16 December,2009 08:40 AM IST | | Qasim Mehdi
The nation has undergone a major transformation between the 19th and 21st centuries. The transformation started in the common Indian household and soon took the entire nation into its vicious fold. First, we started crumbling under the guise of nuclear families, thus breaking the strong joint-family bonds for the sake of authority, autonomy and liberty. Later, the entire society took a cue from the so-called revolutionary global approach and brought in the need for a separate identity, which was very distinct from where we actually belonged. And now, with a hoard of cunning, manipulative and opportunist politicians who have mastered playing the game of divisive politics, naive people across the country are crying for separate regions.
In 2000, the BJP had formed three new statesu00a0-- Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhandu00a0-- claiming that it will prove beneficial for the region and its people. However, even after nine years, neither the people nor the states have made any progress. All that these states have earned so far is a handful of corrupt politicians who have made a quick buck by fooling the gullible janta. And now again, with the demand for Telanganau00a0-- by staging a well-publicised fastu00a0-- K Chandrasekhar Rao has revived his dying political career. His success has started a trend of sorts among netas who have started demanding separate states, not for themselves, mind you, but for the sake of 'the people'. The Centre's acceptance of Telangana has actually served to boost other movements for statehood, including the demand for a new Gorkhaland state in Bengal; Poorvanchal, Harit Pradesh and Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh; Vidarbha in Maharashra; and Bodoland in Assam.
Besides, the reason given by them is pitiful. Recently, Madam Maya of the Hindi heartland said that smaller states can be managed better from the administrative and developmental point of view. It simply shows that she is either incapable of running the largest state in the country or she has some other vested interest.
Besides, she had mentioned that it's necessary to give due importance to the aspirations of 'the people'. Well, we do understand whose aspirations she actually meant.
Frankly speaking, it is corruption and poverty caused by failed government policies and improper governance that has led to such a situation. A change of name or geographical boundaries will not change anything. It is high time that people belonging to the political tribe realise that what we really need is the empowerment of the real people and autonomy at the lower level, which will aid the state of our development.
