In 1947, religion was identified as the most fundamental unit of nationalism in the sub continent. Proponents of this theory claimed that since Hindus and Muslims belonged to separate religions, they belonged to different nations. Accordingly, India was partitioned into a Hindu majority India, flanked on the east and west by Muslim majority Pakistan. In 1971, Muslim majority East Pakistan claimed that it was not religion, but language that was the most fundamental social identifier in the sub continent. Accordingly, Bangladesh was born. Agreeing with the same logic, Lankan Tamils fought decades of bloody and destructive battles with Lankan Sinhalese.
In India too, in spite of the initial aversion of national leaders such as Nehru and Patel, language was identified as the primary differentiator between Indians and the State reorganization bill of 1956 gave a formal go-ahead for states based on linguistic homogeneity. This principle of language based states has served India well so far-Punjabi (sikh) nationalism was tackled by creation of Punjabi suba, Marathi nationalism by creation of Maharashtra, Gujarati nationalism by creation of Gujarat and so on and so forth. Proponents of this linguistic theory of self-identification feel that Balkanization of India was prevented largely by acceptance of regional aspirations in the form of creation of states based on linguistic homogeneity. Even in the sub continent for that matter, reinstatement of Sindh as a province tackled the demand for Sindhudesh and creation of autonomous Tamil zone silenced in guns in Lanka for some time.
India, however has chosen to sacrifice that principle as a government counting its days attempts to pander to vote bank politics. The decision of the UPA government to create a second Telugu state in the form of Telangana, in spite of strong opposition within Andhra is nothing but a despicable attempt at holding on to power in the next elections. The demand for Telangana is not new, it has persisted for several decades now. The demand for a separate state for the Telugu speaking, former Nizam's territories stems not from some regional aspirations but from a perceived discrimination in a united Andhra. Instead of seeking to safeguard rights of the people and addressing their grievances, the Central government has chosen to give assent to Telangana. Strong objections such as similar demands from other regions in the country, threat of naxalism, sharing of resources were all overlooked for the short term aim of electoral politics. Such is the state of affairs in the land of Gandhi today!
Such political short sightedness is not new to the Congress. After all, the Congress did create Bhindranwale to counter the growing clout of the Akalis in Punjab. Everyone now knows what a disaster that turned out to be for the country. By creating Telangana, Congress government has sent out a clear message- Agitate and get what you want. The cycle of violence will now resume in Bodoland and Gorkhaland. Petty politicians will form parties demanding Vidarbha, Saurashtra, Tulu Nadu, Kongu Nadu, Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh, Mahakoshal and what not. Probably, one day in the future, surely under a Congress government, every residential colony will be designated as a state!
The solution to lopsided development is not creation of smaller states. Jharkhand is a sad example of what all can go wrong even in smaller states. The solution to meeting people's aspirations is commitment to common good, probity in public life and ethics- all of which our politicians lack today! Creation of Telangana, while surely meeting the aspirations of a few, will go down as one of the most disastrous decisions taken by the Congress government, now clearly, in its death throes.
