Regionalism...first Assam now Orissa

We indians beleive in diversity. Proudly we speak, hum sab ek hai chahhe koi ho boli. bhasha yah pehnawa.

Recently Assam was in news due to a SARE challenge 2005 and then attacks on hindibhassi Bihari. Now Coach chappel gets a thappad on his back just because no one is representing Orrissa in the Team.

Who ever are in the team, are they apart from India??? Is Orrissa away from India. Why is regionalism becoming so important lately?? As we are getting more educated population, we are retreating or moving forward??😕

I believe that how much ever we wish for, it is difficult and practically impossible for most people, not just Indians, to detach themselves from regionalism and religion. I have seen in many reality shows many of us unintentionally support the person from our state and it is true even in USA. Just like how an Indian's face bright up seeing another Indian even in Antarctica; imagine if that person also talks in your mother tongue😆 and follows your faith! I love the term coined by Sareg. Let us love United states of India and its people and let regionalism continue because I am sure when we face a major issue/threat then we are one and the same people without any barriers of region or religion.

In India we have people following almost all faiths which exist in this world. We have each state and even the districts within those states speaking in different languages and dialects. We have different festivals and customs. Still even after so many years of independence except for few fanatics we still want to be known as Indians outside India and that is what matters. Forcing something because it held true in ancient times won't work.We should respect language of each state and people of every faith. Unity in diversity.

Originally posted by: Maya_M

Lata, it is not recent. I remember reading how Bal Thackeray's father (I forgot his name) who was considered a social reformer in the 70s wanted Mumbai to be strictly for Maharashtrians and left no stones untouched to chuck Bengalis, Tamilians and Biharis who were disembarking in search of jobs. Trying to make Tamilnadu a strict Tamil state was a movement started long back. It is also a true fact that many Tamil leaders were vocal about having a separate country comprising of all 4 South states before independence. But it was opposed by leaders of other 3 states immediately so it was nipped in the bud.

Originally posted by: bhilwara

Regionalism...first Assam now Orissa
I would say those incidents are still rare in a country of billion people, divided into so many different states, substates/region, caste, religion, culture and language. There is nothing wrong with a strong sense of identity and pride of where one belongs. In fact after independence that's how all different states were created on basis of regionalism of language and culture. Unfortunately since not all places have been developed equally for number of reasons but divide and rule political class have certainly taken advantage of this situation and created the feelings of insecurity among the underdeveloped ones for obvious reasons.