Connecting The Dots...

Lines are effective means to bring sense into a system. To join distinct points and form shapes, Underscore to emphasize a point, dashed ones to demarcate relationships, arrowed lines to give a sense of direction and superscripts to wipe out a word, a meaning. Defining wonders with a simple dash, they go further in their humble quest; to move mountains and pave ways; to create geographies and change history. As much as they can join, they divide as well –marking boundaries and separating nations. Dividing regions and creating new states; sometimes leading to peace, and sometimes disrupting it.

While more often than not, you see a distinct emotion associate with a divide, there are times when you find both – a sense of happiness for some, moments of sadness for others. The separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh as a state is one such example.

Telangana - the “state” of “Telugu” speaking people from the pre-independence era. The region that never really accepted a merger with Rayalaseema and Seemandhra. Just as the “Marathi” speaking parts and “Kannada” speaking parts were merged with Maharashtra and Karnataka resp.; all the Telangana people wanted was to have their “own“ Telugu speaking region to be left alone as well. But that was not to be. On November 1st 1956 Andhra Pradesh was formed by merging Andhra State with Telangana.

Source: Wikipedia

The resistance for a merger might have had a basis back in the fifties, but the generations that form the pillars of the state today were born in united Andhra with little or no exposure to what might have transpired in the past. Despite the potential irrelevance in today’s context, it is worthy to note how an old sentiment has managed to implant itself through generations together without any earth shattering logic attached to it… Probably disappointment and discontent are such grave injuries that they don’t always heal; not even with time. Fifty years and some random uprisings later, the emotions are still strong; strong enough to fight; lethal enough to kill. 

After years of constant pressure and persevering revolt, the central government decided to draw the line; dividing the people and splitting the land they belong to. 

That one line has caused many a hunger strikes, given enough reason to adjourn the parliament proceedings and tear papers outside the assembly. A lot of emotions have surfaced; many that were buried for decades and others that took birth the day the line got drawn. The Seemandhra region has stood up in protest and their presence is not so minor that it could be ignored. Also what could not be ignored is the Sri Krishna report that gave a recommendation for a united Andhra after rounds and rounds of meetings with people from across the regions. Despite the widespread protest and well researched recommendations, the central government decided to go ahead with the division. There was no thought or planning that went into it; be it in terms of infrastructure usage, water distribution or anything else. Whether all three regions that makes up Andhra today (Telangana, Rayalaseema and Seemandhra) are mature and developed enough in terms of resources and services, employment, facilities and administration was not a matter of importance. All that was needed to be done was draw the line. 

There must have been a dozen odd reasons behind the move with vote banks probably topping the list, and regionalism following closely on the heels. While political gain does not make the eyelid bat, regionalism definitely makes the mind put its thinking cap on.

Divisions can be understood and accepted when there is a strong rationale to base them on. If there are enough dots for the line to connect, such that there are more unique characteristics than there are commonalities, a divide starts making sense. But when you see that racially, culturally as well as from a religious standpoint there are only similarities you realize that there really are no dots through which a line can be drawn. 

Culturally speaking both Telangana and the rest of Andhra represent the same beliefs and lifestyle, and follow similar customs. Telugu is the predominant language spoken, a sign of how different things stand today vis-à-vis the language-based divide that prevailed pre-Independence. Makes one wonder why anyone would want to tear a unified culture into two.

From a racial standpoint, they all began their journey from the same starting point. Just as most south Indians, they belong to the Dravidian race and share a common history. Nothing has changed so far, nor has any prospects to in the near future. Then why would one find difference amongst one’s own kin?

The most sensitive of all – Religion. Predominantly Hindus, with Muslims and Christians forming the minority, the philosophies are the same and so are the traditions and beliefs that form the basis of similarity in lifestyle across the regions. Keeping aside the Naxalite presence in some parts, the state is not known for any other extreme violence or communal act. Then why would anyone want to disrupt the harmony?

Finally, the people - The ones whose views and sentiment should count the most. When the Sri Krishna report was submitted it was clearly stated that a majority of the people do not want a division. Despite the dominant view from the people of the state, this decision was taken making the move seem more and more political in nature.

What destroys a perfectly reasonable brotherhood? One, which has coexisted and complemented each other? What makes “representatives” of one group to demand a different state only on the basis of geographical proximity and to harbor such negative thoughts?

No logical answer makes way to the mind; it does however seed a thought. If people who come from the same culture, religion and race cannot stay united what does it say about their sentiments towards the entire nation? Why should they have any sense of belonging to the country when they don’t with their own state? What if such feelings reside in the minds of communities across the rest of the country? What message does it give out to the rest of the nation and for that matter the world? Can Politics be such a significant motive that bifurcating a nation does not bear any importance? The thought races ahead and wonders, would it be a matter of time before such callous decisions would become the order of the day and disintegrate the largest democracy in the world? After all, Indian attitude have always been about peeping into the neighbour’s house and aping what the neighbour does. This move has already ignited demands for a divided Mahrashtra, West Bengal, Assam and Uttar Pradesh; Just another 25 odd states to go.The thought begins to grow.

It seems as if all people need to do is go on a hunger strike, raise their voices and swing a few lathis; the job gets done – A state gets divided. The geography of the nation changes for good and the lives and future of millions of individuals gets altered permanently. For no rhyme or reason, on the basis of political sentiment a decision gets taken. The impact it has on employment, infrastructure, financial funding, administration, pending projects and the economy remains unquestioned. Despite the absence of any logical dots, all that seems to be relevant is flicking the pen and drawing a line on the map… At what cost? Well, from all of this, one thing is crystal clear… that really does not matter.