REGIONALISM

Regionalism is a feeling of loyalty to a particular part of the country.

A region may be defined as 'a well defined territorial unit, including particular language or languages, jatis, ethnic groups, or tribes, particular social setting and cultural pattern, folk dance, music, art, etc.' Each region has a distinct socio-cultural personality within the territorial framework of India.

Regionalism may be defined as 'consciousness, and loyalty to a distinct area within a country, usually characterised by common culture and language or historical and social background'. 

India being a multi racial and multi lingual nation faces the problem of regionalism. Regionalism is not unhealthy or anti-national if the people of a region have genuine pride in their language and culture. However, when it crosses a reasonable limit, it harms national unity.

FORMS OF EXPRESSION OF REGIONALISM

Regionalism expresses itself in different forms in our country such as boundary disputes, disputes over sharing of river water, demand for preference for the local people in matters of employment and protection to their industries and trade in the name of 'sons of the soil', etc.

Examples of regionalism in India

1966 – Shiv Sena Maharashtra – Anti Kannadigas – agitated against the South Indians who were workers in Udipi hotels in Mumbai. This saw lathi-charge retaliation at the Maharashtra border.

1980s – Khalistan movement – aimed to create a Sikh homeland

2008 – MNS – targeting North Indians – Bhojpuri films not allowed to run in theatres in Maharashtra. North Indian vendors harassed.

Interstate disputes – boundary disputes – Karnataka and Maharashtra in Belgaum, Kerela and Karnataka in Kasargoda, assam and Nagaland in Rengma reserved forests, Punjab and Haryana in Chandigarh.

CAUSES OF REGIONALISM

Unbalanced regional development – Certain regions have a concentration of industries and factories, sufficient education and health facilities, developed communication networks and rapid agricultural development. However, certain regions are underdeveloped. This leads to disparity among the economically neglected regions.

Political administrative factors – regional political parties and local leaders exploit regional sentiments, e.g. Telugu desam in Andhra Pradesh, Assam Gana Parishad in Assam and Akali Dal in Punjab.

Making Hindi the national language – Post independence, making Hindi the national language led to nationwide agitation and regionalism. Southern states felt this was in imposition on them.

Desire for regional independence – regional independence over their regions in order to improve the condition of the people leads to regionalism.

Negligence from state government – continuous neglect of people belong to a particular region and not allowing them to participate in political activities, or using their resources without concerning them led to regionalism. It also gave rise to the concept of ‘sons of the soil’.

EFFECTS OF REGIONALISM

Makes people narrow minded and unaccepting of people from other regions and cultures

Develops a superiority complex in the minds of people who have occupied an area for many years and gives them a false sense of ownership.

Has a negative impact on national integration

Leads to formation of multiple communities within one nation and restricts free interaction of culture and tradition between a country’s citizens.

It is used a political leverage in order to secure a vote bank.

Demand for reservations to local language speaking persons increased for employment.

Regionalism leads to demand for a separate state.

MEASURES TO RESOLVE REGIONALISM

Balanced distribution of national resources – will lead to a feeling of oneness and people from particular regions will not feel neglected.

Abolition of regional parties – as they play vote bank politics and thus exploit the people

Development of backward regions – economic development will lead to more unity

Develop means of transport and communication – a proper link to the surrounding regions will ensure interaction and contact with neighboring regions and will reduce the feeling of isolation. This will also enable economic and social development

Education – will be a powerful way to resolve regional conflicts

Mass media – can play a powerful role in uniting people from all regions and can promote unity and equality among the masses. This in turn will help national development.