REGIONALISM IN INDIA 

Introduction

1. huge size of india, so regional politics is natural
2. politics of identity
3. geographical+ social cultural identity
4. regional movement may become sub-national movement and challenge territorial integrity
5. Gurharpal Singh: core-periphery model
1. regional movements from border is cause of concern, not from core
6. types of regional movements
1. cessesionist movement: ULFA in Assam, Kashmir, khalistan, Nagas
2. statehood: Gorkhaland, Bodoland
3. greater regional autonomy: when centre-state ruling party different
4. Bhoomi-putra movement: shivsena, Asom gana parishad
5. linguistic: tamil sub-nationalism,
7. federalism in constitution is to accomodate regionalism
1. indian federalism is called holding together model

Reasons for regionalism

1. Modernisation theory:
1. Rudolf and Rudolf: when democracy is introduced in traditional society, people will go for identity politics
2. culture of poverty or scarcity:
1. Marc Jurgensmear: regionalism in north east
3. culture of affluence
1. Thomas Januzzi: state of punjab khalistan movement
4. Uneven development
1. Robert Hardgrane
2. Telangana, Vidarbha
5. Son of soil theory
1. Myran Winner
2. Shiv sena
6. Politics of opposition
1. Prof. Iqbal Narain
2. just for opposition
7. Sanjeeb Baruah: our identity as bengali is centuries old, identity as indian is 70 years old
8. Paul Brass: nationalism is short term trend, regionalism is permanent in indian politics
1. there are external factors also

Good or Bad

1. Threat
1. territorial in expression
2. Dr Prerna Singh: book- How solidarity works for welfare: sub-nationalism and social development in india
1. southern states had regional movements and they had more bargaining power
2. so got more development in comparison to UP, Bihar

Record of Govt in Dealing

1. better than other developing countries and some advanced countries
2. except Kashmir, other movements don't threaten territorial integrity
1. managing kashmir is difficult due to excessive involvement of external factors due to its strategic importance
2. flaws in New Delhi policy of not implementing art 370 in letter and spirit
3. govt's policy on regionalism
1. no formal policy
2. trends observed
1. govt ready to accept any out-of-box solution
2. asymmetrical federalism allows for this but within constitutional limits
3. govt is ready for talks but no force is accepted
4. usual pattern is to offer political, economic packages
3. Atul Kohli: regional movement show inverted U curve.
1.  movement arise, reaches to peak, then fades
2. peak depends on amount of public support
3. to deal with them
1. democracy is reason, democracy has solution for regional movements
2. co-opting people in decision making, by devolving more power
4. Prof. MP Singh: need to strengthen panchayati raj system
5. Sarkariya Commission: strengthening of local-self govt
6. Gandhi also supported village republic to control such diversity
4. regional movement is crisis of development, not crisis of nation building
5. balanced regional development, inclusive growth, cooperative federalism is important measure
6. Ambedkar: interest of nation over party

Role of Ethnicity

1. since end of cold war, ethnic movements have strengthened
2. Horrowitz: research on ethnic issues have become core issue in social science
3. ethnicity: sort of collective consciousness due to common descent, language, religion, history
1. ethnicity is core of nation, although there can be multi-ethnic nations. eg- US, India
2. monoethnic nations are natural, multi-ethnic are political nations
1. built through compromises like federalism, secularism, welfare state
2. indian model is salad bowl: different yet together
3. US is melting pot: all look alike, can't be differentiated
4. James Manor- book: Ethnic politics in India
1. 4 ways to define ethnicity in india
1. religion
2. language
3. race
4. caste
5. SD Muni: ethnicity is not challenge to territorial integrity
1. identity is not constant of indian, can be changed by political class as per convinience

Reasons for ethnic politics in india

1. co-existence of modernity and tradition
1. Rudolf and Rudolph, Atul Kohli, Rajni Kothari
1. when democracy in traditional society, basis of mobilisation is ethnic
2. Charles Taylor (Communitarian)
1. assertion of marginalised communities
3. Neera Chadoke:
1. attempts by state to homogenise people
4. Prof SD Muni: not choice of people but preference of political parties
5. Prof. Deepankar Gupta: not a popular passion but preference of elites in india

Democracy and Ethnicity

1. Atul Kohli: art- can democracies accommodate ethnic challenges
1. democracy in traditional society lead to mobilization on ethnic lines
2. ethnic challenges if not dealt properly can create threat to territorial integrity
3. democracy is factor causing problem, but it is the only solution
4. he appreciated Nehru's handling of Tamil nationalism which has subsided cessesionist trend permanently
5. appreciates handling of crisis in Assam and Mizoram by Rajeev Gandhi
6. critical of Indira's handling of Punjab
1.  preferred force in place of accommodation
7. handled democratically only when
1. leaders at centre are democratic
2. position of party at centre is strong
2. Sarkariya Commission: ethnic movements are never fully ethnic, there is political and economic aspiration also.
1. democratic decentralisation is the way forward.