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Regional Aspirations

Question

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What lessons can we draw from regional aspirations in India?

Solution

Regional aspirations in India ranged from demands of statehood and economic development to autonomy and separation. These aspirations have tested the capacity of democratic politics to accommodate the demands of diverse sections of the society . Some problems are still unsolved. However, we can draw the following lessons from these cases :

(i) The most elementary lesson is that regional aspirations are very much a part of democratic politics. They exist in smaller countries like the United Kingdom too. In India, these aspirations must be dealt on regular basis because nation-building is an ongoing process.

(ii) Regional aspirations should be responded through democratic negotiations rather than through suppression. In India, in most of the cases, the Government of India reached negotiated settlement with regional movements. This reduced tensions existing in many regions. For example, Mizoram shows how political settlement can resolve the problem of separatism effectively.

(iii) It has proved the significance of power-sharing in democracy. Regions must be given a share in deciding the destiny of the nation otherwise the feeling of alienation and injustice can spread.

(iv) Regional imbalance in economic development contributes to the feeling of regional discrimination.

(v) Our Constitution-makers were farsighted in dealing with questions of diversity. They enacted a flexible constitution with special provisions for some states. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution allows different tribes complete autonomy of preserving their practices and customary laws.

Therefore, regional aspirations are not encouraged to espouse separatism.

Some More Questions From Regional Aspirations Chapter

What were the main provisions of the Punjab accord ? In what way can they be the basis for further tensions between the Punjab and its neighboring States ?

Why did the Anandpur Sahib Resolution become controversial ?

Explain the internal divisions of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and describe how these lead to multiple regional aspirations in that State.

What are the various positions on the issue of regional autonomy for Kashmir ? Which of these do you think are justifiable ? Give reasons for your answer.

The Assam movement was a combination of cultural pride and economic backwardness. Explain.

All regional movements need not lead to separatist demands. Explain by giving examples from this chapter.

Regional demands from different parts of India exemplify the principle of unity with diversity. Do you agree ? Give reasons.

Read the passage and answer the questions below :
One of Hazarika’s songs ....... dwells on the unity theme; the seven states of north-eastern India become seven sisters born of the same mother .... ‘Meghalaya went own way ...... Arunachal too separated and Mizoram appeared in Assam’s gateway as a groom to marry another daughter,’ ......... The song ends with a determination to keep the unity of the Assamese with other smaller nationalities that are left in the present-day Assam– ‘the Karbis and the Missing brothers and sisters are our dear ones.’ —Sanjib Baruah

(a) Which unity is the poet talking about ?

(b) Why were the States of North-East created separately out of the erstwhile State of Assam ?

(c) Do you think that the same theme of unity could apply to all the regions of India ? Why ?

Describe the issues which India had to face immediately after independence.

Which is the main issue of dispute between India and Pakistan ?

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