Opportunist politicians cry for separate state
The concept of small states is not impractical. Several analysts have often opined that small countries and small states are conducive to progress and are more manageable than the large ones. Many political experts have also seen how smaller states have been able to make comprehensive improvement right from base level to upwards. So, when a cry for separate state arises, one need not dismiss it without a thought. In the last four decades, the number of states has always been increasing in India.
Despite all the opposition, Telangana was born. That didn’t cause any major earth shattering changes in Andhra Pradesh. All those geographical borders exist for the betterment of human beings, as against human beings existing to protect them. Those lines of separation are imaginary ones that carry a lot of emotions on their shoulders. If one severs the bond with one’s own motherland, and everything that comprises it, the lines that denote the border wouldn’t have any significance to them.
One can consider the example of Kashmir which is fighting to separate itself from India. The callousness of central government since ages has led to the Kashmiris distancing themselves from the rest of the country. Unless people accept Kashmiris as our own people, that state can never feel in unison with the rest of the country. Owing to the Sangh Parivar interference in the matter, the issue of Kashmir has turned into a massive quagmire. If this is a demand for a separate nation, the demand for separate state is no different either.
Karnataka has been witnessing this situation in Belagavi since many decades. At some point of time, Kannadigas outnumbered people who spoke other languages. Today, Kannadigas have to put up a massive fight if they have to insist on their rightful existence in the city. This could also be the result of state ignoring its borders, but the government has to exert itself to make its presence felt in Belagavi. The government on its side, remembers Belagavi only when someone tears away the Kannada flag somewhere in that region. Unless the people living in that region feel they are in solidarity with the state, and that Karnataka and Kannada are their identities, Belagavi will keep resisting the imposition of Kannada on them.
Ever since the new government came into being, the cry for separate state has gained more volume. This started with the pretext of Kumaraswamy ignoring north Karnataka in the maiden budget. Following this, some of the statements made by the CM have also been under scrutiny to strengthen the cry. A strong rumour of CM Kumaraswamy being anti-North Karnataka has been set afloat with a particular agenda. Though there is reality in the claim that North Karnataka has not seen much progress owing to the taken for granted attitude by the politicians of that region, this cry for separate state is something that surely has some conspiracy under its wings. One has to understand the genuine need for this separation, and the people who are leading this or promoting this issue.
The most tragic aspect of this whole issue is that the looters of Ballari, who have earned thousands of crores and turned the lives of people living in that area as living hell; they are the ones who are bolstering this fight. MLA Sriramulu and other BJP leaders are adding more volume to this fight with constantly issuing statements in the media. But they forget the fact that they are very much responsible for the regression of North Karnataka. The feudal set up that resembles the mining barons, and undeclared ‘rulers’ of North Karnataka, the agriculturists and labourers are suffering in that area.
One need not explain how Ballari was looted, natural resources plundered and people were left with nothing but the dust of mining. Many leaders from North Karnataka have grown into national level politicians. They have even become the CMs too. And yet, they did not want to see the progress of the area. Now the same politicians are trying to make hay while the separate state cries get louder. With this, they are trying shrug their responsibility in the situation north Karnataka is in, today. Even those leaders who represented Kodagu, did the same thing. They progressed personally. But the tribal people of Kodagu remained in the same situation as they are. The region is very much in the clutches of landlords of the yore. This has been the main reason for Kodagu to lag behind in terms of progress. Because all the governments have only engaged with the wealthy upper caste coffee planters. The poor adivasis neither have the representation, nor the voice to speak to the government.
It should be the biggest irony that the same BJP leaders who have divided the nation in the name of religion and caste, are also raising cries of separate state in the context of regional discrimination. Karnataka is a hub of different cultures and languages. The BKP wants to slowly erase that and take it into the control of central government, and impose hindi. And to achieve this goal, they need North Karnataka, which could conveniently be a hindi belt. The cry for separate state is not arising from the hearts of people of the region, but more a political game. Kannadigas need to stand in solidarity against this and retain their state with all its glory.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship: How to apply, when to apply; details here
Bengaluru: The Azim Premji Foundation has announced the Azim Premji Scholarship for the academic year 2025–26, aimed at supporting up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 Indian states who are pursuing higher education after completing school. An official release from the foundation also stated that in the coming years the scholarship will be implemented across the country.
When to Apply:
According to a release from the foundation, the application process for the Azim Premji Scholarship 2025–26 will commence in September 2025. “Details of the program and any changes in the program design or coverage will be notified at the start of the application process,” the release added.
Where to Apply:
According to the release, the scholarship this year will be implemented across 18 states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Students residing in these states and enrolled in recognised higher education institutions will be eligible to apply.
How to Apply:
-
Girls who have completed their Class 10 and 12 education in government (public) schools and have secured admission in a bona fide higher education institution either a government-run college/university or select private institutions can apply for the scholarship.
-
Once the application portal opens in September, students will be required to submit personal details, educational qualifications, proof of admission, and bank account information.
-
The scholarship amount ₹30,000 per year will be transferred directly into the students' bank accounts in two instalments each academic year, read the release.
