I might be dropping a bomb when I tell you that Telangana was already a free princely state before a rigid and inhumane police action forced Hyderabad's integration with Andhra Pradesh in 1948. Without considering society, culture, linguistics and the outlook of the local population, the Union government zipped the two regions into one state. This hasty and miscalculated decision has come back to haunt the same government, more or less the same that is
.
While most would argue that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is a puppet of the Indian National Congress, such debates and/or accusations are feckless. The more important observation is that how such new states can help the country.
Why would division help? More importantly, how would division help? Let's start with capital cities and understand this. Any capital city of a state in India is comparatively more developed and efficiently functioning than any other city in the same state. We can start with Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, move to Patna in Bihar and arrive at Ranchi in Jharkhand. These states may be the most troubled ones but the capital cities offer a rosy picture. So do other important cities in these states. How this works is no rocket science.
Formation of a new state calls for division of power. A new Chief Minister and a new capital city is just the beginning of the change. Now this newly formed government has resources of its own. These are resources which they had to share with others before the partition. Now the state and its leaders can focus on an inclusive growth.
Although most political leaders call for a division only to give a literal impetus to the demands of the local population, division of states is crucial for India's development. We need more states. The size of these states can go on decreasing. In a layman's term, you have to understand that if India is somehow divided into 50 states, you have yourself 50 new capital cities which have to look good. The governments will do anything to make them look good. Then the focus will shift to not so prominent cities and then they'll be developed.
It is like a chain reaction. For decades, leaders have been in power and have failed to create a chain reaction. The trickle down effect is way too slow. With new states, the effect will get some much needed momentum.
But the road is difficult and more than anything else, the proprietors of such a controversial but innovative proposal, will have to address the sentiments of the people and the cheap politics of the opposition. A regressive shade will continue to linger.
Instead of digging in search for a political element behind every proposal and/or demand for a separate state, we must inquire into the benefits related to such a segregation. The folklore that demands for states will turn into demands for separate countries is not only ridiculous but one that we've heard before. When India was gifted Independence due to World War 2 and a severe Economic depression, most world leaders had placed bets on how long this complicated Union would survives. More than six decades later, the successors of those world leaders are looking towards India for almost everything.
We cannot discard the ongoing proposition of dividing Uttar Pradesh. Although yes Mayawati and her BSP members know little about the greater advantage that comes with the formation of a new state. They only see it as an opportunity to garner votes before every election. Such is the state of politics in India.
Yes we will be inviting the formation of new regional parties as well. But the entire move is worth the risk. Coalition governments are the main reason politics in India is as complex and dramatic as a circus. But we've only reached here after some considerable amount of thinking and some impulsive actions.
To wind it up, I personally believe that more states will do more good to this troubled country. We need everything fresh and new, be it states, leaders, ideas, dreams or even promises.
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| Telangana Movement dates back to 1969 |
While most would argue that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is a puppet of the Indian National Congress, such debates and/or accusations are feckless. The more important observation is that how such new states can help the country.
Why would division help? More importantly, how would division help? Let's start with capital cities and understand this. Any capital city of a state in India is comparatively more developed and efficiently functioning than any other city in the same state. We can start with Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, move to Patna in Bihar and arrive at Ranchi in Jharkhand. These states may be the most troubled ones but the capital cities offer a rosy picture. So do other important cities in these states. How this works is no rocket science.
Formation of a new state calls for division of power. A new Chief Minister and a new capital city is just the beginning of the change. Now this newly formed government has resources of its own. These are resources which they had to share with others before the partition. Now the state and its leaders can focus on an inclusive growth.
Although most political leaders call for a division only to give a literal impetus to the demands of the local population, division of states is crucial for India's development. We need more states. The size of these states can go on decreasing. In a layman's term, you have to understand that if India is somehow divided into 50 states, you have yourself 50 new capital cities which have to look good. The governments will do anything to make them look good. Then the focus will shift to not so prominent cities and then they'll be developed.
It is like a chain reaction. For decades, leaders have been in power and have failed to create a chain reaction. The trickle down effect is way too slow. With new states, the effect will get some much needed momentum.
But the road is difficult and more than anything else, the proprietors of such a controversial but innovative proposal, will have to address the sentiments of the people and the cheap politics of the opposition. A regressive shade will continue to linger.
Instead of digging in search for a political element behind every proposal and/or demand for a separate state, we must inquire into the benefits related to such a segregation. The folklore that demands for states will turn into demands for separate countries is not only ridiculous but one that we've heard before. When India was gifted Independence due to World War 2 and a severe Economic depression, most world leaders had placed bets on how long this complicated Union would survives. More than six decades later, the successors of those world leaders are looking towards India for almost everything.
We cannot discard the ongoing proposition of dividing Uttar Pradesh. Although yes Mayawati and her BSP members know little about the greater advantage that comes with the formation of a new state. They only see it as an opportunity to garner votes before every election. Such is the state of politics in India.
Yes we will be inviting the formation of new regional parties as well. But the entire move is worth the risk. Coalition governments are the main reason politics in India is as complex and dramatic as a circus. But we've only reached here after some considerable amount of thinking and some impulsive actions.
To wind it up, I personally believe that more states will do more good to this troubled country. We need everything fresh and new, be it states, leaders, ideas, dreams or even promises.
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