Scotland has decided to stay with the United Kingdom. The outcome of the referendum held on 18 September is clear. 55 percent said no to independence while 45 percent have said yes. Area-wise, only 4 of 32 council areas voted yes to independence. On its part, UK government will be devolving more powers on Scotland. But why would the Scots willingly forego the chance to be free, I wonder.
‘Free from what, son?’ You have a question and Kaga Bhushundiji is there, often enough posing you a bigger question.
‘Why, free from external intervention in their life, Kagaji. About one-third the size of Jammu and Kashmir, Scotland is a country within a country. It has its own parliament, a legal system which is distinct from that prevailing in England, its own flag, its own anthem, even a private army called Atholl Highlanders. What it shares with England is the monarchy, currency and things like that. If you look at the UK map, Scotland’s connection with the rest of the union is just a small stretch of border-land southwards. Its northern, eastern and western borders are open to high seas.’
‘You are forgetting something much more important that Scotland shares with the UK: their centuries old history.’
‘Kagaji, people in 21st century are not bothered about what happened centuries ago. Driving in the fast lane they want to forge ahead. For them past is dead and lies buried deep.’
‘No, son, take it from me. The past lives on in the present. Long ago, Scotland was at daggers drawn with its southern neighbor, England. The English were better off than the Scots, albeit the Scots had the genius and skills to give the British industry a boost. If economic considerations made the warring nations unite 307 years ago, they still are compelled by practicalities to remain together. Then again, it is not easy to tear apart a social fabric knit over centuries of togetherness.’
‘If that be so, tell me why did Scotland think at all of seceding from England?’
‘Because the Scots have a mindset different from that of the British. They are liberal while the latter are conservative. From time to time, Britain has also displayed a tendency of using Scotland for trying its new ideas. When Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher assumed office in 1979, her plan of privatization was applied on trial basis in Scotland. The experiment proved detrimental to Scottish interests, harming their industry, alienating their labour unions and affecting their social security. Again, when in 1989 the union government implemented new British taxation system in Scotland, it caused much resentment among the Scots.’
‘That seems oppression, though of a different kind, Kagaji, tha what we usually hear from secessionists all over the world. Canada has its 60-year old Quebec Sovereignty Movement. The Peoples’ Republic of China faces not one but two secessionist movements: the Tibetan Independence Movement of Tibet and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement in the regions of Xinjiang and Inner Mangolia. Indonesia saw East Timorese vote for independence back in 2002. The Movement for the Independence of Sicily (MIS), started in the 1940s, seeks separation of Padania and the Po Valley from Italy. Besides, people of Venetia are struggling to secede from Italy. Why go far, our neighbors, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are also grappling with the issue of separatists. Pakistan military has a tough contender in the Baloch Liberation Army which is fighting for establishment of a sovereign state of Balochistan….’
‘And, son, let us face it. Bharat too has been living with this problem ever since independence. There was that misguided ruler of Hyderabad who did not want to merge with the rest of the country. Periyar’s Dravida Kazhagam wanted to establish Tamil-speaking Dravida Nadu in the South. In Punjab, there was a bloody struggle for Khalistan. You people have sorted out those issues, of course.’
‘But we still have ultras in the North-east and Kashmir.’
‘They too will see reason, sooner or later, I am sure. Everyone wants her share in the nation’s growing prosperity. And that is possible not by toting guns, but working in synergy for the common weal.
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