Regionalism L😊L
IGNOU Chapter 21 Regional Imbalances
What is a region? The idea of region depends on the context. It is usually based on territory, but that
is not the only criteria. Other than territory, there must also be cultural linkages which provide the
self-identification of a region as such. Different factors such as geography, religion, ethnicity,
language, customs, level of development, common historical experiences, etc. are important in
fashioning a region. The same green fields on either side of Wagah border. The birds fly across. It is
we humans who consider the people across as another nation. Social construction of reality.
At the national games whom do you support? But when India plays in the World Cup whom do you
support? When there is a case involving migrant labourers what do you feel?
What is regionalism?
Regionalism is an identity that is often opposed to nationalism. In the study of Indian society and
politics, regionalism generally refers to tendencies that give importance to one’s region and regional
interests as opposed to the nation and national interests (however it is defined). We may define
regionalism as “an organised effort on the part of the regional leadership not necessarily related to a
political party in articulating the regional grievances and aspirations within the formal and informal
democratic forums and using its hegemony for the popular mobilisation. It is on the basis of the
assertion of the regional identity by the community that the regional elite negotiates with the
centre” (44) The regional elite negotiates with the centre by asserting regional identity.
Related concepts: Narrow regionalism is called parochialism. Related to this is the concept of “the
nativist movement that signifies the conflict between the migrants and the sons of the soil. Myron
Wiener holds nativism as a form of ethnic identity that seeks to exclude those who are not members
of the local or indigenous ethnic group from residing and working in a territory because they are not
natives.” (43)
History of Regionalism in India
India has so many regions, all different from each other. How we became a nation should be the
biggest surprise. The fact is, it was British rule and the national movement to establish independence
that actually consolidated these different regions with different languages and customs and religions
together in what we know today as the nation that is India (Benedict Anderson – communities
imagined into existence; G. Aloysius – Nationalism without a Nation).
During the time of the national movement it was imagined that independent India would become a
federation. Now what is a federation? A federation is a form of government in which the individual
units are more important and powerful than the group as a whole. America is the first and best
example of federalism. England on the other hand had a unitary form of government with one
strong central government, and all the laws, decisions and resources come from the centre.
different units come together to form one large association. Here the units are the deciding bodies
so there is a lot of importance given to the voice of the units. America was initially formed by 13
British colonies that came together to fight the British. There the states have their own government,
flags and even Constitutions. The states have more power than the centre in many matters, and the
Centre is responsible for diplomacy, defence, etc. It may have small districts for administrative
convenience, but no other governments below it.
Because India was so diverse – name the diversities in India – during the national movement the
trend was to support the idea of a pan-Indian federation, which would be the best because the units
IGNOU Chapter 21 Regional Imbalances
What is a region? The idea of region depends on the context. It is usually based on territory, but that
is not the only criteria. Other than territory, there must also be cultural linkages which provide the
self-identification of a region as such. Different factors such as geography, religion, ethnicity,
language, customs, level of development, common historical experiences, etc. are important in
fashioning a region. The same green fields on either side of Wagah border. The birds fly across. It is
we humans who consider the people across as another nation. Social construction of reality.
At the national games whom do you support? But when India plays in the World Cup whom do you
support? When there is a case involving migrant labourers what do you feel?
What is regionalism?
Regionalism is an identity that is often opposed to nationalism. In the study of Indian society and
politics, regionalism generally refers to tendencies that give importance to one’s region and regional
interests as opposed to the nation and national interests (however it is defined). We may define
regionalism as “an organised effort on the part of the regional leadership not necessarily related to a
political party in articulating the regional grievances and aspirations within the formal and informal
democratic forums and using its hegemony for the popular mobilisation. It is on the basis of the
assertion of the regional identity by the community that the regional elite negotiates with the
centre” (44) The regional elite negotiates with the centre by asserting regional identity.
Related concepts: Narrow regionalism is called parochialism. Related to this is the concept of “the
nativist movement that signifies the conflict between the migrants and the sons of the soil. Myron
Wiener holds nativism as a form of ethnic identity that seeks to exclude those who are not members
of the local or indigenous ethnic group from residing and working in a territory because they are not
natives.” (43)
History of Regionalism in India
India has so many regions, all different from each other. How we became a nation should be the
biggest surprise. The fact is, it was British rule and the national movement to establish independence
that actually consolidated these different regions with different languages and customs and religions
together in what we know today as the nation that is India (Benedict Anderson – communities
imagined into existence; G. Aloysius – Nationalism without a Nation).
During the time of the national movement it was imagined that independent India would become a
federation. Now what is a federation? A federation is a form of government in which the individual
units are more important and powerful than the group as a whole. America is the first and best
example of federalism. England on the other hand had a unitary form of government with one
strong central government, and all the laws, decisions and resources come from the centre.
different units come together to form one large association. Here the units are the deciding bodies
so there is a lot of importance given to the voice of the units. America was initially formed by 13
British colonies that came together to fight the British. There the states have their own government,
flags and even Constitutions. The states have more power than the centre in many matters, and the
Centre is responsible for diplomacy, defence, etc. It may have small districts for administrative
convenience, but no other governments below it.
Because India was so diverse – name the diversities in India – during the national movement the
trend was to support the idea of a pan-Indian federation, which would be the best because the units
