It was back in school when our social science teacher was teaching us about social problems in India. He mentioned cast system, gender discrimination, communalism and regionalism. And I wondered, regionalism,is that really a problem?? I didn't quite understand why there would be animosity among people who belonged to different states of the same country. Twelve years post that social science class I have come to realise that if there is one problem which is growing stronger by the day is regionalism.
It was refreshingly surprising to see spirit of people post July 2006 bomb blats in Mumbai. Dispite irreparable damage caused to many families in the city, everyone managed to stay united. Guess many were suspecting communal violence as an aftermath! But the only focus for people living in the city remained to help the ones in need and to defeat every possible ill motive. This was one mishap which everyone in the city managed to overcome. But another event which was astonishing was when just because one politician of Maharashtra made comments against the one in UP, a bunch of people were so moved that they could not help taking out their anger on taxi drivers!!!! I mean, really!! How on the earth were those taxi drivers enjoying the piece of cake that belonged to Maharashtrians??
Fortunately or unfortunately, every few years I end up moving from one state to another and in this process I have noticed some of the following divisions:
First division to come to notice was between North India and South India. Then there is North East India (belonging to seven sisters). This is not it! In South India, you would not notice much of sense of belongingness among people living in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (the latest Hogennakkal dispute between these states proves it!).
And, yes its not only between states. We in India have cities which are completely oblivious to what goes on in rest of the country and consider their city as a country in its own. I was ammused when a lady in Mumbai asked me if MP had electricity!Well, its a personal choice whether or not one wants be aware that the other parts of India have also progressed. Often, the ones who move from a small state/ city to a bigger one are encountered with several strange situations. Even icons like Amitabh Bachhan are not spared!!
Just a thought....should we in India have a federal system where citizens are required to obtain visa for travelling across the states??!!
The idea here is not to offend anyone. Assess for yourself.
No comments:
Post a Comment