REGIONAL

ASPIRATIONS
Regional Aspirations
The chapter:
• Introduces various political aspiration of the regions in the Indian Sub
Continent.
• Talks about nation building, and regional autonomy that the regions demanded.
• Tells about lesson learnt from regional aspirations.

▪ Building a nation is not something that can be achieved once and for all.

▪ Every time, new hurdles arose, as well as some old issues that had never
been totally resolved.

▪ People from many regions began to express their desire for autonomy as
the democratic experiment progressed.
2
INTRODUCTION
Regionalism : – Regionalism is to raise political economic and developmental demands on
regional basis.
Separatism : – The feeling of a region being separated from the country or raising its
demand.
Regional aspirations : – Regional aspirations can be understood as , specific demands made
by people of a particular region on the basis of their specific language , religion , culture ,
geographical features.
Main reasons for the Regionalism : –
•Religious Diversity
•Cultural Diversity
•Geographical Variation
•Political Self Interest
•Unbalanced Development

In India , the 1980s is seen as the decade of autonomy , many times because of
narrow interests , foreign encouragement , the spirit of the country takes the path
of autonomy , it becomes a serious challenge to national unity and integrity.
4
Areas of tension and conflicts
▪ Issue of Kashmir emerged not only due to conflict between India and Pakistan, also due to the political
aspirations of people in the form of political autonomy living in the region.

▪ Tensions in North – East region like in Nagaland and Mizoram emerged in the form of strong separatist
movements.

▪ In Southern part of India , some groups from the Dravid Movement also believed to emerge as a
separate nation.

▪ Regions like Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , Maharashtra and Gujarat emerged due to the mass agitations
on the basis of language.

▪ Protests were evident in Tamil Nadu region when Hindi was made the official national language of India.
On the other hand , in North region agitations were going on for Hindi to be made as the official
language.

▪ Late 1950’s , Punjabi speaking people agitated for a separate state - creation of Punjab & Hary. in 1966.

▪ States of Chhattisgarh , Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were later created due to their demands for
autonomy. Thus , to meet the challenges of diversity the internal boundaries of the country were
redrawn by the then government.
 India in 1980 was characterized with the following

Armed Repression Collapse of

Rising regional Demand for political &
assertion by
aspirations autonomy electoral
by people government
processes

Democratic Democratic
In dealing
Democracy politics allows politics means
with the REGIONAL
allows parties & that regional
question of ASPIRATIONS
political groups to issues and
diversity ARE NOT ANTI-
expression address people problems will
India NATIONAL
of regional on the basis of receive
followed a
aspirations their regional adequate
democratic
identity attention in
approach
policy making.

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 JAMMU AND KASHMIR
India provided military
assistance after the
Before 1947, J&K was a Maharaja seek Indian
Maharaja signed an
princely state. military assistance.
'Instrument of Accession’
.

Hari Singh opposed a

Pakistan launched tribal J&K accorded a special
union with India
infiltrators to conquerTo protect Kashmir,
status in the Constitution
attempted to negotiate
was a princely state
October 1947, Pakistan
ruled by a Hindu king,Kashmir in October 1947.
sent tribal infiltrators
through Article 370.
Maharaja had to seek

an autonomous status.
Maharaja Hari Singh.
to capture Kashmir.

Popular movement led Indian Army pushed

Independence, the British infiltrators out of
gave the princely states
National Conference Kashmir and Maharaja
the option to either remain
Independent or join either signed the Instrument
India or Pakistan. National Conference's of Accession.
Muslim majority in In March 1948, Sheikh
Sheikh Abdullah led a
Kashmir, Pakistanis Majority population in
Jammu and Kashmir Abdullah became the
want to join India and movement within the
Kashmir was Muslims
was granted special
believed it belonged to
wanted an Independent
and hence Pakistan
believed it belonged to
Prime Minister of the
status as per Article
status for his state. state to depose the
Pakistan
370
them. State of J&K .
Maharaja.
8
Reason of controversial politics of Jammu - Kashmir : –

▪ Three socioeconomic areas of Kashmir.

▪ Kashmir invaded by Pakistani army as Tribal people.

▪ Article 370 gave Special Status to Kashmir.

▪ Matter of Aksai China.

▪ Seeking Separation of Economic Autonomy.

▪ The approach of separatists.

▪ Pakistan promoting terrorism.

9
 External and internal disputes related to Jammu and Kashmir
➢ External dispute

• Since independence, ‘Pakistan’ has been claiming Kashmir valley as a part of Pakistan, but
India has always opposed this because of the instrument of accession of India.

• At the same time, India also complains about the promotion of separatism and terrorism
by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.

➢ Internal dispute

• Special status to J&K by article 370 & 35a in the constitution, which is widely opposed.

• Many thinkers believe that J&K should also be given rights like other states of India so
that it too can be fully integrated with India.

• While some others hold that the autonomy given by articles 370 and 35a is not sufficient
for J&K.
 JAMMU
AND
KASHMIR

As PM, Sheikh Abdullah Between 1953-1974, An agreement with Indira

initiated major land Congress exercised a lot Gandhi, SheikhAbdullah
reforms & other policies of influence on the became the Chief Minister
for local people. politics of the state. of J&K.

New National
Growing differences Conference (minus Sheikh Abdullah was elected with a
between Sheikh & central Abdullah) remained in power in majority in the assembly
government overhis position the state with support of the elections in 1977.
on Kashmir’s status. Congress.

Allegations of malpractices Congress gained Leadership of National

and rigging invarious direct access to the Conference went to
elections. Abdullah was state’s politics. Farooq Abdullah, 1982.
arrested and detained.
11
 Political system of Jammu and Kashmir

▪ In the early phase of J&K, Sheikh Abdullah’s national conference party had a deep
influence on the politics of Jammu and Kashmir.

▪ After becoming the prime minister, Sheikh Abdullah started the policies of land reforms
on a large scale in J&K, which benefited the common people.

▪ Seeing the growing fame of sheikh Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir, the central
government removed him from in 1953 and kept him in captivity for many years.

▪ The leaders who came after Sheikh Abdullah were not so effective and many questions
were raised on the electoral system of Jammu and Kashmir.

▪ Between 1953-74, the congress had a great influence in the political system of Jammu
and Kashmir, the national conference ran the government with the support of the
congress and after some time the national conference merged with the congress.
 Political system of Jammu and Kashmir
▪ 1965, changes made in the constitution of J&K - name of PM changed to
chief minister, - Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq became the first CM of J&K.

▪ 1974 an agreement was signed between Indira Gandhi & Sheikh Abdullah
& Sheikh Abdullah was made the chief minister of J&K.

▪ Sheikh Abdullah won 1977 assembly elections with a huge majority -

became chief minister of J&K.

▪ After the death of sheikh Abdullah in 1982, his son Farooq Abdullah
became the chief minister.

▪ But he was sacked by the governor, due to which a feeling of resentment

towards the central government was created in the minds of the people
of Kashmir.

▪ Political turmoil continued till 1986, after that congress & the national
conference formed an alliance.
 Political system of Jammu and Kashmir
▪ 1987 assembly elections, the national conference and the congress alliance won a
landslide victory and Farooq Abdullah became the chief minister.

▪ But it was believed that there was some misconduct in these elections.

▪ By 1989, demand for separatism in J&K started increasing and gradually it came
under the grip of militant movement.

▪ During 1990s, J&K witnessed incidents of violence due to separatists and insurgents,
the insurgents were being given economic and military support by Pakistan.

▪ Assembly elections were held in 1996 in which Farooq Abdullah’s government was
formed.

▪ Fair elections were again held in J&K in 2002, in which the national conference was
replaced by the People’s Democratic Party and the congress government came to
power.
 Political system of Jammu and Kashmir after 2002
▪ After two assembly elections, Mufti Mohammad was head of
the govt. for the first 3 years and after that Ghulam Nabi
Azad of congress was made the CM but due to president’s rule
he could not complete his term.

▪ Next assembly elections in 2008 - National Conference and

the Indian national congress formed the government.

▪ Re-elections held in 2014 - recorded the highest turnout in

the last 25 years and a coalition govt. of PDP and BJP was
formed with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as the chief minister.

▪ After the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in April 2016,

her daughter Mehbooba mufti became the first woman chief
minister of the state.
 Current status of Jammu and Kashmir

▪ Article 370 was revoked by the government on august 5, 2019 and the special
status of Jammu and Kashmir was abolished.

▪ At present, Jammu and Kashmir is divided into two union territories, “Jammu
and Kashmir” and “Ladakh”.
 ▪ Partition of Punjab between India & Pakistan
brought about a major change in the social
structure of Punjab.

▪ A similar partition was done after

independence in 1966 - new states Haryana
& Himachal Pradesh were created
separately from Punjab, due to which the
social system of Punjab changed in a big
way.

▪ The Akali dal was formed in 1920 as the

political wing of the Sikh led the movement
for the formation of a Punjabi Suba.
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Akali dal and Punjab
Akali dal was formed in the 1920s as the
political wing of the Sikhs.

In 1967 and 1977, the Akali dal formed a

coalition government in Punjab.

Akali dal govt formed in 1977 was dismissed

by center before completing its term.

Somewhere the Akali dal was aware that

their position was weak politically.

They did not enjoy much support among the

Hindus of Punjab

They had the support of Sikh community, but

was divided into castes and for this reason
his support was weakening.
Demand for autonomy
Seeing their weak position, a section of the Sikhs raised the
demand of autonomy for Punjab.

1973 a conference organized at Anandpur Sahib, a resolution

was passed which is known as Anandpur Sahib Resolution.
It defined relationship between center & state, emphasizing
aspirations of Sikhs & proclaiming the dominance & supremacy
of the Sikhs.
Anandpur sahib resolution had no significant impact on the
general Sikh community.

Akali dal govt dismissed in 1980, launched an agitation on the

issue of water sharing between Punjab and neighbouring states.
Some religious leaders also raised the demand for an
autonomous Sikh identity and some extremists supported the
demand to separate from India and create a ‘Khalisthan’.
Agitation and violence
Movement passed from the hands of moderate Akali's to the hands
of extremist elements & took the form of armed rebellion.

These militants made the Golden Temple their headquarters and

converted it into an armed fort.

The Indian government started “Operation Blue Star” to get all

these militants out of the golden temple.

Under this operation, military action was carried out in the golden
temple, due to which this historic temple was damaged and the
sentiments of the Sikhs were deeply hurt.

Sikh community considered this military action against their

religious sentiments, which further strengthened the extremist
group and the extremists.
Indira Gandhi’s death, anti Sikh riots

31 Oct 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her

own bodyguards to avenge Operation Blue Star.

Violence against the Sikh community erupted in

Delhi and many parts of North India.

Violence lasted for almost 2 weeks & in Delhi more

than 2000 Sikhs were killed in this violence.

Its impact was also seen on a large scale in areas

like Kanpur and Bokaro.
Punjab Accord
▪ Rajiv Gandhi, who became the prime minister in the 1984
elections, started talks with the moderate Akali leaders.

▪ In July 1985, Rajiv Gandhi signed an agreement with the

Akali dal president Harchand Singh Longowal, also known
as Rajiv Gandhi Longowal pact or Punjab pact.

According to the agreement:

➢ Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.

➢ A separate commission would be appointed to resolve the border dispute
between Punjab and Haryana.
➢ A tribunal would be set up to decide the sharing of Ravi Beas river water among
Punjab , Haryana and Rajasthan.
➢ To provide compensation and better treatment of those affected by the
militancy in Punjab.
➢ Withdrawal of the application of Armed Forces Special Power Act in Punjab.
After the agreement

▪ The situation did not return to normal even after the agreement.

▪ Violence continued in Punjab for almost a decade.

▪ Due to violence, only 24% of the people came to vote in the elections held in 1992.

▪ The security forces made massive efforts and suppressed this militancy but due to
all these reasons the common people of Punjab had to face a lot of problems.

▪ The situation normalized in around 1997 and in the elections held during this period,
the alliance of Akali Dal and BJP won with a huge majority.

▪ After that, with the passage of time, the situation in Punjab has become normal
and that politics is moving towards secularism.
Northeast India
▪ Mainly 7 states, known as the seven sisters.

▪ It includes Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,

Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and
Sikkim.

▪ These regions are home to about 4% of India’s

population, connected to India by a thin 22 km
wide area.

▪ Regions are bordered by China, Myanmar and

Bangladesh and serve as a gateway for India to
southeast Asia.

▪ Complex social character and the backwardness of

the people as compared to other parts of the
country. 24
Development of Northeastern states

▪ At the time of independence, Tripura, Manipur and the kadi hill region of
Meghwal were separate princely states, after independence they were
included in India.

▪ In 1963, Nagaland was carved out of Assam.

▪ Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya became states in 1972.

▪ Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh were given statehood in 1987.

▪ Due to the separation from the main part of India, the development of the
region was not given much attention and refugees from neighbouring
countries also remained the main problem of this areas.
Development of Northeastern states

Three major issues dominate the politics of these regions:

Demand for autonomy

Separatist/Secessionist movement

Opposition of outsiders
 Demand for autonomy
▪ At the time of independence, except Manipur and Tripura, the rest of the region was called Assam.

▪ Initially, the non-Assamese people opposed the Assamese language being imposed on them by the government of
Assam and the demand for political autonomy in the region began to rise.

▪ Leaders of the large tribal community spoke of separation from Assam & formed the Eastern India Tribal Union.

▪ In 1960, this organization evolved into the All Party Hills Conference.

▪ The main demand of these leaders was to create a tribal state separate from Assam.

▪ In view of their demands, central govt created Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh by dividing Assam.

▪ By 1972 this process was completed but still the demand for autonomy did not end.

▪ Other communities such as the Bodo, Karbis and Dimsas of Assam continued to demand a separate state.

▪ But not possible to keep dividing the state into separate and small parts, central government tried to satisfy their
demands by using some other provisions.

▪ The Karbi and Dimsa communities were given autonomy under the district council, the Bodo tribe was given the
status of an autonomous council.
 Separatist movement: Mizoram and Nagaland
Mizoram
▪ Mizo mountainous region was an autonomous district within Assam, but the Mizo people believed that they were never
the part of British India, hence they have no affiliation with the Indian union.

▪ In 1959, separatist movements strengthened and the government of Assam was unable to manage them.

▪ The Mizo people got angry and formed the Mizo National Front under the leadership of Laldenga.

▪ Mizo National Front launched an armed campaign in 1966 to advance the demand for independence, and thus the
conflict between the Indian army and the rebels lasted for almost two decades.

▪ The Mizo insurgents made their base in East Pakistan of that period.

▪ General public had to suffer on a large scale, feeling of separatism and anger increased with time.

▪ Indian govt & Laldenga started talks; peace agreement was signed between Laldenga and Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.

▪ Mizoram got full statehood and was also given some special rights.

▪ Members of the Mizo national front agreed to leave the separatist regime.

▪ Mizoram is currently the most peaceful state in the northeast and at the same time has made good progress.
 Separatist movement: Mizoram and Nagaland
Nagaland
▪ The British integrated the Naga Hills into British India in 1881.

▪ March 1952, Phizo established the underground Naga Federal Government (NFG) and the Naga Federal Army.

▪ To suppress insurgency, Indian Govt deployed Army & enacted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1958.

▪ July 1960, Govt signed 16-point Agreement with the Naga People’s Convention, led to creation of Nagaland in Dec 1963.

▪ Shillong Accord was signed in 1975, NFG agreed to surrender their weapons.

▪ A group of 140 members, led by Mr. Muivah, who was in China at the time, rejected Shillong Accord.

▪ 1997, National Socialist Council of Nagaland — one of the largest Naga groups – entered into a ceasefire agreement
with the Indian Government.

▪ 2015, a framework agreement, also known as the Nagaland Peace Accord, was signed between the Indian Government
and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) to put an end to the insurgency in Nagaland.

▪ 2017, an agreement on political parameters of the settlement was reached with the Naga National Political Groups.

▪ Despite the deadline set by the Indian Government to conclude a peace agreement by October 31, 2019, the peace
talks have not yet resulted in a peace agreement.
 Problem of outsiders: Assam movement
▪ Assamese suspected the presence of a sizable number of unauthorized Bangladeshi Muslim settlers.

▪ They believed that without identifying & deporting foreign nationals, indigenous Assamese would be
reduced to a minority.

▪ Despite its natural resources such as oil, tea, and coal, Assam suffers from widespread poverty and
unemployment.

▪ All Assam Students' Union (AASU), a non-partisan students' organization, spearheaded an anti-
foreigner movement in 1979.

▪ The movement also targeted illegal immigrants, Bengali and other foreigner dominance, and erroneous
votes.

▪ They campaigned for the deportation of all foreigners who entered the nation after 1951. The campaign
employed a number of innovative strategies to mobilise Assamese, collecting support from across the
state.

▪ There were tragic and violent incidents that resulted in the destruction of property and the loss of
human life. Additionally, the movement aimed to disrupt train traffic and oil supply from Assam to Bihar
refineries.
 Problem of outsiders: Assam movement

▪ Negotiations between the Rajiv Gandhi administration and the AASU's leaders culminated in 1985 with
the signing of an accord.

▪ In this agreement it was stipulated that all the people who came to Assam during and after Bangladesh
war in 1971 would be sent out of Assam, this is known as the Assam accord.

▪ After the success of the movement, AASU and Assam Gana Sangram Parishad together formed a
political party, named Assam Gana Parishad.

▪ The party came to power in 1985 elections and promised to solve the problem of outside migrants and
create a golden Assam.

▪ After the Assam accord, peace prevailed in Assam but the problem of migrants could not be completely
resolved.
 Dravidian movement

▪ First regional movements in Indian politics. Some sections of this movement had ambitions of creating
Dravid nation.
▪ It used democratic means like public debates and the electoral platform to achieve its ends.
▪ The Dravidian movement led to the formation of Dravid kazhagam ( DK ) Under the leadership of
Tamil social reformer E.V Ramaswamy Periyar.
▪ The organization strongly opposed the brahmins dominance and affirmed regional Pride against the
political , economic and cultural domination of the north.
▪ Initially the Dravidian movement spoke in terms of the whole of South India however lack of support
from other states limited the movement to Tamil Nadu.
▪ The DK split and the political legacy of the movement was transferred to DMK ( Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam ). Later the DMK split into two parties the DMK and the all India Anna DMK ( AIADMK )
both claimed Dravidian legacy.
 Dravidian movement
▪ In the period from 1953 to 54, the DMK started a 3-point movement with the following three demands:
➢ Renaming Kallakudi railway station - against naming the place as Dalmiapuram.
➢ The history of Tamil culture should be given more importance in the school curriculum.
➢ Opposed the state government’s Shilp karma education program (promoted Brahminical outlook).
▪ DMK got success in the anti-Hindi movement of 1965 and its influence among the people increased.
▪ The DMK had a major success in the 1967 assembly elections and since then Dravidian organizations- both
parties - DMK and AIADMK have dominated politics in Tamil Nadu for the last four decades.

AIADMK DMK
 Sikkim merger
▪ At the time of independence, Sikkim was not a part of India, but its foreign and defence
related matters were in the hands of India while its internal system was handled by the Raja
Chogyal.

▪ This arrangement did not last long; people in Sikkim were of Nepalese origin –they believed
that Raja Chogyal was imposing the rule of a small community (Lepcha Bhutia) on them.

▪ People sought help from the Indian govt & got the support of the Indian government.

▪ Sikkim legislative assembly elections held in 1974 and Sikkim congress got a majority in it.

▪ Initially Sikkim tried to become a co-province of India and after this a resolution was passed
in Sikkim’s legislative assembly in 1975, under which Sikkim was talked about fully merging into
India.

▪ Immediately after this proposal, a referendum was held in Sikkim and the decision came in
favour of merger with India and in this way Sikkim became the 22nd state of India.
 Freedom of GOA
▪ After disintegration of British Empire in India in 1947, Portugal refused to withdraw
from the territories of Goa, Diu and Daman, which were under their colonial rule since
the sixteenth century.

▪ Portuguese suppressed the people of Goa, denied them civil rights and carried out forced
religious conversions.

▪ After independence, Indian government tried to persuade Portuguese govt to withdraw.

▪ There was also a strong popular movement within Goa for freedom. They were
strengthened by socialist satyagrahis from Maharashtra.

▪ December 1961, these territories were liberated by the army sent by the Government
of India.

▪ Goa, Diu and Daman became union territories.

 Freedom of GOA

▪ Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party desired that Goa as a Marathi-speaking area should

merge with Maharashtra.

▪ However, many Goans were keen to retain their separate Goan identity and culture,
particularly the Konkani language. They were led by the United Goan Party (UGP).

▪ January 1967, central govt held a special 'opinion poll' in Goa asking people to
decide if they wanted to be part of Maharashtra or remain separate.

▪ This was the only time in independent India that a referendum like procedure was
used to ascertain the people's wishes on a subject. The majority voted in favour of
remaining outside of Maharashtra.

▪ Thus, Goa continued as a union territory.

▪ Finally, in 1987, Goa became a state of the Indian Union.

Reasons to control regionalism for the success of Indian democracy

▪ Constraints in the balanced development of the country.

▪ Bitter Relations between the Central & State Governments.

▪ Cracks in the mutual relations of states.

▪ Promote violent movements.

▪ Hinder economic progress.

 Lessons learnt from regional aspirations

First lesson:-
• Regional aspirations are an important part of the democratic system.
• Through these the government gets to know about the demands and problems of
the common people.
• After their solution, people’s faith in the democratic system increases.

Second lesson:-
• Instead of opposing regional aspirations, a democratic dialogue is a better way to
address them.

Third lesson:-
• Importance of common people’s aspirations and contribution in countries power.

Fourth lesson:-
• Economically equal development of all the regions in the country is necessary.
 CONCLUSION

Regional aspirations are an integral part of democratic politics.

Instead of suppressing regional aspirations , it is better to
adopt democratic dialogue.

The federal system adapted by India is a flexible arrangement

Politics in India has succeeded in accepting regionalism as part
and parcel of democratic politics.