The linguistic reorganization of States kept India unified, contrary to expectations. Analyze.
The JP movement, also called the Bihar Movement, after its leader Jayaprakash Narayan launched the movement in the backdrop of pre Emergency crises and continued during Emergency crises. Jayaprakash Narayan gave a call for ‘Total Revolution’ or ‘a struggle against the very system which has compelledRead more
The JP movement, also called the Bihar Movement, after its leader Jayaprakash Narayan launched the movement in the backdrop of pre Emergency crises and continued during Emergency crises. Jayaprakash Narayan gave a call for ‘Total Revolution’ or ‘a struggle against the very system which has compelled almost everybody to go corrupt’ and also demanded the resignation of the Congress government in Bihar and dissolution of the assembly.
Flaws In Philosophy Of Jp Movement
- Jayaprakash Narayan was justly renowned for his integrity, lack of ambition for office, fearlessness, selflessness and sacrifice and lifelong commitment to civil liberties and the establishment of just social order. But, ideologically, he was vague.
- From the early 1950s, he became a critic of parliamentary politics and parliamentary democracy. For years, he tried to popularize the concept of ‘partyless democracy’. During 1974–75 he also advocated ‘Total Revolution’ (Sampooran Kranti) but socio-economic and political content, programmes or policies of the Total Revolution were never properly defined.
- Both concepts were unclear and nebulous, and at no stage was he able to delineate or explain what a political system without political parties would involve or how the popular will get expressed or implemented in it.
- The JP movement consisted of political parties and groups which had nothing in common in terms of programme and policies and were ideologically incompatible. It included the communal Jan Sangh and Jamaat-i-Islami, the neofascist RSS, the conservative and secular Congress (O), Socialists and the extreme left Naxalite groups.
- Almost entirely negative in its approach, the movement could not fashion an alternative programme or policies except that of overthrowing Indira Gandhi.
Flaws In Character Of Jp Movement
- The agitational methods adopted and propagated by the JP Movement were also extra-constitutional and undemocratic and also incited army, police and civil services to rebel.
- The movement that claimed to preserve and protect democracy, tried to overthrow the democratically elected government through strikes, violent protests and in other unconstitutional ways. The ideal way would have been to wait till Indira Gandhi’s term is over and fight her in an election in a democratic way.
- The movement talked about rural transformation, but the participation in the movement extensively came from Urban India and not from rural India. The movement did not take adequate steps to ensure the participation of people from rural India.
- This is one of the major drawbacks of the movement. While more than half of India lived in rural areas, a movement extensively focused on urban problems cannot bring in the total revolution.
Despite its limitations, the JP movement had a profound impact on Indian politics. It led to the formation of the first non-Congress Government in 1977. It focussed on change in the individual as well as in society. The primary emphasis is on moral values, decentralisation of economic and political power. It also served as an inspiration for later anti-corruption movements.
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Linguistic reorganisation of the states referred to the redrawing of the boundaries of the states on the basis of language which became an important issue after independence. Though this was a long pending demand which had support of all political parties almost since the 1920's, the painful memorieRead more
Linguistic reorganisation of the states referred to the redrawing of the boundaries of the states on the basis of language which became an important issue after independence. Though this was a long pending demand which had support of all political parties almost since the 1920’s, the painful memories and impact of partition made many national leaders skeptical about this endeavour. It was feared that linguistic reorganization might affect the unity of India and may result in its balkanization. However a rational assessment of linguistic reorganization 67 years after the first linguistic states of Andhra pradesh was formed indicates that linguistic reorganization proved to be a boon rather than being a bane to Indian unity.
Fears Concerning Linguistic Reorganization
Although linguistic reorganisation was earlier accepted by the Congress leaders in 1920, many of the national leaders felt that after partition and severe communal disharmony prevailing at that time, adding one more element of division based on language will seriously impact the unity of India. This view was seconded by various committees like Dhar committee, JVP committee, and even SRC on the basis of which finally linguistic reorganization happened.
How Linguistic Reorganization Kept India United
After independence,demand for linguistic states was on the rise as could be seen in case of the demand for the Andhra state which was led by Potti Sriramulu His death after a 56 days fast further accelerated the movement and led to the formation of the Andhra state. However,this spurred the struggle for formation of other states on linguistic lines in other parts of the country. Resulting appointment of the States Reorganisation Commission in 1953 which gave nod for linguistic reorganization of states. The SRC act passed in 1956 led to the formation of 14 states and 6 union territories. Despite initial inhibitions towards linguistic states,it was later accepted that linguistic reorganization kept India united.
The disputes over boundaries between different states, linguistic minorities and economic issues such as sharing of waters, and power and surplus food still persist. However, the linguistic reorganisation of the states has removed an important contentious issue that could have jeopardized India’s integrity and has thus strengthened the cause of Indian unity.
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