Section 1 · 20.1
Meaning of Regionalism and Regional Parties
Textbook pp. 219–220
Core Concept / Definition
A regional party generally operates within a limited geographical area, with activities confined to a single state or a handful of states. Compared with national parties, which represent broad and diverse interests, regional parties represent the interests of a particular area. Their activities focus on specific regional issues. They seek to capture power at the State or regional level and do not aspire to control the national government.
The chapter notes that India has a much larger number of regional parties than national parties and gives examples of States where regional parties have ruled, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam and Jammu & Kashmir.
Regionalism — Two Connotations
| Sense | Meaning in the chapter |
|---|
| Negative | Excessive attachment to one’s region in preference to the country or the State; the chapter says this is a threat to the unity and integrity of the country. |
| Positive | People’s love for their region, culture, language etc. with a view to maintaining their independent identity and developing a sense of brotherhood and commonness on the basis of common language, religion or historical background. |
In the Indian context, the chapter says the term regionalism has generally been used in the negative sense. Regional feelings may arise from continuous neglect of a region by ruling authorities or from growing political awareness among backward people who feel discriminated against. The chapter also notes that political leaders may encourage regional feelings to maintain their hold over an area or group of people.
Section 2 · 20.2–20.3
Forms and Development of Regionalism in India
Textbook pp. 220–221
Different Forms
The chapter identifies demand for State autonomy as one form of regionalism. States may demand greater autonomy from the Centre, especially where increasing Central interference in State affairs generates regional feelings. Similar demands may arise from regions within individual States.
A more dangerous form is secession from the Union, in which States demand separation from the Centre and attempt to establish an independent identity. The chapter also links regionalism with inter-State disputes over sharing river water, with preference for the language of the majority, with preference for local people in job opportunities, and with hostile attitudes towards migrants moving from backward States to developed States for employment. It gives Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as examples of migrant-related problems.
Development Before and After Independence
Regionalism is described as not being new to the Indian political system. Before independence, British imperialists deliberately encouraged people in different regions to think in regional rather than national terms in order to maintain their hold over India during the national movement.
After Independence, national leaders attempted to foster a feeling of belonging to one nation. The Constitution-makers sought this through single citizenship, a unified judiciary, All India Services and a strong Central Government. However, the vastness of the country and its many cultures meant that regionalism soon reappeared.
Early Political Manifestations
The first manifestation after independence was the demand for reorganisation of States on a linguistic basis. The chapter identifies the victory of the DMK against Congress in Tamil Nadu in the 1960s as the most effective play of regionalism. It then notes the growth of the Akali movement in Punjab and revival of the National Conference under Sheikh Abdullah in Jammu & Kashmir.
The national political parties initially tried to adjust with regional forces, expecting eventually to absorb them into their organisations. The chapter says the Indian National Congress, which enjoyed a monopoly of power between 1947–1967, contributed to the growth of regionalism through a policy of accommodating regional forces when convenient and opposing them when necessary. Local Congress leaders also strengthened regional organisations to increase bargaining power with central leaders, producing a close relationship between central and regional leadership that encouraged regionalism.
Section 3 · 20.4
Causes for the Growth of Regionalism
Textbook pp. 221–222
Six Factors Identified by the Chapter
- Reaction against imposition: Regionalism appeared as a reaction against national efforts to impose a particular ideology, language or cultural pattern on all people and groups. The chapter cites resistance in southern States to imposition of Hindi as official language and the anti-foreigner movement in Assam to preserve Assamese culture.
- Neglect and concentration of power: Continuous neglect of a region by ruling parties and concentration of administrative and political power generated demands for decentralization of authority and bifurcation of unilingual States. The sons of soil theory could be used to promote the interests of neglected groups or areas.
- Desire for sub-cultural identity and self-government: Units of the Indian federation sought to maintain their sub-cultural regions and a greater degree of self-government, producing demands for greater autonomy.
- Desire of regional elites to capture power: The chapter states that regional elites may encourage regionalism to capture political power and names DMK, AIADMK, Akali Dal, Telugu Desam and Asom Gana Parishad among the parties that encouraged regionalism to capture power.
- Modernisation and mass participation: Interaction between forces of modernisation and mass participation contributed to growth. The chapter says various groups failed to identify their group interests with national interests, and therefore regional feeling persisted.
- Awareness of discrimination in backward areas: Growing awareness among people of backward areas that they were being discriminated against promoted regionalism. Local leaders, the chapter says, exploited this feeling and attributed regional imbalance to deliberate neglect of social and economic development by the Central Government.
The chapter’s causal explanation therefore repeatedly connects regionalism with identity, autonomy, perceived neglect or discrimination, concentration of power, and political mobilisation around regional interests.
Section 4 · 20.5
Role of the Regional Parties
Textbook pp. 222–223
State-Level Role
Although regional parties operate in a limited area and pursue limited objectives, the chapter says they have played a significant role in State as well as national politics. Regional parties formed governments in several States and attempted to give concrete shape to their policies and programmes. Examples listed include DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu; National Conference in Jammu & Kashmir; Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh; Asom Gana Parishad in Assam; Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party in Goa; Mizo National Front in Mizoram; Sikkim Sangram Parishad in Sikkim; All Party Hill Leaders Conference in Meghalaya; and Indian National Lok Dal in Haryana.
Coalition and National Politics
Some regional parties became partners in coalition governments in States after the fourth general elections of 1967. At the Centre, the chapter says regional parties later played a critical role in helping form or sustain governments. DMK supported Indira Gandhi’s government after the party split in 1969, while Telugu Desam is described as a pillar of strength for the United Front and later the National Democratic Alliance.
Representatives of regional parties focus Parliament’s attention on issues concerning their regions and try to influence government policies to promote their regional interests.
Political Awakening and National Attention
The chapter highlights another role: regional political parties have drawn the attention of people in remote areas to political and economic issues and contributed to their political awakening. It also says they impressed upon national political parties that regional problems could not be treated with indifference and compelled greater attention to resolving those problems.
In the chapter’s concluding formulation, regional political parties have profoundly influenced regional politics and also left a tremendous impact on national politics.
Section 5 · 20.6
Measures for Correcting Regional Imbalances
Textbook pp. 223–224
Core Objective
The chapter states that regionalism has been an important aspect of Indian politics and that, at times, it has posed a threat to the unity of the country. It therefore proposes measures to reduce such tendencies and to correct regional imbalances.
| Measure | Purpose / direction stated in the chapter |
|---|
| Even development | Promote development of historically neglected areas so that they feel part of the national mainstream. |
| Limited Central interference | The Central Government should not interfere in State affairs unless unavoidable for national interest. |
| Peaceful constitutional solution | Problems should be solved peacefully and constitutionally; politicians should not be allowed to misuse regional demands. |
| State freedom | Except on issues of national importance, States should have freedom to run their own affairs. |
| Revised Centre–State relations and national education | Changes are necessary in Centre–State relations in favour of States, along with a national education system that helps overcome regional feelings and develops attachment towards the nation. |
Chapter Synthesis
The “What You Have Learnt” section summarizes regionalism as strong attachment to a region or State against the country as a whole. It links the feeling with continuous neglect or political awareness arising from perceived discrimination and states that regionalism is a problem because it threatens national unity and integrity.
It identifies two prominent manifestations in the final summary: (a) agitation for separate statehood, with examples such as demand for Telengana, Bodo-land in Assam and Gorkha land, and (b) secession from the Indian Union, with examples such as demands for Khalistan and Nagaland.