Regionalism – UPSC GS1

India is witnessing the re-emergence of subnationalism as a political idea.

The key issue of contention is regarding a separate State flag for Karnataka.

Karnataka is neither ruled by a regional party nor has shown any significant separatist or secessionist tendencies in the past.

Karnataka has had an unofficial yellow-and-red flag for almost 50 years, the government is now considering adopting an official State flag.

Protest against the imposition of Hindi, most notably on the signboards of Namma Metro stations in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly come out in support of the State flag and against the use of Hindi signboards in the Metro.

The nationalist movement had furthered a pluralistic idea of India.

The following key legislative moves ensured that Indian national identity is not homogeneous.

States Reorganisation Act, 1956: green signal for formation of states based on linguistic criteria.

The Official Languages Act of 1963 prevented the planned transition of India’s official language from English to Hindi. These key legislative moves ensured that Indian national identity is not homogeneous.

The first-past-the-post electoral system tends to favour ethnocultural majorities, but there are also certain group-based fundamental rights provided in the Constitution, such as in Articles 29 and 30.

Part XXI of the Constitution has a set of special provisions for certain States and sub-State regions, while the Fifth and Sixth Schedules give special institutional measures for the administration of areas with high Scheduled Tribe populations.

The accommodation of linguistic and cultural diversities does not merely help maintain the integrity of India’s national boundaries, but also promotes positive social outcomes.

Greater the level of subnational solidarity, higher will be the State’s commitment to social welfare.

Kerala’s success is the most striking example.

She contrasts Kerala and Tamil Nadu with Uttar Pradesh, a development laggard with little subnational solidarity.

India’s pluralistic nationalism celebrates the coexistence of multiple identities.

The assertion of subnational pride in States like Karnataka counters attempts at advancing the homogenising narrative of Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan.

As long as subnationalism is not secessionist, or aimed at othering sections of the population, it should not be viewed as a threat, but rather as a constitutive element of India’s plural democracy.