ARTICULATION OF REGIONAL IDENTITY AND DEMAND FOR SEPARATE STATEHOOD IN INDIA

Abstract

This paper deals with the formation of states in India and discussesthe issue of the demand for separate statehood in the context of regionaldevelopment. The British divided India into provinces on the principle ofadministrative convenience. The Indian National Congress was preoccupiedwith national integration and underplayed the need for regional division ofIndia, especially on the basis of language. But demand for recognition oflanguage as the basis for state formation forced the government to appointthe State Reorganisation Commission and effect a major reorganisation ofstates on the basis of language in 1956. Subsequently there have been furtherdemands for statehood based on issues other than language, especiallyethnic identity and regional development. Recognition of regional identityhas its positive role in a federal nation like India. But it can have negativeconsequences such as inter-state conflicts and strain in centre-state relations.Disparity in regional development has been an underlying factor in thecontinuing demands for separate statehood in India. The answer to thisissue has to be found in the joint efforts of the central and state governmentsto reduce regional imbalance in development rather than reorganisation of
states.