Indian States
The panorama of Indian geography undergoes a transformation with every other five-year plan of the Government. For people have become or made become cautious enough to retain their regional identity, not the national one, at the cost of ruining national unity. The land is still wailing with the scratches of self-hurting sword we have been made to hold since independence. But the beleaguered politics of the democratic land has nothing to do with it. Therefore, rich cultural and linguistic diversities keep rising like a phoenix from the ashes every now and then.
This time the demand for geographical division of Andhra Pradesh has become a high-voltage political drama since it doesn’t have any solid linguistic or cultural difference to form a separate Telangana state. Despite having lessons from the past divisions, we are indulged in all kind of politics to have a fair-share of the nation’s assets in the name of linguistic and cultural differences. Even when these differences emanate from the same land, and are, in fact, the emblem of its secular persona. But these are the nonsensical talks of decaying cultural heritage before a more pragmatic approach to employ colonial policy-‘divide and rule.’
The divisions throughout the ages from colonial rule to British India, and from the divisions of princely states to the division of different provinces have left many scourges for us. Still we are indifferent to the ramifications brought about by the asymmetric divisions of states. Why don’t we look at the plight of the states formed in the name of religion, language, or culture?
Our neighboring countries in east and west could not, somehow, manage to restore the law and order situation in their long-ago-divided provinces. The political turmoil, economic dependence, rising disorders, everyday-emerging new outfits along with the existing one forming a cocktail of extremism, increased infiltration are some of the bane for some and boon for others, which come in the aftermath of divisions. And what we have got with the division of Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and UP? Yes, one more name of hollow state, some more names in BPL, some more political parties, some more debt to run the newly formed states by the political entrants, and some more scams do add unwanted gloom to the uprising status of the nation on global front.
Division of the state does take place at every other level of political, administrative, economic, and asset divisions, which directly affect the national figures. It requires a complete set up of new administrative, judiciary, and defence mechanism. Lack of these, subsequently, result in internal chaos, external interference, and blame-game with the centre and other states. In 2000, when Bihar was divided into Bihar and Jharkhand it was said that Bihar is left with drought, flood, and sands. After nine years of division, Jharkhand has outnumbered Bihar in corruption, scam, poverty, and unemployment rate despite holding the rich natural resources to add to the wealth of the nation. The state had four Chief Ministers in nine years, and a scam of Rs.4000 cr in 23 months. Naxalite movements engulfed thousands of lives.
Other divided states don’t present different picture. Life in Chattisgarh (formed in 2000 by dividing MP) is suffering from corruption, administrative chaos, and Maoist violence. Uttarakhand (formed in 2000 by dividing UP) is run with the support of debt, corruption has been increased and the growth rate has been slowed down. Even though the state has been put into the category of special status states, it needs Rs.2, 200 crore to do away with is debt by 2012. There’s a water dispute between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamilnadu. Capital dispute is raising its head for the much-talked-about Telangana from now.
People who erstwhile led the vehement demonstrations, went on fasting, and gave infuriating slogans, don’t help their loving divided state from going astray. Because they can’t! They have the role to play till the division of the state and till then we act at their beck and call. Actual game begins after the division, which has nothing to do with the regional cultural or linguistic sentiments. If we manage to maintain the same pace of division, we won’t be able to overcome the pain of innumerable scratches on our body. With the formation of Telangana, there will be boiling demand for Rayalseema, Gorkhaland, Bodoland, Harit Pradesh, Saurashtra, and several others. No doubt that if such pace of incessant division is kept on, it will eventually cause a political and economic turmoil. That may invite scathing remarks from the world organizations and God forbid History may repeat itself. So, think again!
This time the demand for geographical division of Andhra Pradesh has become a high-voltage political drama since it doesn’t have any solid linguistic or cultural difference to form a separate Telangana state. Despite having lessons from the past divisions, we are indulged in all kind of politics to have a fair-share of the nation’s assets in the name of linguistic and cultural differences. Even when these differences emanate from the same land, and are, in fact, the emblem of its secular persona. But these are the nonsensical talks of decaying cultural heritage before a more pragmatic approach to employ colonial policy-‘divide and rule.’
The divisions throughout the ages from colonial rule to British India, and from the divisions of princely states to the division of different provinces have left many scourges for us. Still we are indifferent to the ramifications brought about by the asymmetric divisions of states. Why don’t we look at the plight of the states formed in the name of religion, language, or culture?
Our neighboring countries in east and west could not, somehow, manage to restore the law and order situation in their long-ago-divided provinces. The political turmoil, economic dependence, rising disorders, everyday-emerging new outfits along with the existing one forming a cocktail of extremism, increased infiltration are some of the bane for some and boon for others, which come in the aftermath of divisions. And what we have got with the division of Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and UP? Yes, one more name of hollow state, some more names in BPL, some more political parties, some more debt to run the newly formed states by the political entrants, and some more scams do add unwanted gloom to the uprising status of the nation on global front.
Division of the state does take place at every other level of political, administrative, economic, and asset divisions, which directly affect the national figures. It requires a complete set up of new administrative, judiciary, and defence mechanism. Lack of these, subsequently, result in internal chaos, external interference, and blame-game with the centre and other states. In 2000, when Bihar was divided into Bihar and Jharkhand it was said that Bihar is left with drought, flood, and sands. After nine years of division, Jharkhand has outnumbered Bihar in corruption, scam, poverty, and unemployment rate despite holding the rich natural resources to add to the wealth of the nation. The state had four Chief Ministers in nine years, and a scam of Rs.4000 cr in 23 months. Naxalite movements engulfed thousands of lives.
Other divided states don’t present different picture. Life in Chattisgarh (formed in 2000 by dividing MP) is suffering from corruption, administrative chaos, and Maoist violence. Uttarakhand (formed in 2000 by dividing UP) is run with the support of debt, corruption has been increased and the growth rate has been slowed down. Even though the state has been put into the category of special status states, it needs Rs.2, 200 crore to do away with is debt by 2012. There’s a water dispute between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamilnadu. Capital dispute is raising its head for the much-talked-about Telangana from now.
People who erstwhile led the vehement demonstrations, went on fasting, and gave infuriating slogans, don’t help their loving divided state from going astray. Because they can’t! They have the role to play till the division of the state and till then we act at their beck and call. Actual game begins after the division, which has nothing to do with the regional cultural or linguistic sentiments. If we manage to maintain the same pace of division, we won’t be able to overcome the pain of innumerable scratches on our body. With the formation of Telangana, there will be boiling demand for Rayalseema, Gorkhaland, Bodoland, Harit Pradesh, Saurashtra, and several others. No doubt that if such pace of incessant division is kept on, it will eventually cause a political and economic turmoil. That may invite scathing remarks from the world organizations and God forbid History may repeat itself. So, think again!
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