Ramesh Pandita
With the adoption of resolution by highest decision making body of ruling congress on Telangana, road towards the formation of it as 29th independent state of the Republic of India is almost certain, thereby conceding the long pending demand of the people of this region of Andhra Pradesh. Political analysts have already started dubbing the timings as motivated to gain political mileage especially when the countdown towards the forthcoming general elections has already begun. Since, this not being the part of our present discourse, besides such politically motivated moves are routine and offering sops of such sort by a ruling party, be it at national or regional level, as such crucial timings is somewhat expected, hence should not come to us as a surprise. The question is, is the formation of smaller states a better option for a country like India, especially when the country is still reeling under the curse of caste, colour, creed, culture, region, religion, language etc with no hope yet to come out of it despite gaining independence 65 years back.
Looking at the diversity of country at every front and its historical background, when the country was divided into provinces and each province was the formation of smaller princely states who for the want of integrity, magnanimity were always prone to external invasions and rulers used to remain at war during the most part of the lives to defend their territories and for the given fact most of the princely states agreed to be part of union of India by signing accession document of their own freewill. People do put forth arguments in support of formation of smaller states as they believe that smaller states can be better administered, better governed with more public participation, others say it will help overcome corrupt people and practices. But the question again here is why these practices cannot be extended to bigger and larger states in the same manner the manner one argues for their implementation in smaller states. Still more few draw parallels between small states with small nation countries of Europe and other continents for being better developed and more prosperous than even some of the larger countries of the world. Dissolution into smaller states ultimately results into a weak nation. One must not forget that disintegration of former super power USSR in to smaller nation states was just simply an outcome of same drift which weakened the global power internally and made its disintegration inevitable.
Since no mathematics can prove as whether the smaller states are a better option for country and larger ones not, but definitely we have examples which can be cited for and against the formation of newer states. Formation of a smaller state is more like moving out of a joint family which unarguably is the stronger unit of society than a nuclear one and knowingly leaving a unit where ones needs and demands get better fulfilled than looking for same in a weaker unit of society is totally insane act. Carving out a small 10 district state from a larger state understandably is not a viable and sensible decision even if that piece of land has self sufficiency to meet its own requirements to a greater extent. Still more the bone of contention turned out to be Hyderabad which is going to be capital of both the states for next 10 years and will ultimately be part of Telengana thereafter. People of Andhara Pradesh have already started campaign towards declaring Hyderabad either as union territory or the part of Andhra Pradesh only, which if met will lead further disintegration. Though road to carve out Telengana from Andhra Pradesh is clear, but still some analysts see hiccups in its becoming reality, as the bill is to be approved by Andhra assembly first and then parliament where congress may succumb before number game for clear majority.
Well, by carving Telengana, one can’t say anything as whether we are going to earn anything form this dissolution or will be reduced to learn from such practices, this is only what time will tell us, but the fact is development as on date is proving more as fuel in fire, which has only helped to intensify campaign towards formation of other smaller states in other parts of the country. Vested interests in some states are pressing for separate state only as a blackmailing tactics to press for their demands. Campaigns towards the formation of other smaller states which are already on cards and are likely to escalate with this decision include regions like Saurashtra, Vindhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Purvanchal, Mithila, and Bodoland are just a few to name. Apart from these there are various other parts of the country which too have starting raising their voice for separate statehood statues to their regions mostly based on language and culture.
If we look at the topology of world, we can see nature has not evenly distributed resources across the globe which is good for creating interdependence and helps to facilitate social solidarity. if one part of the world is having fertile land another is just a barren desert, If one part has deposits of one sort of minerals another part is rich in other kind of deposits, some export crude oil, others food grains and other edible things. In all no individual country in this world is self sufficient to fulfill their all individual requirements from their own resources, but if we take world as a unit we can say it is self sufficient to fulfill its requirements from its own resources. Interdependence is the only driving force of whole world and the countries devoid of natural and other resources find it difficult to fill the bellies of its citizens for the fact that global trade is purely based on give and take policy and the countries who have got nothing to offer have nothing to take. Same holds true about the individual states of each country, if we keep the holistic approach towards life, we will survive and thrive and if we keep individualistic approach we are bound to perish.
Most of the movements towards the formation of new smaller states are just simply an outcome of public anger, showcasing that their regions have been neglected on the developmental front and as such deem separation from their parent land as the only and lasting solution. There is no denial in it that most of the developmental schemes throughout the country remain region centric for political reasons and becomes a reason for disproportionate development and ultimately public anger. And the question is instead of seeking way out in disintegration why can’t we work on conceiving solution to such problems in more integrated manner. If the problem is known, need is to exterminate it by fighting it out and not by choosing route of escapism that too which not just puts in danger the overall integrity and solidarity of state but of whole nation. Raising and conceding demands for separate smaller state on the basis of language, culture, or any other regional superlative can be termed more as an anti national activity. These activities are more aimed at weakening the nation state and ultimately its disintegration, so it becomes imperative to look into to pros and cons involved prior to conceding any such demand and unjust if any endangering integrity and sovereignty of county should be met head on and be crushed at the very beginning of its conception.
(The author is Assistant Librarian, BGSB University, Rajouri, J & K ).
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel