Finally, K Chandrasekhar Rao has had his way. An hour back, the Union government decided to give in to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief’s fast unto death and set in motion the process that will lead to the formation of Telangana state.
No political party is opposing formation of Telangana! In fact, during elections, all parties had supported the Telanganga struggle.
Anyway, it’s ironic that a fast unto death resulted in formation of Andhra Pradesh & now another fast unto death has resulted in splitting of Andhra Pradesh. (The state of Andhra Pradesh was carved out of the erstwhile Madras Principality in 1953 following a fast-unto-death of Potti Sreeramulu in 1952.)
I really doubt if in today’s world, this is the right way to do things or get things done.
The controversy doesn’t seem to be over as yet. Since, there’s no word about the fate of Hyderabad, which falls in the Telangana region and should go to the new state. TRS says there can’t be Telangana without Hyderabad. There was a proposal to make Hyderabad a union territory. No word on it yet.
There is a worry if this capitulation will lead to similar demands from other regions within different states. Similar thoughts were expressed when Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand were created. There are a number of dormant struggles in many other parts of the country.
I have a feeling that this trend of carving out smaller states is going to continue. For one strong reason, that it’s an emotive political weapon for our politicians. Tomorrow, another politician, looking for some issue, will launch an agitation for his region to be declared as a state… Sad that development or some other such strong criterion wasn’t the reason behind Telangana formation.
The inevitable question that’s being asked: Who is going to fast next and for which region?
This is the worst thing that could have happened to that area. It’s horrible, it’s awful—united we stand, divided we fall.
Tnx for breaking the news Pradeep..
An apolitical,practical & personal view:
I lived in that state until recently..so that give me the moral authority
Both practically n historically, big states in India are simply ungovernable or mighty diff to govern.. we just have to look around. AP too is not an exception.. hence am happy from this practical angle..
What am apprehensive abt is the fact that, historically we are never know to keep the larger picture in mind when it comes to carving out new states.. this new state would’ve satiated the immediated urges of one section.. the division is more base on compelling political factors rather than equitable distribution of the abundant natural resources.. hence further tilting the economic imbalance btw states..this is not a pretty picture in the long run..
I simply pray i dont turn prophetic !
PS: I refrain from commenting on political stunts.. for every politician finding, keeping & reaffirming his/her relevance is more an existential question than the cause espoused.
Fast unto death – this is a wrong tool that unfortunately the Father of nation sanctified.
Pradeep, I don’t believe this. How can you believe this news. Am sure, as a journo, you would want to scratch the surface before being convinced about something as big as this.
@chava—u mean AP is not being divided and people are talking thru their hats?????
Thanks Hina, Osty, Riyaz, Uday for the comments…
Udaya, are you trying to say that KCR was deceived by the Centre with a false promise to end the dangerous stalemate? Telangana may not happen tomorrow, but definitely it’s going to happen very soon, that’s my reading. I don’t think Delhi would take such a gamble of cheating.
Another interesting point here is that for the first time perhaps, we will have two states with the same first language… When states were formed, one critierion was language… a policy which many people thought was quite flawed…. Now even language won’t be a uniting factor…
Smaller states are going to happen, whether we like it or not… as Osty pointed it out, administrative factor will be one largely acceptable reason for that.
about a minute ago ·
only realtors will benefit out of this separate statehood.its just so disgusting to see the government or administration sectors falling for the black mailing tactics.Anyone with a little background can fast unto death with an IV support and under excellent medical supervision and demand whatever they want and realize it, may be its only the beginning of for disasters .
There are so many people settled or working or studying in various parts of the world,what if the people of those respective countries start thinking that we,Indians are depriving them of the jobs and ask us to leave?
Its just the same happening here,when do we realize it !!!!!
May be Telangana formation is for good, I don’t know, but one thing is certain. The way the Center has heeded to a partisan advocate and his novice party doesn’t augur too well for the integrity of the nation. What sense drives people to think that a new state will make them more developed? Gujarat is big enough, yet it is evenly developed. It all comes down to possessing and utilizing your natural resources.
Hyderabad was not built by Telengana folks, the whole state pitched in for developing it into what it is today. What will KCR do sans Hyd? NOTHING…He,his family and his partymen will thrive, afterall thats the only reason behind all these gimmicks..
Shame on Chidambaram and UPA. Lets wait n see how the rest of the state gulps this.
Even during the formation of the states people were deceived by those responsible.Thelengana could have been alloted in 1950s as well.’unity in diversity ‘has really taken a nasty turn if you analyse in many of the indian states!!
Waiting to see Telangana Restaurants in Bangalore or should i be the first to open one
Yes indeed. Half a century late!
I hope this is the beginning (resumption rather) of the trend towards smaller and more dynamic states.
At the very least we will have more clearer electoral mandates
Able LawrenceI all these Pradeshes and Naadus should go away and smaller and more cohesive states should come into being
Mukesh, Ajith and Able, thanks for your comments.
I think now the Centre should openly examine all dormant separatist movements, initiate a discussion, and settle the issue for good, even if it means creating a dozen or two more states.
Thanks Illuminati and Scorpiogenius for the comments.
I think there is also lot of sentimentality stuff coming here in here.. at the end of the day, what matters is development of people is it not.. but is that on the radar of any politician?
If you look at it, the rationale for splitting countries into states was to make it easier to administer. Given that in the 21sr century, we have the technology to administer effectively from anywhere and on any size lands, I don’t see why this would be an issue anymore.
I predict that within the next 50 years we will see all national boundaries and visa restrictions and such disappear and the true emergence of a global village….
Good point, Korula… But the fact is that, I doubt, good and better administration was anywhere on the radar of politicians who wanted smaller states.
It’s a politically correct reason that is being bandied to justify creation of smaller states. The factors playing out are emotional, sentimental, political etc…
May be as you said, the clock will go one full round, and we will have “administration without borders”.
The next big thing that is going to hit India is REGIONALISM and it is awful but i think it is by design.
I agree.. As Korula points out, political boundaries are being challenged increasingly today; which I think is a good thing since i personally am not a big fan of the nation state and other such entities.
On the other hand, as Pradeep says, the rationale for their challenge is disappointing. In the case of Telangana, it’s political gain. And in the case of national borders it’s largely about capital.
How about statehood for Kariavattom or Chanthavila, Pradeep?!!
tearing the land to bits and pieces. Taking off from Sivakumar’s suggestion, how about statehood for Chickpet or Koramangala? At least Union territory-hood?
Telangana movement more so by “students” is an ill-effect of ignoring humanties in our education.
@able- what made you think small states are dynamic and can be administered well. Did you mean Nagaland, sikhim, himachal, arunachal, jharkhand….etc Can you please give some examples. Cohesiveness doesnt come with small or big lands, I probably think you used this word for effect rather than sense. It comes with better relations.
If at all there has to be a separate state, it should be for muslims in andhra pradesh or coorgis of karnataka – why not? They make it to less than 2%of govt jobs, they have a different faith, different language,different culture and a diff party that is governing them for almost a 4 decades. And yes they are poor except for nawab owisi’s family. Now in the interest of India- if Muslims in hyderabad and coorgis are willing to co-exist, share and live better, what are our problems. we telganites (I am from Deverkonda of Nalgonda) have the same faith, share the middle names, same castes, same language, same gods still we fight with dirty jealousies and lousy calculations.
1. People who ask for better administration should fight for self governance and small government. Effectively we have 3 levels of govt, 1. Central 2. state 3. district.
If we can reduce this to 4. mandal 5. village/panchayat level
we can say its better administered.
Let the villages decide which teachers they want, let them build their libraries, lights and lamps. How can a person sitting in Nalgonda district headquaters finalise what we want in our village.
2. These same people who fight for small state can’t fight to end caste-ism or corruption. Spend some time on that and we would thank you for ever. develop systems and mechanism to end these two evils of society…if in case you have so much time.
3. Fight for free economy, not this regulated environment that creating monopolies. See we dont have voip in our country still, how can innovation come if you curtail innovation. Let people trade freely.
4. Future is full of water fights, we beg the Indian govt to start taking active step and come to us with agreeable solution for every indian in this country.
5. Cant every indian be treated equally, why these special interests? Today people living in telangana region are virtually blackmailing the Indian govt inspite of being one of the better growing and forward regions of the country.
6. Indian govt should be able to put forward a common model for whole of India. Yes, it should make sure that every state have sufficient coast line – to help people trade and reduce costs.
I hope this unnecessary fight for unnecessary cause is not fanned by politician unnecessarily.
States based on Language and culture is the best model we have. India is our government, lets not make it fall or misuse.
About my previous post, Hell lot of mistakes but I hope you are able to get the gist. I am never for political borders but since we have them, I prefer having fewer and lesser of them.
Only those borders that are designed by nature would survive and the rest would eventually fall. Nature too is dynamic and variables keep changing but we have to comeback with a model that common to all Indians.