1. Linguistic States: Problems and Perspectives HEMANT A G

2. . India is not only unique in terms of itsdiversity but is also a classic example of a multicultural, multi-religious state following a policy of multilingualism. India adopted a federal form of government after Independence in order to provide a certain degree of autonomy to the states to formulate their own laws and policies which would help the different linguistic groups to protect and promote their language and culture. In the Indian federal structure the sub- 3. Creation of Linguistic states History Bengal Partition Resolution of 1905 Montague-Chelmsford Report,1918 The Nehru Committee report of the All Parties Conference of 1928 the INC -the Calcutta Session of October 1937 -its election manifesto of 1945-46 The Dar Commission,1948(the Linguistic Provinces Commission) JVP Committee The States Reorganisation Commission,1955 4. DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR History shows that democracy cannot work in a State where the population is not homogeneous.In a heterogeneous population divided into groups, which are hostile and anti-social towards one another, the working of democracy is bound to give rise to cases of discrimination, neglect, partiality, suppression of the interests of one group at the hands of another group which happens to capture political power. The reason why in an heterogeneous society, democracy cannot succeed is because power instead of being used impartially and on merits and for the benefit of all is used for the aggrandizement of one group and to the detriment of another. On the other hand, a state which is homogeneous in its population can work for the true ends of democracy for there are no artificial barriers or social antipathies which lead to the misuse of political power. 5. Constitutional provisions PART ITHE UNION AND ITS TERRITORY 1. Name and territory of the Union : 2. Admission or establishment of new States: 3. Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States: 6. Language Policy of India LANGUAGE Art.343 official language of union. Art.345 official language orlanguages of a state Art.348 languages to be used inSC&HC. Art.351 directives for developmentof Hindi language 7. formation of Linguistic states Formation-The Linguistic states were formedspecially for two reasons. The reasons were (i) to make easy the way to the democracy and (ii) to remove racial and cultural tensions. Legal framework-the States Reorganisation Act of1956 States created on linguistic basis 8. STATE REORGANISATION COMMISSION FACTORS IN FAVOURMINIMUM DEGREE OF HOMOGENITY POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORKEDUCATION INTERNAL INTEGRATIONFACTORS IN AGAINSTLINGUISTIC EXCLUVISM DOMINANT LANGUAGE GROUPUNEVEN DEVELOPMENT OF INDIAN LANGUAGES PLANNING 9. Problems of linguistic states Opposition to National official language Growth of regionalism Effect on Center-State Relations Socio-Political Growth Distribution of resources Son of soil theory 10. Consequences of linguistic division of states Regionalism Exploitation of people by Politicians Erosion of national feeling Emergence of regional Political Parties Demand for separate states Threat to sovereignty 11. AndhrapradeshTelangana Vidarbha: water deprived Land alienation angers Bodos Fight over regional resources drive demand for new states Disunited states of Uttar PradeshBundelkhand: neglected during droughts 12. Accepted, this hasnt solved all problems. But the problems could have been greater otherwise. One may ask, if creating linguistic states was wise, how demand for smaller states like Telangana, Vidarbha are cropping up. This only proves that language alone may not be the deciding factor to match todays complexity moreover these demands were initially based on economic backwardness as against rest of the state; cultural imposition is not the principal grievance. Granting genuine demands of separate states will not be detrimental to India; theyll improve the representation of the region at national level, dissipate their resentment and reinforce their commitment to the Indian Union. 13. We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.