The
creation of the new state of Telengana has lent a louder voice to demands for
new states in several parts of the country.
However, after the bitter acrimony and heightened emotional reactions
both in favour and against the creation of the new state that divided party
loyalties and made or marred political fortunes of many in the last elections -
no politician may like to touch the subject of creation of a new state. Yet-
ignoring these demands is likely to leave the people more aggrieved with the
impression that people of Telengana were favoured with one set of rules but
others are now denied with another.
The
fact however is that after the reorganisation of States on linguistic basis
after independence, there have been no other rules for creation of a new State nor
there is any complex constitutional process to create a new State (approval of
simple majority in the Parliament is all required) .
In the context of Telengana, many have
even questioned the validity of language
as a basis for reorganisation of states after independence. If the criterion of
language was right- how could the same Telegu speaking people of Telengana want a separation from Andhra? Was the centrality of language in
reorganisation of states was a bad idea? Or could there have been another basis
for reorganisation of States?
To look into the question, let us start
with the demand for new states. A list of States where demands for new states
were voiced show that in 17 out of 36 States and Union Territories, there have
been demands for new states (list below). It also means that people in the
other 19 states and Union Territories (more than 50% of States) are happy with
their linguistic identity or at least have no problem with it.
In
almost all small States the demands for new States are based on separate linguistic
or cultural identity (the cultural
differences are mainly due to speaking a different language). Garos in Meghalaya want Garoland, Bodos,
Dimasas and Karbis in Assam want
Bodoland, Dimaraji and Kabi Anglong respectively. Gorkhas in West Bengal want
Gorkhaland and Ladakhis want Ladakh State.
Each of these groups is a distinct linguistic group in their respective
states. Whether such relatively small groups could qualify for new States is a
matter of Economic viability but they certainly prove the point that mother
tongue is a very strong identity, particularly where there is a concentration
of people speaking the same tongue and therefore, is the strongest argument for
reorganisation of States and that our
founding fathers were not wrong.
Both
the facts above perhaps remove any doubt about validity of language as basis of
States. But what about the demand for new States where language is no issue
like Telengana?
Look
at the list and the answer is clear- in those States where language is not an
issue, demand for new States arises in most populous States- UP, Maharashtra,
Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Gujarat. Most
significantly- the threshold for such demands seems to gain strength at the
point when population in a State crosses the 50 million mark.
Therefore
while in small States – new States are demanded to protect linguistic
identities- the reason in big States is distant and unreachable Administration
although the agitators may find excuses in very minor differences in language,
or caste etc. to push their demand. Proof that people suffer because the Administration
cannot have an effective control in such big states, is not difficult to find.
One look at the most unruly state of the country UP, irrespective of the party
governing it and it would tell the story.
In case of West Bengal, however- demand for
Gorkhaland is on double count- both by the criteria of language and population.
In
the ultimate analysis however- it is the distance between the people and state
administration, whether due to speaking different languages or geographical
distance and pressure of far too many people that motivates people to demand
new State so that they can have an administration closer to them. Both types of
distances are difficult to negotiate but language and cultural differences are
easier to reduce with a sensitive approach and policies by the administration.
The other type of distance cannot be bridged by policies. There may not be any
other option than breaking them up into smaller states.
The
demand for new states are therefore best dealt by a two pronged approach-
ensure sensitive policies and administration to marginalised and aggrieved
linguistic groups on one hand and firmly follow the population threshold of 50
million to create new states.
By the ‘50 million’
rule , four most populous states are long
due for division into smaller states.
UP
is an ideal candidate for conversion into 4 or 5 new States, Maharashtra, Bihar
and West Bengal into two each. Similarly- making future plans for similar
exercise in the next decade for Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Rajasthan and Gujarat will save government a lot of troubles in future.
Sate
|
Language(s)
|
Population (Crore)
|
Demand for New
States
|
If Language and Culture Main Reason for Demand
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
Hindi
|
19.9
|
Harit
Pradesh/Paschim Pradesh, Awadh, Purvanchal/ Bhojpur*, Bundelkhand**
|
No
|
Maharastra
|
Marathi, Konkani
|
11.2
|
Vidarbha
|
No
|
Bihar
|
Hindi
|
10.3
|
Purvanchal/
Bhojpur*, Mithilanchal
|
No
|
West Bengal
|
Bengali, Nepali
|
9.13
|
Gorkhaland,
Kamatapur***
|
Yes
No
|
Andhra Pradesh (+ Telengana)
|
Telegu
|
8.46
|
Telangana,
Rayalseema, Coastal Andhra
|
No
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
Hindi
|
7.25
|
Vindhya Pradesh, Bundelkhand**
|
No
|
Tamil Nadu
|
Tamil
|
7.21
|
No
|
|
Rajasthan
|
Hindi
|
6.86
|
Maru Pradesh
|
No
|
Karnataka
|
Kannada, Tulu
|
6.11
|
North Karnataka, Coorg,
Tulu Nadu#
|
No
Yes
|
Gujarat
|
Gujrati
|
6.03
|
Saurashtra
|
No
|
Orissa
|
Oriya, Tribal
languages
|
4.19
|
Tribal state of
Koshal
|
Yes
|
Kerala
|
Malayalam,Tulu
|
3.38
|
Tulu Nadu#
|
Yes
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
Kashmiri, Dogri,
Ladakhi
|
1.25
|
Ladakh,
Jammu/Dogradesh
|
Yes
|
Assam
|
Assamese, Bengali,
Bodo and tribal dialects
|
3.11
|
Bodoland,
Kamatapur***. Karbi Anglong, Dimasa State
|
Yes
Yes
|
Meghalaya
|
Khasi, Garo and
Jayantiya
|
0.29
|
Garoland
|
Yes
|
Manipur
|
Manipuri, Naga
dialects
|
0.27
|
Kukiland
|
Yes
|
Nagaland
|
Several Naga
dialects
|
0.19
|
Frontier Nagaland
|
Yes
|
* Bihar and UP; **UP
and MP ;***West Bangal and
Assam; #Karnataka and Kerala
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