Regional Chauvinism of political parties in India Essay Example

mainly concentrate on analyzing the activities of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Maharashtra and their influence on state politics.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has been largely inefficient in its role in Maharashtra, and its cause has only led to divisions among the residents of the state, thus impeding its progress.The term paper will adopt a doctrinal approach for research and involve a perusal of scholarly articles. It aims to explain regionalism through a detailed discussion on its meaning, answering the basic question of ‘what is regionalism?’. The paper will also examine the evolution of regionalism in India, particularly in Indian politics. In order to provide a holistic commentary on the topic, the causes of regionalism will be mentioned after explaining its definition. Additionally, a detailed case study of MNS and its politics in the state of Maharashtra will be undertaken, analyzing the party's evolution, adopted practices, morality, rationale, and the repercussions of its actions.

A region is a distinct territorial unit that serves as a core for various social aspects, such as language, castes, races, social arrangements, cultural structures, and music. These elements collectively shape the concept of a 'region' and contribute to the strong sense of unity and separation felt by its inhabitants. People living in a region have a deep connection to their homeland, which can be further strengthened through collective efforts like the Indian freedom struggle that greatly enhanced patriotic sentiments across the country. Regionalism can be considered a type of nationalism known as 'Micro-Nationalism.'

At the national level, there is a dispute over regional prosperity. Globally, individuals strive for the progress of their country's interests. However, domestically,

people often prioritize their regional identity and specific regional issues. This is especially evident in countries such as India that experience substantial cultural and regional differences.

From an analytical perspective, regionalism has two meanings. First, it represents the affection of a people towards their culture, territory, language, etc. in order to preserve its identity and existence. This kind of regionalism is positive as long as it promotes unity among people based on these shared characteristics. However, an excessive attachment to one's region impedes national unity and leads to conflicts among individuals.

Political leaders exploit regional chauvinism to manipulate certain societal groups, ultimately harming the nation's interests. They use regional chauvinism as a facade to advance their hidden agenda, rather than genuinely addressing the cause they purport to support. Nevertheless, this term paper will delve deeper into political parties that authentically advocate for the rights of individuals from particular regions.

In a modern society, regionalism takes on multiple forms. Sometimes, it is simply a way to express the demands for specific rights and draw attention to concerns that affect the people of a particular region. This often occurs when a region has been denied resources or consistently neglected by the government. One example of this is the protest by the people of Tamil Nadu regarding the Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala. This demonstration exemplified regional chauvinism exhibited by individuals from both states.

One example of this occurrence is seen in cases referred to as 'Demands for State Autonomy8'. In these instances, citizens from a marginalized area, led by a political organization, rise up and request the establishment of a new state. A

recent case of this occurred in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh9, where there were calls for the creation of an independent state called Telangana. Such actions lead to regional disparities and disharmony among residents. The third scenario involves willingly seeking separation from the country itself due to feeling neglected by the central government, as witnessed in Spain's Catalan region10.

India has historically consisted of various regions, each with their own leaders. The Mughal empire united these regions but regional differences still persisted in the Indian sub-continent. Prior to gaining independence, the British imperialists encouraged regionalism as a means to maintain control and hinder unity among the people. This approach enabled the Colonial Raj to assert its dominance over a vast territory and govern India for 150 years.

As the discontentment against British rule increased, the people united and protested, fostering patriotic sentiment. After gaining independence, the constituent assembly aimed to create a constitution that promoted nationalism through a single citizenship, unified judiciary, and strong central government. Despite efforts to ensure "unity in diversity," regionalist sentiment naturally developed in India. The leadership prioritized their own advancement through a "Political Mandate."

Rather than promoting patriotism, their leadership resulted in the fragmentation of people into distinct regional societies. The initial instance occurred in 1953 when Potti Sriramulu protested and eventually died after fasting for 52 days. His demise triggered the restructuring of the nation along linguistic lines, specifically advocating for a separate state for Telugu-speaking individuals. As a result, Andhra Pradesh was formed.

During the 1960s, the DMK in South India became the first Political Party to exhibit regional chauvinism. The origins of regionalism in India

can be traced back to the Dravidian Movement that emerged in Tamil Nadu in 1925. Initially known as the Self-Respect Movement, its aim was to empower Dalits, non-Brahmins, and the impoverished. However, its focus shifted towards opposing the imposition of Hindi as an exclusive official language in regions where it was not spoken. Over time, this movement evolved into a separatist endeavor advocating for a separate nation called Dravida Nadu or Dravidastan comprising of southern states of India. In state assembly elections, the DMK defeated Congress with their leader C.N. Annadurai highlighting the fundamental differences between people from South India and those residing in the north.

The Shiv Sena in Maharashtra showcased chauvinistic behavior by promoting regionalism, opposing migrants from south India who were acquiring jobs and businesses from local residents. Although the party did not advocate for separation, it united its followers through the cause of Marathi pride.

Bal Thackeray, the political leader of the party, implemented certain measures to promote Maharashtra's development in its early years. However, these actions have received significant backlash from different societal groups. The party often resorted to vandalism and destruction of property as a means of enforcing their agenda and frequently disregarded the law. This involved preventing movies and other artistic expressions from being screened in cinema halls to show disapproval. Tragically, migrants have faced harassment solely on the basis of being migrants multiple times.

In Assam, a strong opposition has arisen against non-Assamese individuals. The Assamese people established the Lachit Sena, taking inspiration from Maharashtra's Shiv Sena, to voice their protests against immigrants originating from different regions of India. Their primary target was the

Marwaris from Rajasthan who held a considerable share in the state's industrial sector.

The Akali Dal in North India provides the final example to be discussed here. In 1987, they demanded a separate state called Khalistan, which would include Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, New Delhi, parts of Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Tara Singh, the leader of the Akali Dal, supported this demand for Khalistan based on ethnic interests and it led to ongoing terrorist activities. Since they understood that the Indian Government was unlikely to directly address this demand, the people instead aimed for greater autonomy in order to independently handle their state affairs.

Under the leadership of Bal Thackeray, the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra embraced regional chauvinism and gained significant political power. As Bal Thackeray approached the end of his career, it seemed natural for his son Uddhav Thackeray to succeed him as party leader. However, Raj Thackeray, who was heavily involved in the party's activities and shared a similar speaking style and leadership approach with his uncle, harbored ambitious aspirations for himself. Raj Thackeray desired to lead the party and advocate for the rights of Maharashtrians in the state.

Due to differences with Uddhav Thackeray, the party hierarchy prevented him from doing so. Consequently, he made the decision to leave the Shiv Sena and founded the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on 9th March 2006 in Mumbai. He believed that because it was being controlled by insignificant employees, the Shiv Sena had lost its previous fame. The Election Commission website identifies this party as a Marathi Nationalist and it has been recognized as a state party by the Election Commission of India.