Has the formation of linguistic states strengthened the cause of Indian unity?
(200 words, 123 M)
Nehru felt that young India fresh from communal riots and partition cannot afford to encourage regionalism and instead desired for a homogenous pan-Indian identity to be built by burning other identities. He wasn't happy when circumstances forced him to declare the first linguistic state.
However, with the benefit of hindsight we can safely conclude that his fear was unwarranted and recognising the heterogeneous identity of Indians in fact strengthened unity.
Linguistic reorganisation of India was the most logical and obvious idea for creation of culturally similar administrative units.
Linguistic states strengthened the unity of India in the following manner:
- Creating linguistic states helped each state to officially patronise its language. People, now assured that their culture and language were secure, had no problem in learning other languages (Hindi in this case) or appreciating other cultures out of their own free-will. Many festivities have become pan-India e.g. Chatth Puja has become quite popular in Gujarat.
- It put an end to fissiparous tendencies that would've balkanised the country on the basis of language.
- It fulfilled the aspirations of people to have autonomous political units for governance.
- It led to development of vernacular languages and imparting of education in them, thus facilitating literacy.
- Development and adoption of vernacular language also enabled political participation by the common man and enabled the common man to voice issues of concern in a familiar language.
- By accepting diversity instead of seeking to level it, India had indirectly strengthened the federal fabric of the nation and stalled escalation of region-centric grievances into violent forms. Regional representation ensured that all genuine grievances are channelized through democratic means and thus, addressed.
Thus, without armies to quell regional separatism constantly, India remained united in spirit as it recognised the need of different communities to retain their identity and did not attempt to homogenise it. Instead it allowed the heterogeneous composition of India to remain intact while weaving them together with Indian soul.
However, on the down side, linguistic reorganisation also led to several unintended consequences such as regionalism, linguistic, chauvinism and foundation of the 'Sons of the soil' doctrine.
There are several issues that are a threat to India's integrity - ethnic clashes, demand for new states, militancy, Inter-state water disputes etc. But the political leadership of newly independent India had the foresight to visualise the consequences of not accommodating the popular aspirations.
Their decision to linguistically reorganise the states has therefore removed one important factor that would've jeopardised India's integrity and thus, strengthened the cause of Indian unity.