REGIONAL

ASPIRATIONS
ONE SHOT LECTURE

NOTES Pdf (Description)

Repeated PYQ (Last Year)

 ABOUT THE CHAPTER

Nation-building is not something that can be

accomplished once and for all times to come.

In the course of time new challenges came up.

As democratic experiment unfolded, people from

different regions began to express their
aspirations for autonomy.

Sometimes these aspirations were expressed

outside the framework of the Indian union.

These involved long struggles and often

aggressive and armed assertions by the people.

This new challenge came to the fore in the 1980s,

as the Janata experiment came to an end and
there was some political stability at the centre.

This decade will be remembered for some major

conflicts & accords in the various regions of the
country, especially in Assam, Punjab, Mizoram
and the developments in Jammu & Kashmir.
 REGION AND NATION

1980s : period of rising regional aspirations for autonomy,

often outside the framework of the Indian Union.

These movements frequently involved armed assertions by

the people, their repression by the government, and a
collapse of the political and electoral processes.

It is also not surprising that most of these struggles were

long drawn and concluded in negotiated settlements or
accords b/w the central govt. and the groups leading the
movement for autonomy.

The accords were reached after a process of dialogue that

aimed to settle contentious issues within the constitutional
framework.

Yet the journey to the accord was always tumultuous and

often violent.
 INDIAN APPROACH Besides, democratic Such an
politics allows parties arrangement
and groups to address may sometimes
Indian nationalism :
the people on the basis lead to tensions
sought to balance the
of their regional and problems.
principles of unity and
identity, aspiration and
diversity.
specific regional Sometimes, the
problems. concern for
It was very different
national unity
from the one adopted in
Thus, in the course of may overshadow
many European
democratic politics, the regional
countries where they
regional aspirations needs and
saw cultural diversity as
get strengthened. aspirations.
a threat to the nation.
At the same time, At other times a
India adopted a
democratic politics also concern for
democratic approach to
means that regional region alone
the question of diversity.
issues and problems may blind us to
will receive adequate the larger needs
Democracy allows the
attention & of the nation.
political expressions of
accommodation in the
regional aspirations and
policy making process.
does not look upon
them as anti-national.
Major problems after AREAS OF TENSION
independence : Partition,
displacement, integration of Similarly, in some parts of
Princely States, reorganisation of the north-east, there was
states and so on. no consensus about being
a part of India.
Many observers, both within the
country and from outside, had First Nagaland and then
predicted that India as one Mizoram witnessed strong
unified country cannot last long. movements demanding
separation from India.
Soon after Independence : issue
of Jammu and Kashmir came up. In the south, some groups
from the Dravid movement
It was not only a conflict between briefly toyed with the idea
India and Pakistan. of a separate country.

More than that, it was a question

of the political aspirations of the
people of Kashmir valley.
These events were followed by mass agitations in many
Yet this did not lead to resolution of all
parts for the formation of linguistic States.
problems and for all times.
Today’s Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and In some regions, like Kashmir & Nagaland, the
Gujarat were among the regions affected by these challenge was so complex that it could not be
agitations. resolved in the first phase of nation-building.

In Tamil Nadu, there were protests against making Hindi Besides, new challenges came up in States like
the official national language of the country. Punjab, Assam and Mizoram.

In the north : strong pro-Hindi agitations demanding

Hindi be made the official language immediately.

From the late 1950s, people speaking the Punjabi

language started agitating for a separate State for
themselves.

This demand was finally accepted and the States of

Punjab and Haryana were created in 1966.

Later, the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and

Jharkhand were created.

Thus the challenge of diversity was met by redrawing the

internal boundaries of the country.
JAMMU & KASHMIR
J&K had a special status Comprises 3 social & political regions —
under Article 370 of the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Indian Constitution.

However, it experienced : Jammu region : mix of foothills & plains.

(i) violence,
(ii) cross border terrorism Predominantly inhabited by Hindus.
(iii) political instability
with internal and external Muslims, Sikhs and people of other
ramifications. denominations also reside in this region.

Outcome : loss of many

lives including that of Kashmir region : comprises Kashmir valley.
innocent civilians, security
personnel and militants. It is inhabited mostly by Kashmiri Muslims
with the remaining being Hindus, Sikhs,
Besides, there was also a Buddhists and others.
large scale displacement
of Kashmiri Pandits from
the Kashmir valley. Ladakh region : mainly mountainous.

It has very little population which is almost

equally divided b/w Buddhists & Muslims.
Ques - “Jammu and Kashmir is one of
the living examples of plural society
and politics.” Justify the statement
with any three suitable arguments.
(6M) 2018
 ROOTS OF PROBLEM
Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a Princely State.

Its ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh did not want to merge either with
India or Pakistan but to have an independent status for his state.

The Pakistani leaders thought that Kashmir region ‘belonged’ to

Pakistan, since the majority population of the State was Muslim.

But this is not how the people of the state themselves saw it— they
thought of themselves as Kashmiris above all.

This issue of regional aspiration is known as Kashmiriyat.

The popular movement in the State, led by Sheikh Abdullah of the

National Conference, wanted to get rid of the Maharaja, but was
against joining Pakistan.

National Conference was a secular organisation and had a long

association with the Congress.

Sheikh Abdullah was a personal friend of some of the leading

nationalist leaders including Nehru.
Oct. 1947 : Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators from its side to In the meanwhile, Sheikh
capture Kashmir. Abdullah took over as the
Prime Minister of the State
This forced the Maharaja to ask for Indian military help. of J&K in March 1948 while
India agreed to grant it
India extended the military support and drove back the provisional autonomy under
infiltrators from Kashmir valley, but only after the the Article 370.
Maharaja had signed an ‘Instrument of Accession’ with
The head of the government
the Government of India.
in the State was then called
Prime Minister.
However, as Pakistan continued to control a sizeable
part of the state, the issue was taken to the UN, which in
its resolution dated 21 April 1948 recommended a 3 step
process to resolve the issue :

(i) Firstly, Pakistan had to withdraw its entire

nationalities, who entered into Kashmir.
(ii) Secondly, India needed to progressively reduce its
forces so as to maintain law and order.
(iii) Thirdly, a plebiscite was to be conducted in a free
and impartial manner.

However, no progress could be achieved under this

resolution.
EXTERNAL & INTERNAL Internally, there is a dispute about
the status of Kashmir within Indian
DISPUTE union.

Externally, Pakistan has always There is a section of people outside

claimed that Kashmir valley should of J&K that believed that Article 370
be part of Pakistan. be revoked and J&K be treated like
any other state of India.
As we noted above, Pakistan
sponsored a tribal invasion of the Another section, mostly Kashmiris,
State in 1947, as a consequence of believe that the autonomy conferred
which one part of the State came by Article 370 is not enough.
under Pakistani control.
Major grievances :
India claims that this area is under (i) demand for a plebiscite.
illegal occupation. (ii) demand for greater state
Autonomy’.
Pakistan describes this area as ‘Azad
Pakistan’.

Ever since 1947, Kashmir has

remained a major issue of conflict
between India and Pakistan.
 POLITICS SINCE 1948
➔ After taking over as the Prime Minister, Sheikh Abdullah
initiated major land reforms and other policies which
benefitted ordinary people.

➔ But there was a growing difference b/w him and the

central government about his position on Kashmir’s status.

➔ He was dismissed in 1953 and kept in detention for a

number of years.

➔ The leadership that succeeded him did not enjoy as much

popular support and was not able to rule the State mainly
due to the support of the Centre.

➔ There were serious allegations of malpractices and rigging

in various elections.

➔ During most of the period between 1953 and 1974, the

Congress party exercised influence on the politics of the
State.
➔ A truncated National Conference (minus Sheikh
Abdullah) remained in power with the active support of
Congress for some time but later it merged with the
Congress.

➔ Thus, the Congress gained direct control over the

government in the state and brought about the changes.

➔ In the meanwhile, there were several attempts to reach an

agreement between Sheikh Abdullah and the Government
of India.

➔ A change in the provision of the Constitution of Jammu

and Kashmir was made in 1965 by which the Prime
Minister of the state was designated as Chief Minister of
the state.

➔ Accordingly, Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq of the Indian

National Congress became the first Chief Minister of the
state.
1974 : Indira Gandhi reached an agreement with Sheikh Abdullah
and he became the Chief Minister of the State.

He revived the National Conference which was elected with

majority in the assembly elections held in 1977.

Sheikh Abdullah died in 1982 and the leadership of the National

Conference went to his son, Farooq Abdullah, who became the C.M.

But he soon was dismissed by the Governor & a breakaway faction

of the National Conference came to power for a brief period.

The dismissal of Farooq Abdullah’s govt. due to the intervention of

the Centre generated a feeling of resentment in Kashmir.

The confidence that Kashmiris had developed in the democratic

processes after the accord between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh
Abdullah, received a setback.

1986 : feeling that the Centre was intervening in politics of the

State was further strengthened when the National Conference
agreed to have an electoral alliance with the Congress, the ruling
party in the Centre.
 INSURGENCY & AFTER
1987 assembly elections : By 1989 : state had come in Assembly elections in the State were held only in 1996 in which
official results showed a the grip of a militant the National Conference led by Farooq Abdullah came to
massive victory of the movement mobilised around power with a demand for regional autonomy for J&K.
National Conference— the cause of a separate
Congress alliance and Farooq Kashmiri nation. At the end of its term, elections were held in the State in 2002.
Abdullah returned as Chief
Minister. The insurgents got moral, The National Conference failed to win a majority.
material and military support
Widely believed : that the from Pakistan. Was replaced by a coalition government of People’s Democratic
results did not reflect popular Party (PDP) and Congress.
choice, and that the entire For a number of years the
election process was rigged. State was under President’s
rule and effectively under the
A popular resentment had control of the armed forces.
already been brewing in the
State against the inefficient Throughout the period from
administration since early 1990, J&K experienced
1980s. extraordinary violence at the
hands of the insurgents &
This generated a political through army action.
crisis in Kashmir which became
severe with the rise of
insurgency.
 2002 & BEYOND
➔ As per the coalition agreement, Mufti Mohammed headed
the government for the first three years.

➔ Later was succeeded by Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Indian

National Congress who however could not complete the
term as president rule was imposed in the state in July
2008.

➔ The next election was held in November-December 2008.

➔ Another coalition government (composed of NC and INC)

came into power headed by Omar Abdullah in 2009.

➔ However, the state continued to witness disturbances led

by the Hurriyat Conference.

➔ 2014 election : recorded the highest voters’ turnout in 25

years.

➔ Consequently a coalition government led by Mufti

Mohammed Sayeed of the PDP came into power with the
BJP as its partner.
➔ After Mufti Mohammed Sayeed died, his daughter
Mahbooba Mufti became the first woman Chief Minister
of the state in April 2016.

➔ During the tenure of Mahbooba Mufti : major acts of

terrorism, mounting external and internal tensions were
witnessed.

➔ The President’s rule was imposed in June 2018 after BJP

withdrew its support to the Mufti government.

➔ 5 August 2019 : Article 370 was abolished by the Jammu &

Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 and the state was
constituted into two Union Territories, viz., Jammu &
Kashmir and Ladakh.

➔ Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are living examples of

plural society in India.

➔ Not only are there diversities of all kind (religious,

cultural, linguistic, ethnic and tribal) but there are also
divergent political and developmental aspirations, which
have been sought to be achieved by the latest Act.
 ADDED TOPIC
It was against the special status of
THE KASHMIR ISSUE the state of Jammu and Kashmir
that there was a clarion call for
Since its integration with the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
Union of India, Kashmir has
remained one of the burning Others equated Article 370 and 35A
issues in post-independence India. as ‘constitutionally recognized
separatism’.
The problem became more
complicated when it was accorded It was against this backdrop that
a special status in the Constitution current NDA Government presented
through Article 370 and Article the Jammu and Kashmir
35A. Reorganization Bill in Rajya Sabha
on 5 August 2019 for the abolition of
These provisions gave special Section 370 and 35-A form Kashmir,
powers i.e, which was passed by a majority.
(i) having its separate
Constitution/Constituent The bill was passed by the Lok
Assembly/Flag, Sabha on 6 August 2019.
(ii) new nomenclature for Chief
Minister as Prime Minister and After the President's assent on 9
Governor as Sadr-e-Riyasat, August 2019, Sections 370and 35A
(iii) non-enforcement of most of were repealed and Jammu and
the Union laws in the state Kashmir got divided into 2 Union
(iv) prohibiting the non-Kashmiris Territories of Ladakh and Jammu
from buying property in the state. and Kashmir.
Ques - What is the social and political
composition of Jammu and Kashmir ?
Describe the roots of ‘Kashmir Issue’
which compelled the Indian
Government to maintain autonomy in
this state. (6M) 2016
 Ques - Describe the internal and
external disputes responsible for
making the politics of Jammu and
Kashmir continuously controversial.
(6M) 2016
 Ques - Why do some people
feel that Article 370 should be
revoked ? (1M) 2015
Vadakku Vaazhgiradhu; Therkku Thaeikiradhu’ DRAVIDIAN MOVEMENT
[The north thrives even as the south decays].

This popular slogan sums up the dominant The Dravidian movement led to the
sentiments of one of India’s most effective formation of Dravidar Kazhagam
regional movements, the Dravidian movement, at [DK] under the leadership of Tamil
one point of time. social reformer E.V. Ramasami
‘Periyar’.

This was one of the first regional movements in The organisation strongly opposed
Indian politics. the Brahmins’ dominance and
affirmed regional pride against the
political, economic and cultural
Though some sections of this movement had
domination of the North.
ambitions of creating a Dravida nation, the
movement did not take to arms.
Initially, the Dravidian movement
spoke in terms of the whole of south
It used democratic means like public debates and India.
the electoral platform to achieve its ends.
However lack of support from other
States limited the movement to Tamil
This strategy paid off as the movement acquired
Nadu.
political power in the State and also became
influential at the national level.
DK split : political legacy of the movement was
transferred to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The DMK made its entry into politics with a 3 pronged

agitation in 1953-54.

First, it demanded the restoration of the original name

of Kallakudi railway station which had been renamed
Dalmiapuram, after an industrial house from the
North.

This demand brought out its opposition to the North

Indian economic and cultural symbols.

The second agitation was for giving Tamil cultural

history greater importance in school curricula.

The third agitation was against the craft education

scheme of the State government, which it alleged was
linked to the Brahmanical social outlook.

Also agitated against making Hindi the country’s

official language.

The success of the anti-Hindi agitation of 1965 added

to the DMK’s popularity.
Sustained political agitations brought the DMK to power in the All these parties have kept alive the issue of
Assembly elections of 1967. regional pride in the politics of Tamil Nadu.

Since then, the Dravidian parties have dominated the politics of Initially seen as a threat to Indian
Tamil Nadu. nationalism, regional politics in Tamil Nadu is
a good example of the compatibility of
Though the DMK split after the death of its leader, C. regionalism and nationalism.
Annadurai, the influence of Dravidian parties in Tamil politics
actually increased.

After the split there were two parties – the DMK and the All
India Anna DMK (AIADMK) – that claimed Dravidian legacy.

Both these parties have dominated politics in Tamil Nadu for

the last four decades.

Since 1996, one of these parties has been a part of the ruling
coalition at the Centre.

In the 1990s, many other parties have emerged.

These include : Marumalarchchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

(MDMK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Desiya Murpokku
Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK)
PUNJAB
1980s : major developments in the State of
Punjab.

The social composition of the State changed :

(i) first with Partition
(ii) later on after the carving out of Haryana
and Himachal Pradesh.

While the rest of the country was reorganised

on linguistic lines in 1950s, Punjab had to wait
till 1966 for the creation of a Punjabi speaking
State.

The Akali Dal, which was formed in 1920 as the

political wing of the Sikhs, had led the
movement for the formation of a ‘Punjabi suba’.

The Sikhs were now a majority in the truncated

State of Punjab.
 POLITICAL CONTEXT

After the WHY ? The Congress got more

reorganisation : Akalis ● Firstly, their govt. was support among the Dalits,
came to power in 1967 dismissed by the whether Hindu or Sikh, than
and then in 1977. Centre mid-way the Akalis.
through its term.
On both the occasions
it was a coalition ● Secondly, they did
government. not enjoy strong
support among the
The Akalis discovered Hindus.
that despite the
redrawing of the ● Thirdly, the Sikh
boundaries, their community, like all
political position other religious
remained precarious. communities, was
(doubtful). internally
differentiated on
caste and class lines.
1970s : a section of Akalis began to demand After being dismissed : In 1980, Akali Dal launched
political autonomy for the region. a movement on the question of the distribution of
water between Punjab and its neighbouring States.
This was reflected in a resolution passed at
their conference at Anandpur Sahib in 1973. A section of the religious leaders raised the question
of autonomous Sikh identity.
The Anandpur Sahib Resolution asserted
regional autonomy and wanted to redefine
centre-state relationship in the country.

The resolution also spoke of the aspirations

of the Sikh qaum (community or nation) &
declared its goal as attaining the bolbala
(dominance or hegemony) of the Sikhs.

The Resolution was a plea for strengthening

federalism in India.

The Resolution had a limited appeal among

the Sikh masses.
 CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
➔ Soon, the leadership of the movement passed from the
moderate Akalis to the extremist elements and took the
form of armed insurgency.

➔ These militants made their headquarters inside the Sikh

holy shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and turned it
into an armed fortress.

➔ June 1984 : Govt. of India carried out ‘Operation Blue

Star’, code name for army action in the Golden Temple.

➔ In this operation, the govt. could successfully flush out the

militants.

➔ But it also damaged the historic temple and deeply hurt

the sentiments of the Sikhs.

➔ A large proportion of Sikhs in India and abroad saw the

military operation as an attack on their faith.

➔ This gave further impetus to militant and extremist groups

 AFTERMATHS OF BLUESTAR
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 20 years later : speaking in
October 1984 outside her residence by her the Parliament in 2005,
bodyguards. Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh expressed regret over
these killings and
Both the assassins were Sikhs and wanted to take
apologised to the nation for
revenge for Operation Bluestar.
the anti-Sikh violence.

More than 2000 Sikhs were killed in the national

capital, the area worst affected by this violence.

Hundreds of Sikhs were killed in other parts of the

country, especially in Kanpur, Bokaro and Chas.

Many Sikh families lost their male members and thus

suffered great emotional and heavy financial loss.

What hurt the Sikhs most was that the government

took a long time in restoring normalcy and that the
perpetrators of this violence were not effectively
punished.
 Ques - What was ‘Operation’ Blue
Star* ? Why did it hurt the
sentiments of the Sikh Community ?
(2M) 2016
 ROAD TO PEACE
After coming to power following the election in 1984 :
the new Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi initiated a
dialogue with moderate Akali leaders.

July 1985 : he reached an agreement with Harchand

Singh Longowal, then the President of the Akali Dal.

This agreement, known as the Rajiv Gandhi -

Longowal Accord or the Punjab Accord, was a step
towards bringing normalcy to Punjab.

According to the accord :

(i) It was agreed that Chandigarh would be
transferred to Punjab,
(ii) a separate commission would be appointed to
resolve the border dispute b/w Punjab and Haryana,
(iii) a tribunal would be set up to decide the sharing
of Ravi-Beas river water among Punjab, Haryana and
Rajasthan.
(iv) The agreement also provided for compensation to
and better treatment of those affected by the
militancy in Punjab
(v) Agreed to the withdrawal of the application of
Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Punjab.
 Ques - How far did the Rajiv
Gandhi—Longwwal Accord
succeed in bringing normalcy in
Punjab ? (2M) 2017
However, peace did not come ● Militancy was eventually
easily or immediately. eradicated by the security forces.

The cycle of violence continued ● But the losses incurred by the

nearly for a decade. people of Punjab – Sikhs and
Hindus alike – were enormous.
Militancy & insurgency violence
led to violations of human rights. ● Peace returned to Punjab by the
middle of 1990s.
Politically, it led to fragmentation
of the Akali Dal. ● The alliance of Akali Dal (Badal)
and the BJP scored a major
The central govt. had to impose victory in 1997, in the first normal
President’s rule in the State and elections in the State in the
the normal electoral and political post-militancy era.
process was suspended. .
● The State is once again
It was not easy to restore political preoccupied with questions of
process in the atmosphere of economic development and social
suspicion & violence. change.

When elections were held in ● Though religious identities

Punjab in 1992, only 24% of the continue to be important for the
electors tuned out to vote. people, politics has gradually
moved back along secular lines.
THE NORTH-EAST
North-East : regional ● The region has witnessed
aspirations reached a turning a lot of change since 1947.
point in 1980s.
● Tripura, Manipur and
This region now consists of 7 Khasi Hills of Meghalaya
States, also referred to as the : were erstwhile Princely
‘seven sisters’. States which merged with
India after Independence.
The region has only 4% of the
country’s population but about ● The entire region of
twice as much share of its North-East has
area. undergone considerable
political reorganisation.
A small corridor of about 22
km connects the region to the
rest of the country.

Otherwise the region shares

boundaries with China,
Myanmar and Bangladesh.

It serves as India’s gateway to

South East Asia.
Nagaland State was created in 1963; Factors that led to complicated
Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya in 1972 set of demands from different
while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh states of the North-East are :
became separate States only in 1987. (i) isolation of the region,
(ii) its complex social character
(iii) its backwardness compared
to other parts
The Partition of India in 1947 had
(iv) vast international border
reduced the North-East to a land locked
(v) weak communication b/w the
region and affected its economy.
North-East and the rest of India.

Cut off from the rest of India, the region 3 issues dominating

suffered neglect in developmental terms. north-eastern politics :
(i) demands for autonomy,
(ii) movements for secession,
Its politics too remained insulated. (iii) opposition to ‘outsiders’.

At the same time, most States in this

region underwent major demographic
changes due to influx of migrants from
neighbouring States and countries.
DEMANDS FOR AUTONOMY Finally instead of one tribal
State, several States got
At independence : entire region except carved out of Assam.
Manipur and Tripura comprised the
State of Assam. At different points of time
the Central Government
Demands for political autonomy arose had to create Meghalaya,
when : the non-Assamese felt that the Mizoram and Arunachal
Assam govt. was imposing Assamese Pradesh out of Assam.
language on them.
Tripura and Manipur were
There were opposition & protest riots upgraded into States too.
throughout the State.

Leaders of major tribal communities

wanted to separate from Assam.

They formed the Eastern India Tribal

Union which later transformed into a
more comprehensive All Party Hill
Leaders Conference in 1960.

They demanded a tribal State to be

carved out of Assam.
The reorganisation of the N-E was completed by 1972.

This was not the end of autonomy demands in this region.

In Assam, for example, communities like the Bodos, Karbis

and Dimasas wanted separate States.

They worked for this demand by mobilising public opinion

and popular movement as well as through insurgency.

Often the same area was claimed by more than one

community.

It was not possible to go on making smaller and yet

smaller States.

Therefore, some other provisions of our federal set up were

used to satisfy their autonomy demands while remaining in
Assam.

Karbis and Dimasas have been granted autonomy under

District Councils while Bodos were recently granted
Autonomous Council.
 SECESSIONIST MIZORAM’s CASE
MOVEMENTS
After Independence : Mizo Hills
Demands for autonomy were area was made an autonomous
easier to respond to, for these district within Assam.
involved using the various
provisions in the Constitution for Some Mizos believed that they
accommodation of diversities. were never a part of British
India and therefore did not
It was much more difficult : when
some groups demanded a belong to the Indian union.
separate country, not in
momentary anger but consistently But the movement for secession
as a principled position. gained popular support after
the Assam government failed
The country’s leadership faced to respond adequately to the
this problem for a very long time great famine of 1959 in Mizo
in at least 2 states in the hills.
North-East.
The Mizos’ anger led to the
A comparison of these two cases
formation of the Mizo National
offers us a lesson in democratic
politics. Front (MNF) under the
leadership of Laldenga.
In 1966 the MNF started an armed Laldenga came back from exile in
campaign for independence. Pakistan and started negotiations
with the Indian government.
Thus, started a 2 decade long battle b/w
Mizo insurgents and the Indian army. Rajiv Gandhi steered these
negotiations to a positive conclusion.
The MNF fought a guerilla war, got
support from Pakistani government and 1986: a peace agreement was signed
secured shelter in the then East Pakistan. b/w Rajiv Gandhi & Laldenga.

The Indian security forces countered it with As per this accord Mizoram was
a series of repressive measures that granted full-fledged statehood with
targeted common people as well. special powers and the MNF agreed
to give up secessionist struggle.
At one point even Air Force was used.
Laldenga took over as the C.M
These measures caused more anger and
alienation among the people. This accord proved a turning point
in the history of Mizoram.
At the end of two decades of insurgency
everyone was a loser. Today, Mizoram is one of the most
peaceful places in the region and
This is where maturity of the political has taken big strides in literacy and
leadership at both ends made a difference. development.
 NAGALAND’s CASE

The story of Nagaland is similar to

Mizoram, except that it started much
earlier and has not yet had such a happy
ending.

Led by Angami Zaphu Phizo, a section of

the Nagas declared independence from
India way back in 1951.

Phizo turned down many offers of

negotiated settlement.

The Naga National Council launched an

armed struggle for sovereignty of Nagas.

After a period of violent insurgency a

section of the Nagas signed an agreement
with the Government of India but this was
not acceptable to other rebels.

The problem in Nagaland still awaits a

final resolution.
Ques - Identify any two states where
the central govt. had to face
separatist movement. Also name the
leaders who led the movement. (2M)
2023
 MOVEMENT AGAINST
OUTSIDERS

The large scale migration into the

N-E gave rise to a several
problems.

These latecomers : were seen as

encroachers on scarce resources like
land and potential competitors to
employment opportunities and
political power.

This issue has taken political and

sometimes violent form in many
States of the North-East.
 ASSAM’s MOVEMENT In 1979 : All Assam Students’ Union (AASU),
(1979-1985) a students’ group not affiliated to any
party, led an anti-foreigner movement.
The Assamese suspected that
there were huge numbers of The movement was against illegal
illegal Bengali Muslim migrations, against domination of Bengalis
settlers from Bangladesh. and other outsiders, and against faulty
voters’ register that included the names of
They felt that unless these lakhs of immigrants.
foreign nationals are
detected and deported they The movement demanded that all outsiders
would reduce the indigenous who had entered the State after 1951 should
Assamese into a minority. be sent back.

There were other economic Agitation followed many novel methods and
issues too. mobilised all sections of Assamese people,
drawing support across the State.
There was widespread
poverty and unemployment It also involved many tragic and violent
in Assam despite the incidents leading to loss of property and
existence of natural human lives.
resources like oil, tea and
coal.
The movement also tried to blockade the
movement of trains and the supply of oil
from Assam to refineries in Bihar.
➔ Eventually after 6 years of turmoil : Rajiv
This problem is particularly acute, for example, in Tripura as
Gandhi-led government entered into negotiations the original inhabitants have been reduced to being a minority
with the AASU leaders, leading to the signing of an in their own land.
accord in 1985.

➔ According to this agreement those foreigners who The same feeling informs the hostility of the local population
to Chakma refugees in Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
migrated into Assam during and after Bangladesh
war and since, were to be identified and deported.

➔ With the successful completion of the movement,

the AASU and the Asom Gana Sangram Parishad
organised themselves as a regional political party
called Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).

➔ It came to power in 1985 with the promise of

resolving the foreign national problem as well as to
build a ‘Golden Assam’

➔ Assam accord brought peace and changed the face

of politics in Assam, but it did not solve the
problem of immigration.

➔ The issue of the ‘outsiders’ continues to be a live

issue in the politics of Assam and many other
places in the North-East.
Ques - Assess the outcome
of the Assam Accord of
1985. (1M) 2020
 SIKKIM’s MERGER First democratic elections to Sikkim
assembly in 1974 were swept by Sikkim
Congress which stood for greater
At the time of Independence, Sikkim was a
integration with India.
‘protectorate’ of India.

It meant that while it was not a part of The assembly first sought the status of
India, it was also not a fully sovereign ‘associate state’.
country.
Then in April 1975 passed a resolution
Sikkim’s defence & foreign relations were asking for full integration with India.
looked after by India, while the power of
internal administration was with the This was followed by a hurriedly organised
Chogyal, Sikkim’s monarch. referendum that put a stamp of popular
approval on the assembly’s request.
This arrangement ran into difficulty as the
Chogyal was unable to deal with the Indian Parliament accepted this request.
democratic aspirations of the people.
Sikkim became 22nd State of Indian union.
Majority of Sikkim’s population was Nepali.
Chogyal did not accept this merger and his
But the Chogyal was seen as perpetuating supporters accused the Government of
the rule of a small elite from the minority India of foul play and use of force.
Lepcha-Bhutia community.
Yet the merger enjoyed popular support
The anti-Chogyal leaders of both the
and did not become a divisive issue in
communities sought and got support from
Sikkim’s politics.
the govt. of India.
 Ques - Briefly describe the
Ques - Analyse chogyal’s story of Sikkim from the
role at the time of Sikkim's time of India’s
merger with India as its independence to its merger
22nd state. (1M) 2020 with India. (6M) 2015
 GOA’S LIBERATION Another complication arose soon.

Led by the Maharashtrawadi Gomanatak

British empire in India came to an end in 1947. Party (MGP) one section desired that Goa,
as a Marathi speaking area should merge
Portugal refused to withdraw from the with Maharashtra.
territories of Goa, Diu and Daman which were
under its colonial rule since the 16th century. However, many Goans were keen to retain
a separate Goan identity and culture,
During their long rule : Portuguese suppressed particularly the Konkani language.
the people of Goa, denied them civil rights,
and carried out forced religious conversions. They were led by the United Goan Party
(UGP).

In January 1967 : Central Government held

After India’s Independence : Indian
a special ‘opinion poll’ in Goa asking
government tried very patiently to persuade
people to decide if they wanted to be part
the Portuguese government to withdraw.
of Maharashtra or remain separate.

There was also a strong popular movement A referendum-like procedure was used to
within Goa for freedom. ascertain people’s wishes on this issue.

They were strengthened by socialist The majority voted in favour of remaining

satyagrahis from Maharashtra. outside of Maharashtra.

Finally, in December 1961 : Government of Thus, Goa continued as a Union Territory.

India sent the army which liberated these
territories after barely 2 days of action. Finally, in 1987, Goa became a State of the
Indian Union.
Goa, Diu and Daman became Union Territory.
 Ques - Describe the story of Goa’s
liberation from the Portuguese to its
becoming a state of the Indian
Union. (6M) 2016
ACCOMODATION &
NATIONAL
INTEGRATION
 Regional aspirations are very much a part of
1. democratic politics.

Expression of regional issues is not an abnormal

phenomenon.

Even in smaller countries like the United Kingdom there

are regional aspirations in Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland.

Spain faces secessionist movement from the Basques

and so does Sri Lanka from the Tamils.

A large and diverse democracy like India must deal with

regional aspirations on a regular basis.

Nation building is an ongoing process.

 Best way to respond to regional aspirations is through
2.
democratic negotiations rather than through suppression.

Look at the situation in the 80s –

militancy had erupted in Punjab;
problems were persisting in the North-East;
students in Assam were agitating;
Kashmir valley was on the boil

Instead of treating these as simple law and order problems,

the Government of India reached negotiated settlement with
regional movements.

This produced a reconciliation which reduced the tensions

existing in many regions.

The example of Mizoram shows how political settlement can

resolve the problem of separatism effectively.
3. Significance of power sharing.

It is not sufficient to have a formal democratic

structure.

Besides that, groups and parties from the region need

to be given share in power at the State level.

Similarly, it is not sufficient to say that the states or

the regions have autonomy in their matters.

The regions together form the nation.

So, the regions must have a share in deciding the

destiny of the nation.

If regions are not given a share in the national level

decision making, the feeling of injustice and alienation
can spread.
 Ques - What will happen if the
regions are not given their due share
in decision-making at the national
level ? (2M) 2017
 Ques - Suggest any three
methods to accommodate the
regional aspirations and
maintain national
integration. (6M) 2019
 Regional imbalance in economic development
4. contributes to the feeling of regional discrimination.

Naturally, the backward states or backward regions in some

states feel that their backwardness should be addressed on
priority.

If some states remain poor and others develop rapidly, it

leads to regional imbalances and inter-regional migrations.
Finally, these cases make us appreciate the What distinguishes India from
farsightedness of the makers of our Constitution in many other countries that face
dealing with questions of diversity. similar challenges is that the
constitutional framework in India
is much more flexible and
The federal system adopted by India is a flexible
accommodative.
arrangement.
Therefore, regional aspirations
While most of the states have equal powers, there are not encouraged to espouse
are special provisions for some states like J&K and (support) separatism.
the states in the North-East
Thus, politics in India has
succeeded in accepting
The 6th Schedule of the Constitution allows
regionalism as part and parcel of
different tribes complete autonomy of preserving
democratic politics.
their practices and customary laws

These provisions proved crucial in resolving some

very complex political problems in the North-East.
Ques : What does the term “regional
aspirations” refers to in the context of
indian politics ?

(a) Economic development of a region

(b) Political movements for regional

autonomy

(c) Formation of new states

(d) Cultural exchange b/w regions

Ques : On the question of diversity
which approach is adopted by
india ?

(a) Totalitarian approach

(b) Dictatorial approach
(c) Fascist approach
(d) Democratic approach
Ques : Bodo is a community in

(a) Manipur
(b) Assam
(c) Mizoram
(d) Arunachal Pradesh
Ques : When was anandpur sahib
resolution passed ?

(a) 1962
(b) 1965
(c) 1967
(d) 1973
Read these statements and choose one
correct answer from the given options.
(1M) 2023

Assertion (A): Operation blue star led to

the formation of a peaceful Mizoram.
Reason (R): The operation damaged the
Golden Temple, hurting sikh sentiments.
Options:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is
the correct reason of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is
not the correct reason of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong, but (R) is true.