A tale of two friendly States

Context: A recent discovery of some
old government records at the Regional Archives, Calicut Civil Station has portrayed
the close ties between Kerala & Assam. One of the official files was titled
as ‘The Assam Earthquake Fund’ which has the record of a massive tremor that
hit Assam in 1950. There are cultural differences between the peoples living in
Kerala and Assam. Despite these distinctions, the spirit of unity unites the
people of these two states. The need of the hour is to improve the ties not
only between Kerala and Assam but also between South India and North-eastern
India. Tourism, sports and games, cinema, art, and literature can break the Berlin
Wall between these two regions and bring the people closer. The easiest and
best way to achieve this is to organize festivals. For example, a Kerala
festival introducing art, literature, cinema, football, tourist centres, and
more can be organized in the northeastern states. And vice-versa.

Regionalism

·      
About: Regionalism
is a term used to describe the idea that people living in a particular region
share a common identity based on their distinct characteristics, such as
language, culture, history, and food habits. This shared identity creates a
sense of togetherness among people inhabiting a region.

·      
Factors that lead to Regionalism in
India: Geographical factors - The geographical
boundaries in India are closely linked to linguistic distribution, topography,
and climate, leading to a territorial orientation among the inhabitants of a
particular region. This induces a sense of regionalism in people based on their
symbolic attachment to their region.

Historical
and cultural factors - In India, historical and cultural
factors play a significant role in shaping regionalism. Cultural heritage,
folklore, myths, symbolism, and historical traditions contribute to regionalism
by inspiring a sense of pride and identity among people of a particular
cultural group. Political and economic realities also influence regionalism
under this factor.

Caste
and religion - When caste is combined with language conflicts
or religious fundamentalism, it leads to dogmatism, orthodoxy, and
obscurantism, further fuelling regional feelings.

Economic
factors - uneven development across different parts of India is
a primary cause of regionalism and separatism. This disparity has led to a
feeling of relative deprivation among the inhabitants of economically neglected
regions, resulting in demands for separate states.

Politico-administrative
factors - Political parties and regional leaders exploit
regional sentiments and deprivation to solidify their support bases by
highlighting regional problems in their election manifestos and promising
political and regional development to gain support

·      
Positive impacts: Preservation
of culture and traditions - Regionalism helps to preserve unique cultures
and traditions as people can express and celebrate their regional identity and
keep traditional practices alive.

Development
of local economies - Regionalism can encourage the
development of local economies by promoting investment in local businesses and
industries, potentially creating job opportunities and boosting the economy.

·      
Negative impacts: Tensions
and conflicts - Regionalism may lead to tensions and conflicts between
different regions. This can manifest as a sense of competition, mistrust, or
even hostility between regions.

Effect
on International relations - Regionalism can become a hurdle in
international diplomacy, as seen in issues such as Tamil Nadu's concerns with
Sri Lanka and West Bengal's dispute with Bangladesh over the sharing of Teesta
River water.

·      
Some regional movements in India: Supra-state
regionalism - This type of regionalism involves a group of states that come
together based on a common interest or issue, often against another group of
states or the union. The Northeastern states of India are an example of
supra-state regionalism where the states have formed a common front due to
their shared historical and socio-cultural background and their perception of
being neglected by the government.

Inter-state
regionalism - This type of regionalism involves the identities
of one or more states within the same provincial territory. It is also
issue-specific and often results in disputes, such as the conflicts between
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the distribution of Kaveri water.

Intra-state
regionalism - This type of regionalism refers to a part of a
state that strives for self-identity and development. For example, in Odisha
and Andhra Pradesh, there is often a feeling of regionalism within specific
coastal and western regions.