India's tussle over new state of Telangana
With a population of 40 million, the proposed Telangana state comprises 10 of Andhra Pradesh's 23 districts, including the state capital and India's sixth most populous city, Hyderabad. A bone of contention is, of course, Hyderabad. Opponents of the move are unhappy that the city, home to major information technology and pharmaceutical companies, would become Telangana's new capital.
Nobody has forgotten the violent protests for and against the new state which rocked Andhra Pradesh last year. After a panicky federal government announced the setting up of a committee led by retired Supreme Court judge BN Srikrishna, the movement, many said, had lost its head of steam. Nothing could be further from the truth, activists say. "The movement didn't cease at all. We moved on quietly," Kodanda Ram, who heads several pro-Telangana parties and organisations, told me when I visited him in Hyderabad recently.
There have been many pro-state protests in recent months. Over 100,000 pro-Telangana petitions were submitted to the committee. Activists say that over the year the movement has mobilised grassroots support. People are hoisting a white and green Telangana 'flag' these days. In July by-elections, the regional Telangana Rashtra Samithi party, which leads the statehood demand, won 10 of the 12 assembly seats in five districts. TRS leader Chandrashekhar Rao went on a fast to draw attention to the cause in 2009.
Pro-Telangana activists feel they have a strong case. They say the accent spoken in the region is different from the rest of Andhra Pradesh; they insist that the food is different too. Most of all, they say, the region has been neglected by successive governments. Mainly a peasant society, Telangana depends on antiquated irrigation for farming. Ground water levels have fallen precipitously due to wanton extraction in absence of canal-fed irrigation. Of the 34 districts in India which face acute farm distress, nine are in Telangana. Hundreds of debt-stricken farmers have taken their lives here. The poorest of the poor in an intensely feudal state live in Telangana - the number of tribes-people and Muslims here is higher than the state average. Many social scientists I spoke to believe that the creation of Telangana will lead to significant social engineering in a state and society dominated by two major castes: Reddy and Kamma.
"Telangana will be a radically different state with a different set of welfare policies," said Mr Ram, when I asked him what exactly a new state would achieve. That's what they said about Jharkhand, a tribal-dominated state carved out of dirt-poor Bihar. Today, Jharkhand is synonymous with brazen graft and maladministration. India's experiment with newer, smaller states has met with mixed results: some of them have done well; others have failed miserably.
A member of the Telangana committee has told reporters that the new report would offer several options with pros and cons. Telangana activists will not be happy to hear that. "There can be no compromises," said Mr Ram. "If the government does not accede to our demand there will be protests and hunger strikes. The administration will come to a halt." So brace yourself for some New Year trouble in India.
PS: 2010 began reasonably well for India, but the end of the year leaves a number of its formidable institutions under a cloud.
The government, led by what many believe is the cleanest prime minister in the country's recent history, is facing a series of embarrassing scandals - ministers, bureaucrats and influential officials allegedly giving away cheap telecom licences and inflating Commonwealth Games contracts.
The army is facing allegations of corruption - and former senior soldiers have been accused of stealing homes meant for war widows.
The media is facing scrutiny after some star journalists were heard cosying up to a corporate lobbyist on leaked tapes.
The judiciary wasn't above reproach either with fresh allegations surfacing against judges and a former chief justice.
And the year ended with the conviction of leading public health specialist and human rights activist Dr Binayak Sen for helping Maoist rebels. Most believe the trial was "manufactured". "It is not Sen's ideology that threatens us," wrote independent scholar Shiv Vishwanathan. "It is his ethics, his sense of goodness. We have arrested him because we have arrested that very sense of justice in ourselves."
None of this will help make India the superpower it wants to be. Even when a host of world leaders descended during the year-end to stitch up big-ticket business deals, a sign of India's growing economic muscle, most people were unmoved. It is difficult to feel good in an atmosphere of grime.
But there are things to look forward to in the New Year. Will India lift the cricket World Cup, which it will host with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh? Will Sachin Tendulkar hunt down more glories and strengthen his case for being the greatest cricketer ever? Wishing you a very happy New Year!
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~04~RS~)
© MMX
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Although the article is quiet comprehensive, the crucial point that the author failed to mention was that it's not a separatist movement but a mere cry for original status the people had earlier.
Telangana and present costal-rayalaseema regions were merged on linguistic bases 56 years ago and the merger was neither unconditional nor permanent.
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I am afraid the Telangana activists have the faintest idea of what they want to have for their new State and the blueprint to make the region prosperous. It is equally ironic and laughable that the argument of underdevelopment of Telangana was because of Andhras while majoity of the people settled in Hyderabad are outside AP and are from Rajasthan, Maharashtra and other parts of the country. The strange fact is that people from their own region--Andhras-- who speak the same language and write the same script and more or less eat the same food, are outsiders and migrants!! The issue of Telangana is mainly related to uneven development of the region at the cost of Hyderabad, and none of the urban towns of Telangana were ever developed. If lack of development is the criterion, then 626 districts of India need to become a separate State and the old tune of small is beautiful has little meaning in the period of globalisation. The key to remove backwardness is development and division of states is no solution at all. Economic growth is the mantra and if India is in a position to call shots in the global forums it is because of its economic power and those who argue that development is possible through smaller states creation is only for political reasons. The BJP should understand this, especially its senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu, who irnically hails from Andhra.
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The original Telangana was under nijam's rule prior to independence. it became free after independence with milatary action under the supervision of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the then home minister. it was named as hyderabad state. during the formation linguistic states, Hyderabad state is reorganised with some parts to Maharastra, some to Karnataka and the majarity of telugu speaking people merged with Andhra and renamed as Andhra pradesh. the capital of Andhra from Kunrnool was shifted Hyderabad. now the capital is in Telangana region which paved way for more growth of the region. it is due to being capital, industrial development and international exposure.For our jobs, culture, festivals,education.Except State Hyderabad Telangana People dont have Good City.So many mineral like Coal, Mime stone, so many industries are their in Telangana Region but the income is going to Andhra Region,Because Telangana people dont have proper Leader since our independence.People now you can judge better for statehood of Telangana
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All such demands for smaller states (or separate country) are MAINLY to cater the desire of few people to satisfy their personal political ambitions, more precisely their financial and political greed associated with power in Indian subcontinent. These people are mainly from socially upper caste, in case of Andhra it is Rao, Reddy type people who control most of the political power and state wealth. Such people are not much intertesed to develop the state or bring prosperity to general population.
The same thing was and still is hapening in many parts of India, starting from Kashmir to Manipur. Once their personal ambition is satisfied there was, is and will not be much change in situation.
The main problem for Andhra Pradesh's poor record in agriculture is its worst social hierarchy and lack of any land reform. Majority of land holdings are in the hands of feudal lords who are more interested to get free electricity, subsidized water, fertilizer, ability (read muscle, money and political power) and unwillingness to abide by the legal obligation to pay the minimum wage and benefits (as per Indian law) to the people working the the farm sector, who are used practically as bonded labors. None of the leaders of separate state of Talengena will be ready to answer these questions, as usual (just like the present anti-Talengana leaders or parties for unified Andhra Pradesh). They hardly can understand or admit (publicly) that lack of any meaningful reform on land holding and freeing state agriculture form the clutches of those feudal landlords has given rise to the worst extremist movement in India in form of Naxalism (extreme Left movement).
Just like Khalisthan or pro-Pakistan (during British era) or Independent or pro-Pakistan Kashmir, these leaders try to portray that all the problems will be solved once they get the power. But history and reality tells us that not much changes after their whims are fulfilled.
Only few (smaller) states are doing reasonably well that were created solely due to administrative purpose, without much violent, political movements.
in that sense, creation of separate Telengana state does not give me much hope in terms of prosperity of general population and decrease of extremism in that part of India (despite of having one of the highest growth rate in India).
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Telengana-region people by comparison to rest of AP have been generally like Quebecois (minus having a dfifferent mother-tongue) compared to rest of Canada, both in the FALSE complaint (several CM's of AP--including one who later became India's PM--and two Presidents of India, AND one IAF chief all came from Telengana; analogously 6 of the 22 Canadian PM's have been Quebecois) of "unfavourable discrimination" AND associated Marxist/Maoist violence (albeit Quebec's FLQ did far less than Naxalites have done, and continue to do). Also, Telengana has the capital-city (and thus effective-funds-control) of AP.
There is NO (and never was any) VALID BASIS for "separate Telengana"!
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I am from Telangana.
It is the failure of Congress party which is in power both at center and the state. They have failed to resolve this issue in the past 7 years.
They were unable to wean away students from the agitation, like making OU administration effective. What I see is students are unruly during congress rule, and campus is disciplined during TD rule.
It is not enough to blame TRS.
Telangana people should realise that we would be loosing the long coastline AP has. Who knows, in future, with water table sinking, we may have to depend on sea water for drinking.
As is commom man is not going to get benefited. It would be bunch of politicians and babus (IAS afficers) who would be the main beneficiaries.
As is commom man is not going to get benefited. It would be bunch of politicians and babus (IAS afficers) who would be the main beneficiaries.
We are only different from other telugu people, because of the 400 year muslim rule. Still we are telugus. I am scared, we may loose our south indian identity and acquire a north indian one, because of proximity to Chatisgarh and the culture which was imposed upon us.
madhu.
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I know that I am far away and maybe have no business entering an opinion, but my opinion is that India is too big, much too big to be a viable democracy. Her pocketS of cultural diversity need their own representation and political attention. Therfore, I feel India may be better served by a "united" concept, as in the United States of India under one Federal Government.
Each year, here in Toronto, there is a celbration of the Bathukamma Festival. The last was Sept. 25th 2010.
The celebrations start with homage to all Telangana Martyers, those who died in
- the 1969 movement,
- another 39 Telanagana Veerulu in the recent months and of course
- the late Sri Puli Veeranna who passed away in India this week. Sri Veeranna was a great leader, a strong & persistent Telanganite who fought for the liberation of Telangana during his entire life.
"Bathukamma" is the traditional festival of Telangana which marks the seperate cultural identity of Telangana people.
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Jay, I completely agree with your opinion. It is very sad to see few people who are hunger of power are the initiators have championed the conflict. Countries in Europe and elsewhere are looking for logical mergers (the EU) to catch up development and agility where as so called students in this region are hugging separatism.
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In a sense I support the rise of nonsense political parties like Laloo Yadav's RJD or Mulayam Singh's SP or Mayawati/Kanshiram's BSP, or TRS or ShivSena etc. They allowed an alternative to Congress rule of dynastic politics and unipolar Indian politics. The rise of such local parties do many harms to the country, but it also gave rise to one important issue that Indian politics needed desperately since independence. It gave voice to grass-root people, power in their hands.
Since ages Indian politics was dominated by UK-US returned brown sahibs (who know more about Britain or US than India), so-called social "elites" and former feudal/political lords (who served British regime more loyally and were gifted the power to rule by their British masters). Majority of those people were and still are so naive to understand India and its common people, equally corrupt and morally bankrupt that they effectively ruined India and its long term future. Even the best of them with good intension wanted to replicate British or American model of "development" in India without knowing the country and its people, its diversity. and as expected, failed so miserably.
Rise of such native powers in the Indian political scene empowered general Indian masses. Now they demand their share of national wealth and also want to fulfill their personal political and financial ambitions (as they learned it from their predesessors).
All the conflicts, whether it is caste based or religion based or demand for a new state basically arises from it. They just exploit any form of mass anxiety or grievances to achieve their personal goal; be it caste or religion or statehood or language etc. One separate state means: one more Chief Minister, many more ministers, many more sectaries and so on. That is a lucrative provocation; too tempting to resist.
I believe that such regional and smaller political parties will shape Indian future in a good way if main-stream political parties like Congress and BJP change their ways to function. IF (what a big "if") they can do that, all such small, regional parties like TRS or SP or BSP or Shiv Sena, or TMC etc will cease to exist.
Now it is upto those big, national level political parties to learn their lessons and change the way they function- first will be to introduce an effective democracy within the party and promote people with true leadership quality and high ethics.
Till then we have to bear with such political dramas (as we see now for separate Telengana state) and put many of our young people into harms way who work for different security forces and naive/ignorant supporters of those smaller regional parties, either to making trouble or to check it (while the so-called "leaders" will maintain a safe distance and enjoy if THEIR movement become successful (as we see many times before- e.g Sibu Soren's JMM for Jharkhand).
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One can understand better what I mean in my previous post, if anyone analyze the recent fiasco of usual Indian "justice" regarding Dr Binayak Sen (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12084785). A person who deserve to get Bharat Ratna or any "Bhusan" type award (which have been given to many idiots and corrupt people before) has been charged with “treason and sedition”. In my view Dr Sen is THE most patriotic person than many Bharat "Ratnas" and "Bhusans" I have ever seen or read about.
It was a black day for Indian society and Indian democracy. It seems that anyone who speaks the truth or take side of common people against powerful political or industrial forces are surely a naxal or a maoist or a “foreign agent”.
Such denial and mockery of justice give rise to helplessness (to law abiding citizens) and anger to active, able youths who want a better life, a prosperous India. If I were an aspiring political leader, I would definitely use such genuine examples to motivate my supporters (depending on my political ambition).
The bright side is, many eminent personalities actively opposed that court judgement. The list includes ex-supreme court judges, lawyers, Noble laureates around the world (including Amartya Sen) and many other (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/binayak-sens-conviction-a-ridiculous-use-of-laws-amartya/articleshow/7179601.cms ; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7395540.stm). But in the same breath I notice that, no high profile government official or academician/"scientist" or high court or supreme court judge dared to condemn the recent Chhattisgarh high court order against Dr Sen. Any sensible person in India knows that it is not only useless but also suicidal to oppose any government and/or police decision or action unless you have very powerful political connections or desire to have your own movement (NGO or political).
When we blame naxal or any other extremist movement (be it in Kashmir or Talengana) we never analyze why it happened, who are the responsible people and policies and what are the effective measures to rectify OUR mistakes (than to become adamant and arrogantly stick to our positions and blame "opposition" party or country).
P.S: For those who do not know much about Binayak Sen can go through the following news item, "Dr Binayak Sen, My Brother, Our Hero": http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2008/08/2328 and "Free Binayak Sen Campaign":http://www.binayaksen.net/. Dr Binayak Sen was arrested and put behind bars many time before and often without trial.
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""Telangana will be a radically different state with a different set of welfare policies," said Mr Ram, when I asked him what exactly a new state would achieve. That's what they said about Jharkhand, a tribal-dominated state carved out of dirt-poor Bihar. Today, Jharkhand is synonymous with brazen graft and maladministration. India's experiment with newer, smaller states has met with mixed results: some of them have done well; others have failed miserably. "
That is the key issue here. Spin doctors like Mr Kodanda Ram promise a radically different state. My question is - How? Are they going to rewrite Indian constitution? Are they going to redesign the system under which people's representatives and officials work?
Parties like TRS are stoking the fire of regional hatred to serve their hunger for power. Even if a new state forms, nothing is going change for the masses. It is going to be the same crooked politicians who are going to rule them.
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if india is democrotic county it has to respect 40 million people voices .. dreams ...for separate state ... jai telangana .....
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The rich of telangana had crushed the poor of telangana for 100 years , the same rich of telangana once again want to control the same poor of telangana.
The so called forward castes have never allowed the poor of telangana to have any education; their own people have betrayed them.
The NRI's of (Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema) have only one goal, to amass wealth in Hyderabad; they have no interest to develop rural areas of Andhra Pradesh.
The NRI‘s of Telangana have either come back as power hungry politicians or lived in green pastures forgetting their own kith and kin.
Power hungry politicians of telangana have misled poor students; these poor students are the only hope for their parents.
Nature is more powerful than these politicians, if there is slightest possibility of selfish motives behind KCR and his family behind this telangana statehood, will this be a reality?
Mahatma Gandhi never had any selfish interest behind India’s freedom, he wanted his people to be free, and so we are free.
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@Jay and others,
Though its broadly acceptable that these statehood demands are mainly motivated by narrow interests of select few in the so called regional outfits, its all not so bad. The states governed by regional outfits are either doing far better than or not as bad economically as the other states. Eg. Sikkim and TN (leave alone the current moral turmoil there).
But often in these kinds of Individual state Demands, The point that is being noted is the geniunity of the regional Outfits who are taking up the struggle and they are judged beforehand. Also, more than deserving mud is sled on them if they even have a slightest of rebel factor in them. Only the geniuness behind the cause has to be noted not the genuineness of the guys who are high jacking the issue for their own personal agendas. The issue with Telengana is same. So as Kashmir. People in general neither have time or resources to check out the geniuness of the guys who are shouting for them. They just know to support the guys who are atleast shouting for them when everybody else is mum.
@ penoverbook
If we have to apply your logic then even the state of Andhra itself wont exist so as so many states. If we go slightly back, the current clubbing of states of India is formed only in 1899. Accept the current thing for prosperity dude, but without failing to fight for your rights within the framework.
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well written article, but I want to correct one thing in it. TRS won 11 out of 12 seats in the recently conducted bye-elections. But it is mentioned as 10 seats. The other one seat was one bye BJP with support of TRS. The election clearly reflected the mood of the people. Even the big political parties with hidden agendas like congress and TDP have lost deposits badly in almost all the constituencies.
@ penoverbook: you mentioned it right. It is not carving of separate state. Its just a demerger.
Prof. Kodandaram speaks the mood of the people in the Telangana region.
WE ARE UNITED TO FIGHT AGAINST THE SO CALLED UNITED FORCES.
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Well what can i say, if say against the article or the writer my comments dont get posted, so i say its a wonderfully written, thoughtfully crafted etc.
What pains me is the loss of good thinkers in the journalistic sense in India. Merely having leftist views and counter acting development can give these people their chance to earn, so also getting alligned with criminalistic and poltical elements will earn them the dough but as seen lately the people see the Journalist through the same prism as a politician. I can understand a person writting for Indian publication to fall to these pressures but one working for BBC also becomes the part of the crowd is new. Last comment ever on BBC, as the famous line goes, Frankly Dear I dont give a damm.....
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@ Dinesh.
Just give me ONE example where a newly formed state (after 1970s) is doing better (other than Vananchal/uttarakhand which was done mainly on the basis of administrative purpose without much blood shed). Even then they are not far better than their previous state (UP). Sikkim WAS/IS not a newly formed state cut out from a pre-existing big state. Indian states were re-organised mainly based on language. Telengana and Andhra do speak same language (although local dialects might be different, so as ANY language in any state). Difference in food, linguistic dialects, caste division etc MUST not be the basis for creating new state. The sole aim for creating Telengana seems to be satisfying political and/or associated financial greed of few "leaders" spear heading such agitations, both in Kashmir or Telengana or TN. Almost all new states, starting from Jharkhand, Chattisgahr etc are doing worse than before. Pakistan is doing far worse than when it was with India. POK is not much different either, as compared to Indian Kashmir.
Political leaders and beurocrats in powerful positions who feel that their growth (in both monetarily and politically) is supressed in the big, unified state fan such fire of separation. The same, old story of Jinnah in unified India before 1945. There is no guarantee that tomorrow some people in some part of new Talengana would start another movement to demand separation from Telengana in some pretext (may be Hydrabad vs rural Telengana, or so). Will present leaders who demand seperate Telengan allow them to get away with that demand? I do not think so.
There is NOT a single problem of telengana that can not be solved under present set-up (if political leadership so desires), neither there will be ANY benefit for local, common people if there is a new state (as I explained in my post #4 and #9).
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How many in present Andhra or would-be Talengana leaders are/will demand a meaningful land reform there; strict adherence to basic, legal benefits for agricultural or other labours in AP/Talengana? Why so-called development is restricted to H'bad? Will that be more equitably distributed once the new state is created? I assume that some shrewd pro-Talengana politician will say "yes" to all these Qs. But I am reasonably assured that that is just a fake promise for the time being (as my experiences in India tell me).
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Jay,
Every time a demand for a new state comes, all are jumping upon to quote from the Chattisgargh/Jharkhand Fiasco. They are Fiascos alright, but as I said, the genunity of the cause is to be noted on a particular Case, instead of looking the Failures of other such ventures. According to you does India shouldn’t try launching another satellite propelled by GSLV after the current Failure? How come Jharkhand and Chattisgargh become a bench mark for forming new states? Administrative aspect? Oh! The state’s Capital is in the region, and they boast about the prosperity of the same, unfortunately 9 out of the 10 districts of the same region are the most underdeveloped. Doesn’t it sound Cynical?
Your Point consists of the answer dude. Telengana was merged with Andhra based on Language, not for administrative issues. If a state should have not formed based on language or culture (according to you), then telengana should never have been merged with the newly formed Andhra state in the First place in 1956. 1970! Oh I think the struggle predates that time too. What they ask is to undo the mistake done earlier (though I’m not a full supporter of this view in the current case).
Im not for or against the state, I’m just presenting my views for the facts presented.
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@ Dinesh #20.
There are reasons why Indian policy makers selected language to re-organise states after independence. You can go through those, if you like.
If you try to determine boundary of any country, state, district, town, village on ANY basis, there will be many others "reasons" aka excuses to disagree with that and some people will always remain unsatisfied.
(You or any other pro-telegana person) Just reply the Qs I raised in my previous posts (#19, 4, 9).
There are so many reasons why smaller states fails, considering prevailing Indian socio-political condition.
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Most people who are being critical about state reorganization are just getting carried away by their inner sense of what's right and what's not. people tend to look at things critically when they bear labels like separation or anything that remotely resembles division. i bet none of these folks have gone through S.R.C-1 and do not know the issue until it was given media attention including those living in the regions of AP. Please do some home work before you express any views up on any issue and do not hold prejudices(of any sort) while reading the matters related to the issue.
P.S. U might need some knowledge in many feilds like polity, administration, why do we tend to be nationalistic etc., trust me..there's a lot to understand than to simple this is right or wrong.
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@ Jay,
please know that Telangana is a separate state until 1956.
Mr.Jay just study some geography about Telangana. Its more bigger than the present 15 states of India. How can you call it a smaller state ?
You must note that the merger is purely conditional one and you know that various recomendations by different commitees, formulas and agreements are grossly violated. How can we the people of Telangana live with such people ?
Dont you feel shame to ask us to stay united ?
If you feel to stay united then, andhra and rayalaseema stay united. Dont force us to stay united. The force will eventually bursts off !!
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It IS a reality in India that many people will immediately prefer to separate either from the country or from the current state if given a free hand. That's why Indian government and many state governments are so against a simple logical way to decide on such issues; i.e to hold a public referendum to decide such issues of separation (be it Kashmir or any other new state). Neither Kashmir, nor Talengana or any other newly formed (or proposed)states will give a written (legal) undertaking that any future demand for separation from the state will be granted based of public referendum. No, that will never happen. Ask the same Qs to those MPs (national level policy makers, in theory) that support Talengana to grant the same "independent" status to Kashmir or other statehood demands from other parts of India (e.g Gorkhaland, boroland etc).
India NEVER allowed a true federal structure, never allowed much freedom to the states to control its own finance and many other important policies (unlike many successful democracies like US, EU, Singapore etc). That's why the benefit of industrialization or many other form of so-called "development" do not reach general people, local people much (unlike many developed countries like Switzerland, US etc). That's why local political parties are so popular with such demands which ultimately give rise to extremist movements like Kashmir and Naxal etc.
If you visit any state or national level organization, you will immidiately understand that the cliche of "unity in diversity" is only on papers. Free mixing or free movement and (more importantly) acceptance of "outsiders" (outside of the state) within India hardly a general phenomenon. Bharis are not so welcome in many states, Bengalis are not welcome in NE states, North Indians are not si welcome in Southern part of India and so on. Demands for separate states manly arises from such public grivances, some of which has valid reasons, while many are not so logical but more emotional (i.e in: Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Boroland, Gorkha Land, Khalistan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Vananchal, Uttaranchal, Kashmir etc- the list very long). Some became successful others are not. Demand for a separate state is more accepted (to our political parties, mainly during current era of coalition politics) than a separate country, for obvious reasons.
In reality, In India, we hardly have any sense of unity (unless we import a foreign enemy or some kind of nationalism as in cricket). We find some kind of difference amongst us to demand something special for our own group. That "group" can be defined by many ways, depending on my ambition that can give me more mileage to get my goal fulfilled. Sometimes it is based on caste, some times it is religion or language, sometimes it si so-called "culture" and so on.
BTW, I am not against creation off any new state, not even Talengana. But I am emphasizing that MOST PROBABLY that will NOT solve ANY problem of common people in that part of Andhra Pradesh.
There are many people here who are supporting Talengana but NONE has answered my Qs I raised in #4, #9 (about land reform and associated issues) that determine the abject poverty for a vast majority of people in both Talengana or AP as indicated by Sawtik. They also fail to understand why new state (big or small) or custodians of new country (e.g Pakistan) MOSTLY fail to fulfill their promise when they started their movement/demand and what make them believe that it will be different for proposed talengana in particular?
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Dear Hasan (#23).
All the states in India were reorganized in 1956 and got its present boundaries. For detail you can read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_Reorganisation_Act.
Many parts of former princely states and many other "independent" states were divided and/or merged with other states as per specific, pre-determined rule. Some are happy (till now) while others are not so happy with that re-organization. Many in Northern part of West Bengal think that they should get a separate state (Gorkhaland) while many in Western side of the same state thinks that they deserve a separate state (mao-infested area mainly).
The same demands are there from almost every states, big or small. Demands for such new states are getting momentum as increasing number of people started considering politics and political power synonymous to money and right to do whatever (even illegal or unethical) they feel like . That's why they strike the right cord, to agitate local people. Sometimes in the name of caste or religion or statehood etc. The problem lies much deeper than Telangana or any other separate state per se.
But that does not mean you have the legitimate right to undertake a violent (or otherwise) movement to get a new state and foolishly think that it will solve ANY real problem the people of that area face now.
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@ Jay,
Iam helpless if you are a pessimist. In some comments you say smaller states will not develop and when I gave you the answer you shifts saying that Indian is not a true federal state so we cant guarantee the development of Telangana and goes ahead to say people are asking for it for the sake of politics.
People here are mature enough to decide its future. You cant expect a swiz or European or a Singapore kind of development overnight. The set up must evolve gradually.
If you are in negative mind and think India cannot be so and giving Telangana is mere waste you can think so.
The people here are mature enough to decide its future and they show the new way to do so to the entire country..
YOU SHOULD NOT THINK OF THE DEFECTS OF A BABY ABOUT TO DELIVER. WITH A BENT OF MIND LIKE YOU, YOU WILL STOP DELIVERING FEARING THE DEFECTS THE BABY MAY GET.
WHAT A NEGATIVE BENT OF MIND YOU ARE..! I PITY YOU MR.JAY. GOD BLESS.!!
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@ Hassan (326).
It is not the size of state that matters. I NEVER emphasized that part (size). It just happens that majority of new states are small but that IS NOT the problem I have with them.
For your kind info, I am not just pessimistic, but being honest. I am not form AP to defend or oppose separate Telengana. To solve a problem YOU MUST acknowledge the problem First and THEN you should be able analyze the cause for that. Then, ONLY then you may be able to suggest solutions. God can not solve any problem, it is you and me who have to do that. Cheers.
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Thanks Mr Biswas for this article. I am glad BBC is taking some interest in this issue. I am a doctor from the Telangana currently employed in the UK. I have worked in the Telangana region for 5 yrs before mooving out of India. To tell you the truth, the condition of the Telangana people is pathetic. You just have to go there. Seeing would be believing. I cannot elaborate further,because I donot have the courage to do so !
Regards
Dr Priyanka Naware
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Oh, I missed that part when you say, "YOU SHOULD NOT THINK OF THE DEFECTS OF A BABY ABOUT TO DELIVER. WITH A BENT OF MIND LIKE YOU, YOU WILL STOP DELIVERING FEARING THE DEFECTS THE BABY MAY GET".
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Really? Do you know that many (if not majority) of SENSIBLE couple get their new foetus tested for genetic diseases. If they find one, through proper screening, many decide to abort the foetus, than to give birth a child with severe birth defect and carry that on for rest of their lives and the kids life. It is not only a financial and emotional burden for those concerned people but a huge financial burden on the state health care which could have been easily avoided. Some social conservatives and religious arthodox people do not like that idea but that is very much in use in many developed countries (and also in INdia). Even some countries do not give reproductive rights to couples with inheritable, genetic defects.
It will not be so great idea when We have resonable info on how the new states behave and how much associated, extra cost have to be bourne by general tax payer only for that division (that will dent on already low expenditure on public developmental projects.
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FYI....Brief History of Telangana in Short
1948-1956----Hyderabad State was Existing with Hyderabad as Capital[at that time Geographical Entities were named after Capital Cities like Bombay,Madras,et al]
1953-Andra State was bifurcated from Madras State with Kurnool as Capital
1956-Hyderabad State with Hyderabad Capital Merged with Andra State with Kurnool Capital.................CONDITIONALLY[See Gentlemens'Agreement,SRC,1953-56],despite Justice Fazal Ali Commission recommending Separate Telangana state with Hyderabad Capital as a Separate State.....
So Telangana Name was Existing in Justice Fazal Ali Committee Report and Many Other Legal Documents
This is NOT New State but only minor name change
Just like Other Indian City/State names are Changed over the Period:
Bombay-Mumbai
Madras-Chennai
Calcutta-Kolkata
Baroda-Vadodara
Pondicherry-Puducherry
Orissa-Odisha
Uttaranchal-Uttrakhand
.................................many more
Arya Samaj was active during the Nizam Rule in 1948.
It Played a Key Role in Opposing Tyrannical Rule of Last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan[Nizam-VII].Initial Days of Nizam-VII were Very Much supportive of Hyderabad State Development and Many Projects/Airports/Railway Stations/Roads/et al were being Constructed.But Quite Opposite had Taken Place in 1948[Nizam Wanted to remain Independent Country --Free of India/Pakistan].But Indian Govt could Tame The Nizam Forces and in Brief Period of 5 Days Liberated Hyderabad State and Merged it with India.
Many Stalwarts/Freedom Fighters Joined Telangana Rebellion in 1946-51 and After Police Action in 1948[Sep 17] Hyderabad Princely State was Liberated and Joined Indian Union.Land Reforms Were Implemented in Hyderabad State after 1952 Elections after Burgula Ramakrishna Rao INC Govt.won Elections.
And Many Facts were Being Hidden from Public after Formation of AP in 1956.
Nizam Dominions were the Largest of The 590+Princely States
The Nizam of Hyderabad Enjoyed 21-Gun Salute
Travancore,Cochin were enjoying State Status until 1956[Until They merged with some parts of Madras Province!!!!]
There were More than 590+Princely States[Along with Provinces] Until 1950....Reduced to 26 States until 1956......Further Reduced to 16 in 1956[SRC]
Now we have 28 States and 7 UTS
Those who are Quoting Switzerland and other Developed Nations Examples are forgetting that EU is a Union of 27 Nations and NOT States!!!!
India already had 26 States in 1950 after merging 590+Princely States into the Indian Union.
BTW Switzerland is NOT a EU Member Nation!!!!....HOW PITY!!!!
Andra State was Formed in 1953 when Hyderabad State was Existing by then!!!
So In a Way they[Andras] were First Separatists who Divided Madras[Now Tamil Nadu]in 1953!!!!
Telanganites Need NOT Learn From Separatists!!!
Bless U!!!!
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
IF INDIA IS A DEMOCROTIC COUNTY IT HAS TO RESPECT 40 MILLION PEOPLE VOICES .. DREAMS ...FOR SEPARATE STATE ...
JAI TELANGANA .....
JAI TELANGANA ..... JAI TELANGANA .....
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I am Happy to see the Fact Here, But I am still feeling lot of the things missed here.There is Much and much necessity is there of reformation of State.
From Begger To Business magnet in Telangana...Only One Hope of to live Telangana state.
Once Tealnaga people started agitation for Developemnet , its lost APPROX 60 years, Now We concluded Developement comes with TG State Only.
More than 95%Of TG People wants TG.
But Not more than 70% Semmandhra people want united state..
Thanks to Reporter,Hoping to see from You a Bigger explanative articals from You
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there are many ignorants here...TG is looted, exploited by Andhraites...1
TG was a separate State b/w 1948-56, with a surplus budget of 150crs...u knw 150crs of surplus amnt in 1950's...
there were many Irrigation prjcts proposed for the Agriculture sector of TG area...still those prjcts aren't started/completed....only for the lagging is Seema Andhra Politcians...
If these Prjcts are completed...Andhraites will get less share of Water...which will not create any problem there...but these stupid leaders dnt want TG to be developed...
due to the lack of Canal Water...Farmers in TG depended on Ground Water...frm past 20-30yrs Farmers here completely depended on Ground Water...nw the levels of Ground Water are decreased to final extinct...
if it continues like this for next 10-15yrs....TG will become a Desert.thtz for sure...
so, To Save Our TG...we need a Separate State...!
Jai Telangana...!
Jai Jai Telangana..!
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Whenever any separatist movement starts it strikes the raw nerve of many people, mostly ignorant and naive ones. Local loyalty (and party loyalty) take precedence over long term prospect and prosperity of common people.
This Telengana issue is mainly due to satisfying TRS by Congress party in this era of coalition politics. NONE of the telengana problem will be solved even if they get separate Telengana state.
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If I say, "i am looted, exploited (loot gaya, tabah ho gaya, barbad ho gaya - type) by my state, my country, my town and blah blah.. and I want a separate state/country/municipality/panchayat" how will that be received by others?
If you have any specific issue (law and order, atrocities by security forces and so on) then start a movement on that issue. Separation will NOT solve ANY of your problem (if you are not those opportunists who like to benefit from extra positions created by the separate, new state).
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@ Jay,
I dont understand why you are so much worried about Telangana and its demerger with Andhra Pradesh. If 4 crore people are on one line to get our state back what is the point u make saying the problem is just to satisfy TRS party.
u claim in ur posts that you dont belong to this part of the country and at the same time claims the demand is by just a single party.
Mr. Jay u can oppose the state formation in online forums. But if u say these words in public in Telangana region Iam sure you will be burnt alive.
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@Mr.Jay
u're ri8...if a person/organisation/region is looted or exploited in a particular point[like Law/Leadership/Irrigation/allotment of Funds]...If there is a biasedness in each nd evry field....itz foolish to fight for each evry thng...
If we fight for Each nd Evrythng...u're d ppl who'll be blaming us bck again.
nd who r u to say tht TG Movement is to satisy one or two Political Parties...first of all, u come to Hyd nd say Jai Samaikyandhra...am sure as someone said...u'll burnt alive...the Movement is in the Peak Level...it is not lead by any particular person or Politician...itz People's Movemnt..
wake up Jay...u can write anythng in Online Forums...come out of ur zone nd once see d people suffering...
Jai Telangana...!
Jai Jai Telangana...!
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37. At 3:20pm on 02 Jan 2011, shashi wrote:
Mr. Jay u can oppose the state formation in online forums. But if u say these words in public in Telangana region Iam sure you will be burnt alive.
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I fully agree with you and That is THE problem I have with such issues of seperation. They play with fire, strike the raw nerve of people and do not hesiatate to go to ANY length to satisfy its demand. We have seen that many times in my country, be it Kashmir or Assam or Manipur or Punjab or Bengal etc. No one yet answer my Qs (#4, 9 etc). Will talengana leadership will undertake meaningful land reform, give due power and benefits to farm workers ?
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@ #38. protg:
Can you site a single state which is not complaining against a opposition ruled federal or state government the way you are doing for Talengana now? There is none. Everyone has so many grievances against opposition ruled state or federal govt. The issue here is more like state-federal govt power sharing or state-local body power sharing or general governance. This is NOT specific to Telengana or any particular area in India. It is all pervasive in our system. You will have the same issues (around your locality, work place etc) even if you have your separate state, named Telengana.
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Who developed Hyderabad and Telangana ?
1). Hyderabad electricity department in 1912, lights at tank bund 1913, street lights in 1915. But current (Power) to madras state 1927 think who developed Hyderabad.
2). White ration cards
TOP – 5 in numbers (% Wise)
East Godavari Dist – 7.6,
Guntur Dist – 6.4,
West Godavari – 6.2,
Krishna – 5.2,
Vishakhapatnam – 5.2.
Lowest – 5 in numbers (% Wise)
Hyderabad – 2.1,
Nizamabad – 2.5,
Medak – 2.7,
Khammam – 3.2
Adilabad – 3.3
3). SRSP survey made in 1959, foundation stone laid in 1963 by Jawahar Lala Nehru. Even after 50 years progress in limping and the work is yet to be completed.
4). Flood flow canal survey was done in 1980 cleared in 1996 construction started in 2004 progress of work is very slow, yet to be completed.
5). 2008 growth rate in India
Old states
Madhya Pradesh – 4.3%
Uttar Pradesh – 4.6%
Bihar – 4.7%,
New states
Chhattisgarh – 9.2%
Jharkhand – 11.1%,
Uttaranchal – 8.8%
Telangana People ask which r better older states or New States ?
6). Lower Penganga agreement with Maharashtra reached in 1975, work not yet commenced, becoz of non allocation of funds by Andhra Pradesh government.
7). Pranahitha surveryed in 1970. Inter state agreement arrived at in 1978, work not yet started even after 32 years.
8). Lendi agreement with Maharashtra reached in 1975. The dame has already been completed by Maharashtra government, Canal work yet to be taken up by Andhra Pradesh government.
9). Every year 50,000 Telangana people newly go Gulf yearly 400 die, 2day 35,000 r in Gulf jails. Acting Rayalaseema Ihkya Veedhika President, Sudo Samikyavadhi T. G. Venkatesh says Sri Krishna Committee, we are going Gulf to earn lakhs.
10). Thirteen districts of Andhra Pradesh have been identified by Central Government of India. The Centre for inclusion in the backward regions grant fund (BRGF) for the current financial year.
1). Adilabad,
2). Nizamabad,
3). Karimnagar,
4). Warangal,
5). Medak,
6). Mahabubnagar,
7). Rangareddy,
8). Nalgonda
9). Khammam in Telangana,
1). Chittoor,
2). Anantapur
3). Kadapa in Rayalaseema
1). Vizianagaram in Andhra regions
Telangana People ask Who is more developed in United Andhra Pradesh.
Thirteen districts of Andhra Pradesh have been identified by Central Government of India. The Centre for inclusion in the backward regions grant fund (BRGF) for the current financial year.
All the districts of Telangana, barring Hyderabad, and three Rayalaseema districts, except Kurnool, have been included in the backward districts' list by the Centre. Vizianagaram is the lone district from Coastal Andhra to figure in the list.
Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Medak, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, Nalgonda and Khammam in Telangana, Chittoor, Anantapur and Kadapa in Rayalaseema and Vizianagaram in Andhra regions would get Rs. 348.28 crore.
Jai Telangana...!
Jai Jai Telangana...! Jai Jai Telangana...!
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