RIFT OF REGIONALISM
The divide being created across our country by regionalism based ideologies is a known fact to most of us today. The presence of such bifurcations is the “bad” part of the story but the “worst” part is that most of us either support or harbour such thoughts within us. These thoughts, of not wanting “outsiders” in “our” STATE/RAJYA, are more dangerous and have a more drastic effect on the fabric of Indian unity than the violence unleashed by the present day mascot of regionalism, Mr. Raj Thackeray, on the “outsider bhaiyya” in aamchi Mumbai.
The seeds of this regional divide were sowed long ago by our sophisticated and cunning English rulers, by developing India in pockets of political and economic interests for them. We all, with great levels of hypocrisy have, at some point of time in our lives, supported these regionalistic ideas, for our own selfish motives and benefits.
The whole philosophy about getting first preference for jobs, getting cheap housing and so on in a State, merely because “I” have been born and brought up in that State is ridiculous. I do not understand why there the need to have reservation in Government Jobs for locals to “protect cultural identity”. In this regard, the example of Gujaratis aka Gujjus is the best one, the Gujarati community is firmly bound to their cultural and ways of living irrespective of the State or even the country they reside in…..this shows that to actually conserve your cultural identity, in this super-diverse country of ours, there is the need to have love and pride about your culture rather than selfishness for petty personal gains.
The presence of regionalistic ideas is worse than the violence and hooliganism unleashed by many politicians across the country. It may be Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu or even Goa, the growth of the hatred towards the “outsider” is frightening!!!!!!
If the people in various States are sooo much concerned about the “outsider” and troubled him “destroying their “culture”, then why do they use LPG found in Gujarat and the North East, use petrol and diesel at subsidised rates given by Central Government??? Why don’t people in Bangalore…ohhh sorry Bengaluru, throw out the various IT industries which are owned by “outsiders”, if Mr. Raj Thackeray actually has the guts let him try and throw out Mukesh Ambani from Mumbai? Why don’t the people in Goa just use the Goan vegetables, why use the potatoes and tomatoes which are grown by “ghaatis”????
When it comes to regionalism, we all, each and every one of us is a big fat HIPPOCRAT. The issue of not allowing Biharis and Bhaiyyas use the resources of other states merely because there aren’t enough economic opportunities in their respective states and so they should not be allowed in other states. We are Indians only when we want NSG commandos to defend “aamchi Mumbai”, when we want relief during floods or droughts, otherwise we are Maharashtrians, Kannadigas, Goans, Mallus and so on.
Today when we are faced with threats from two neighbours, internal threat of Maoists and the everlasting threat of terror attacks, we have to shed such petty and selfish loyalties and be an INDIAN first, and Maharashtrian or Kannadiga or Goan or Mallu later.
I have a friend of mine, who was born in Tamil Nadu, completed his primary education in West Bengal, his secondary and higher secondary education in Rajasthan, University in Goa and is planning to settle in New Delhi, I call him the “Indian Nomad” and such nomads are of great importance of the India remaining the Unity-in-Diversity rather than the Differences-in-Diversity which are heading towards.
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