does not create regionalism, it accentuates regionalism. It takes advantages of the situation of regional discontentment and converted in their favour to strengthen their vote bank.

Economic factors 

It is the crux of regional politics. It is based on the fact that resources are limited and demands are disproportionate. The government economic policies over the years have failed to address the regional disparities, instead it has aggravated the regional imbalance and economic differences.

For example - Contrasting difference between Bihar and Maharashtra.

So, it is due to the unequal distribution of developmental benefits that the regionalism (Son of Soil Policy) got its root in India.

Questions for Practice 

What is the basis of regionalism? Is economic inequality the most important factor behind regionalism?

Growing feeling of regionalism is a necessary condition for the demand of separate state. Discuss.

• Define Regionalism
• Basis of regionalism
• They are just the objective criteria, it has to be supported by the feeling of relative deprivation (subjective realisation of objective criteria) which was usually done by strong regional parties who on the name of regional development fan the regional sentiments of natives.
• Conditions for the demand of separate state

Impact of regionalism 

Positive impacts of regionalism -

1. It plays an important role in nation building, if it accommodate the federal sentiment.
2. By accepting the demand, it gives the right of self determination to the people.
3. Not always the regional interests are pitted against the national interest, infact it ensures better integration of people in governance.
4. It helps in realising "Salad bowl theory" of multi-culturalism both in letter and spirit.
5. It helps in keeping political extremism at bay.

Negative impacts of regionalism - 

1. It can be seen as a threat to the overall development and unity of the nation, especially when regionalism has secessionist and violent overtones.
2. It acts as a source of internal security challenge especially when resorted to violent means.
3. It has became the basis for vote bank politics.
4. It might also hinder international relations and diplomacy.
5. Unequal distribution of resources due to the presence of strong regional leaders or ideological similarity, might create the situation of relative deprivation.

Question for practice 

Is regionalism a threat to national integration? Discuss.

Types of regionalism 

1. Supra-State regionalism (where group of states are involved, such as North India vs South India)
2. Inter-State regionalism (between or among states)
3. Intra-State regionalism (within the state)
4. Demand for separate nation

Supra-State Regionalism 

Example - 

• North India vs South India (On the issue of Official language)
• North-East India vs Mainland India (On the issue of cultural differences and under development)

Inter-State Regionalism 

Example - 

• Inter State River water dispute
• Inter State border dispute
• Issue of Chandigarh between Punjab and Haryana

Intra-State Regionalism 

Example -

• Bodoland (in Assam)
• Vidarbh (in Maharashatra)
• Gorkhaland (in Bengal)
• Saurashtra (in Gujarat)

Demand for Separate state 

Example - 

1. Azad Kashmir
2. Greater Nagaland
3. Khalistan

Question for practice 

In India Geography, identity and sense of deprivation have historically combined to drive regionalism. Elaborate.

Caste in India has maintained its political significance despite dilution of its social character. Discuss with relevant examples.

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Medieval History

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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own. 

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