Answer:

The post-independence resurgence of regionalism in many parts of India baffled the observers of Indian politics, and offered as the basis of prediction of the country’s ‘imminent balkanization’.

♤ The national leadership decided to postpone state reorganization on linguistic line. It was felt that linguistic states may foster separatism and create pressure on newly independent nation. Local leaders opposed this decision.

♤ Demands were raised in Madras and Bombay presidency. The death of congress worker fasting for Separate Telugu state in Andhra led to unrest and violent outburst. Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1952 to calm the situation. However, this led to series of struggles for separate states which threatened the stability.

♤ The State Reorganization Commission (SRC) was constituted to study this question in detail. The passing of the State Reorganization Act in 1956 on recommendation of SRC led to creation of numerous linguistic states.

♤ Events after 1956 clearly showed that loyalty to a language was quite consistent with, and was rather complementary to, loyalty to the nation. By reorganizing the states on linguistic lines, the SRC removed a major grievance which could have led to fissiparous tendencies. States reorganization is, therefore, ‘best regarded as clearing the ground for national integration’.

♤ Linguistic reorganization of the states has not in any manner adversely affected the federal structure of the Union or weakened or paralysed the Centre as many had feared.

♤ States’ reorganization did not, of course, resolve all the problems relating to linguistic conflicts. Disputes over boundaries between different states, linguistic minorities and economic issues such as sharing of waters, and power and surplus food still persist. Linguistic chauvinism also finds occasional expression.

♤ There are demands for creation of separate states within linguistically organized state. Creation of the Telangana suggests that language no more acts as cementing force it used to be. Socio-economic factors, disparities within state and prospects of development forms basis for state demands.

But it’s equally true that the reorganization on linguistic lines has removed language as a major factor affecting cohesion of the country.