India, Bharat or just a Union of States???

Firstly, Thank to Subhojit, I can now post some issues and hope to make some noise...

India, Bharat or just a Union of States???

This month, Indian celebrated 61 years into being recognised as an Independent country. As per the constitution, we are a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic of India and a Union of States. Yes that’s the “Officially ” how India is expected to be known to the people around the World.

If we just take a ride back into the past, it was the grit of Sardar Patel to bind land once broken up into countless number of princely states, territorial rulers and European colonies into one single identity. The Government then came in though as many possible channels to encourage the feeling of being one nation that drove away the Colonial powers, the last being the Portuguese in 1961. We have been fine tuned to say that we are diverse in terms of culture, religions, languages and social stratifications; end of the day, its Unity in Diversity that is the essence of India.

But does that mean that regionalism is non existent in India?

For starters, regionalism is a political ideology that focuses on the interests of a particular region or group of regions. In India, we do claim of putting India first, region- may be some other place. But I some how managed to see how this ideology is seen differently under different situations.

Some recent events have made me question if we still believe that it is still sometimes regional pride that overruns National pride. This is with regards to RJ Dheena of the Chennai station of BIG 92.7 FM. More than 135 hours continuously on the radio and a new Guinness Record for India. I regard it as a superhuman feat because 5 days on radio can be chaotic and claustrophobic for any normal person. Plus on a media where the freshness of your voice can hold an audience, its an amazing feat.

But I was surprised when I saw the statement made by the Cluster Director for Tamil Nadu of BIG 92.7 FM, Mr. P B Ramaswamy come out saying, ‘It is certainly a proud moment for all the Tamilians across the globe.’

http://www.televisionpoint.com/news2008/newsfullstory.php?id=1219734955

http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/big-fm-rj-dheena-sets-world-record


I’m sorry, but did I read it right? “…proud moment for Tamilians … “

This is outrageous. I can understand the appreciation from all quarters, the channel using the feat it to boast about its people and culture. But where has the Tamilian angle come in? And since I can see this on two sites, this is more like a Press Release that went to all.

Even if I take no notice of why Hindi is not spoken in Southern India, or past discriminations against linguistic minorities in these states, this is a complete new angle. Does this also imply that you disown Abhinav Bindra, Vijay Kumar or Sushil Kumar as they non Tamilians?

My biggest question- how is this different from encouraging regionalism on the basis of language?

We have the legendary example that anyone from below the Vindhya’s is classified a Madrasi. Similarly UP-Bihar contribute to the Bhaiyya populations in the country. If that’s all about identity crisis, our Seven North Eastern Sisters just go down as Nepali’s or Chinkoo’s. Now isn’t that a great division on simple Geography as the base.

Now not in a mood of rebuttal, I saw another story which does evoke uproar. BMC or the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation gave a month for shop owners to host boards with Devnagri script- the same in which Hindi or Sanskrit or Marathi are written. Boards in Dual languages i.e. English and Devnagri are also welcome. The ruling Congress-NCP coalition has no objections, the Shiv Sena in the BMC imposes the proceedings and the MNS makes it fodder for propaganda. On legal terms, there is nothing wrong, except that the size of the letters is completely at the owner’s discretion. But the end result- people refuse to oblige making it appear more like an extension of MNS Anti-North Indian protest.

I won’t support the MNS in its ways. Its issues are real at times and actually valid in regional terms. After all, isn’t that a Regional Party, with a Region centric agenda? If a farmer in Maharashtra has given his land for economic development and now is rendered jobless after his place was given to an outsider ready to work at half the wages, he has a reason to feel deprived in his own house. Violence as a means of expressions is never justified. But then are strikes, road blocks a fair means?

Frankly, if the current issue with sign boards is a problem indeed, how can it be fair in Kolkata where they can be in Bengali and English, or if Amritsar can have them in Punjabi. This is after all Devnagri, the script for the national language? If all political parties in Mumbai are promoting regionalism, how come their rallies start with “Vande Mataram” and sign off with “Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra”?? (State followed by the Nation)

If regionalism is merely supporting your regional culture, language and its people, no one has taken its advantage more than Television channels. When SMS voting can be a factor to decide if Abhijeet Sawant is better than Amit Sana, one can say that Maharashtra had a deeper penetration of cell phones than Chattisghad. When Ishmit has the whole Punjab to support and Debojit is flying high on votes of Eastern India some how we forgot that we were voting for talents rather than regionalism.

I’m in no mood to draw any conclusions…rather this is not something I intend to do. What I’m out to seek is what exactly Regionalism is?

Is India or Bharat still one country or now just a Union of States?


- Tushar