A fair share

Identity is something unavoidable, it is something that makes us our self. We identify our self as humans to differentiate from other living beings and non living objects. Then we identify our self based on our gender and further we identify based on race then language, nationality, ethnic group, religion and so on. It is something that never ends. When we are in a new place we tend to identify our self with someone whom we can identify loosely. Identity gives a sense of uniqueness as well as companionship.

In India our ethnicity is identified based on the language we speak. Our states were loosely created based on languages. There are many advantages when we have a state based on a language or ethnicity. But at the same time, identifying does not ends there. This is lengthy process which never ends until it comes to a dead end, ME, MYSELF. Nationalism (devotion, loyalty and patriotism, not excessive patriotism or chauvinism) is a factor that binds people together which makes them forget the difference. Everyone have their right to preserve their identity at the same time it should not affect the bigger identity which represents a lot.

Identity can sometimes become complicated and also emotional. Even when we have successful states based on language it is not always as easy as it seems. The Telangana issue is one such. Even if people share the same language within the state there are noticeable difference between Telangana region and Andhra, Rayalseema region(All three regions together form Andhra Pradesh) . These are not visible for an outsider at the same time we cannot discard it by claiming that they speak the same language. Like we are just Indians for majority of outsiders, only we can identify our differences. We stop with identifying, we do not endorse or give way to the difference we have. Instead we try to override and end up hurting others.

While we have strong language based nationalism in India, it is very difficult to bifurcate a state that was formed based upon language. But it should also be noted that the then Hyderabad state (current Telangana region) was not a part of Andhra Pradesh when it was created. There was resistance from the people of Telangana back then and the strong feeling still continues. The strong feeling was successfully used by politicians from time to time for their political gain whenever they can. The only reason why it was used by the politicians because it remained dormant inside people even inside the younger generation. It wont be wrong if I say that cultural identity suppressed language identity here. Though one took over the other, none is lesser than the other. Even after the bifurcation the ethnicity of the people are going to remain the same.

As many say all the commotion and political gimmick is because of the way the government handled it. The situation could be handled in a better way as the regions have  more in common than the difference. A country which went through a major partition just few decades ago should not forget that a painful division will leave a deep scar on both the sides (state bifurcation is not equal to a country partition, but dividing is always dividing). Rather than taking hasty decisions and temporary solutions, it is time to sit and make a strong and sensible solution with a long vision.