Living Together, Separately
Advocates of smaller states have a robust case. India should look for further reorganisation as it no longer needs to fear about the country’s unity
By Ramachandra Guha
I recently came across some fascinating news reports, dating from the year 1914, on the then growing demand for a separate state for Telugu speakers. In towns such as Guntur, Nellore and Vijayawada (known at the time as Bezwada), many meetings were held, asking for a separation of Telugu-speaking districts from Madras Presidency, with areas from the Nizam’s Dominions being added on later when conditions permitted.
Read more in the Hindu
“I have long held that the creation of linguistic states has safeguarded the unity of India. Pakistan was divided, and Sri Lanka subject to a protracted civil war, because Bengali speakers in the one case and Tamil speakers in the other were refused the autonomy and dignity they wanted and deserved…”
Might not be the exact case here but quite a bit as food for thought.
Our problems began with language (1956) and may eventually proceed towards a solution along this path as Shri Guha philosophises.
Senguttuvan
Senguttuvan - January 31, 2013
3:10 am