Regionalism in India

Definitions:
Regionalism is an approach to study the behaviour that emphasizes the
geographical region as the unit of analysis, stressing the relationship between man
and his immediate physical environment. Economic social and cultural
organisations are analyzed in terms of their interrelationships and functions
within the geographic region” -W.P. Scott.

Marshall E. Dimock considers regionalism “as a clustering of environmental,

economic, social and governmental factors to such an extent that a distinct
consciousness of separate identity within the whole, a need for autonomous
planning, a manifestation of cultural peculiarities and a desire for administrative
freedom, are theoretically recognized and actually put into effect. Regionalism is
something which remains to be realized and further developed, as well as a
phenomenon which has already appeared and taken form. In one sense, and perhaps
the best one, regionalism is a way of life, it is a self-conscious process.”

Characteristic Features:
1. Regionalism is a psychic phenomenon.

2. It is built around as an expression of group identity, as well as loyalty to the

region.

3. It presupposes the concept of development of one’s own region without taking into
consideration the interest of other region.

4. It prohibits people from other regions to be benefitted by a particular region.

Types of Regionalism:
Though the typology of regionalism is an overlapping concept, a state is widely
accepted as a unit for evolving the types of regionalism. Three main types of
regionalism may be conceived on that basis.

First type of regionalism may be designated as supra —state regionalism which

is an expression of group identity of several states. In this type of regionalism, the
group of states join hands to take common stand on the issue of mutual interest vis-
a- vis another group of states or at times against the union. The group identity thus
forged is negative in character and based on specific issue or issues.

It is not an instance of permanent merger of state identities in the collective identity.

Even at times inter-group rivalries, tensions, and conflicts may tend to persist,
simultaneously along with their cooperation. North Eastern states in India may be
said to have possessed the supra-state regionalism.

The Second type of regionalism may be designated as inter-state regionalism

which is coterminous with provincial territories and involves juxtaposing of the
identities of one or more states against another. It is also issue specific. The issue is
highlighted because it sabotages their interest. Disputes between Karnataka and
Tamilnadu over the distribution of Kaveri water may be construed as inter-state
regionalism.

The Third type of regionalism refers to intra-state regionalism wherein a part of

the state strives for self identity and self development and therefore, it is taken in a
positive sense. In negative terms it militates against the collective interest of the
state as well as the nation. As for instance there is always a feeling of coastal region
and western region in Orissa.

Do you know the reasons behind the birth of

Regionalism in India
Regionalism is a political ideology that focuses on the
national or normative interests of a particular region,
group of regions or other subnational entity. The rise of
regionalism in India is due to diversity and variation in the
India economic and social culture.
Regionalism is a political ideology that focuses on the national or
normative interests of a particular region, group of regions or
other subnational entity. These may be delineated by political
divisions, administrative divisions, cultural boundaries, linguistic
regions, and religious geography, among others.
India is a country of unity in diversity, where the power of unity is
strong in spite of diversities in area, population and human-
cultural factors. This power helped to develop Indian Federation.
The rise of regionalism in India is due to diversity and variation in
the India economic and social culture.

Reasons behind the birth of Regionalism in India

There are various reasons for its emergence of Regionalism in
Indian Politics such as:

1. Language
It is an important factor of integrating people and emotional
attachments are developed, consequently, the demand of
linguistic states started. Although, the intensity of the demand of
linguistic states has been decreased now, yet the regional
conflicts keep rising in the interest of language. Therefore, the
problem of determining the national language of India has been
an issue for a long time.

The movement for linguistic states: Before Independence-

Orissa Province became the first Indian state (pre-independence)
organized on a linguistic basis due to the effort of Madhusudan
Das who is considered as the Father of Oriya nationalism. Post-
independence, the first state created on a linguistic basis was
Andhra in 1953, created out of the Telugu-speaking northern
parts of Madras State.
2. Religion
It is also one of the major factors of the regionalism. For
Example: The demand of three autonomous states in Jammu &
Kashmir is based on religion. The bases for their demands are-
Kashmir for Muslim dominated, Jammu for Hindu dominated and
laddakh for Buddhism dominated region.

3. Regional Culture
In Indian context the historical or regional culture considered the
prime components of regionalism. The historical and cultural
components interpret regionalism by way of cultural heritage,
folklore, myths, symbolism and historical traditions. The North-
east states were created on the basis of cultural aspect. Besides
the economic issues, the regional culture played significant role in
the formation of Jharkhand as a state (Formation Day: 15
November 2000).

Regional Distribution of Tribes in India

4. Economic Backwardness
It is also major factors for the regionalism in India because the
uneven pattern of socioeconomic development has created
regional disparities. The categorization and sub-categorization of
the states on the basis of socioeconomic indicators have
generated resentment against the central leadership. For
Example: Under Gadgil Formula (amended), the states like
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are given
special status and received 90% Central Financial Assistance. On
the other hand, backward state likes Bihar getting only 30%
waiver. Under the planned development, the differences between
agriculture, industry and other infrastructural development
encourage the regionalism.
5. Rise of Political Parties
The elitist character of leadership and unwarranted intervention
by the centre in the affairs of the state has rendered the state
vulnerable to regional forces. Sometimes, regional parties ignore
the national interests and promote the regional interest only.
Sometimes the regionalism helps to safeguard the minority
interests. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the TYC etc. belong to
this category of the regional political parties.

The Benefits of Regionalism;

Regionalism is important to you because it has been proven to make
governments more efficient and effective. More efficient and effective
governments help keep taxes and fees lower while providing you and your
family with a higher quality of life.

Regional coordination and planning is also crucial for the success of

undertakings that are too large or complex for any one unit of
government to address. Issues such as economic development, solid
waste disposal, groundwater management, and preservation of the
quality of life in the region are examples of challenges that require
 regional cooperation. This same characteristic manifests itself in large
rural areas where the relative small size of the local units of government
compared to the geographic area under their jurisdiction may hamper their ability
to address important planning and implementation issues.

A multitude of programs and projects are initiated each year at the

federal, state, regional, and local levels. These programs have specific
goals which usually interfere with one another. Regional planning
commissions create the needed venue and framework to coordinate
these programs and goals into a congruent whole and supporting the
goals and objectives of the region. This coordination is needed to
integrate various federal, state, regional, and local plans, and to improve
the effectiveness, mutual reinforcement, and synergy among various
planning efforts. It will also help make the plans more coherent and less
confusing to the public and elected officials. With a concerted effort to
ensure that the various public and private representatives have
coordinated their efforts, their constituent groups and citizens will also
be more likely to support it – thus unifying efforts to achieve the quality
of life desired in the region. This premise is particularly relevant in the
more rural regions because it enables the units of government in these
regions to compete for state and federal monies and programs more
effectively.

As municipal budgets are strained and programs suspended or

curtailed, cooperative program delivery schemes that provide for the
coordination of services and the pooling of resources become more
important. Long-term and area-wide planning for the delivery and
combining of these services become critical in the task of maintaining
services by improving the efficiency of delivery and cost-effectiveness
through economies of scale. Regional entities are prime venues for
discussing, planning, and implementing such areawide solutions.

Therefore, the benefits from regionalism and regional approaches to

planning and coordination of services come from the effectiveness and
efficiency of pooling resources, and from utilizing the available structure
and capacity within regional development organizations. These regional
entities have the areawide leadership and governance framework, program
diversity and capacity, and long-term strategic focus to serve as the lead
entities to better integrate federal community and economic development,
housing, land use and transportation planning, environmental and resource
planning, and project development.