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Class 12 Political Science Chapter 17 Regional Aspirations
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Regional Aspirations
Unit -17
PART – 2
VERY SHORT ANSWER
Q. 1. Which issue is always seems a major issue between India and Pakistan ?
Ans : Kashmir issue is always a major issue between India and Pakistan.
Q. 2. Who was Hari Singh ?
Ans : Hari Singh was the princely ruler of Jammu and Kashmir.
Q. 3. Which Article of the Indian Constitution gives greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir ?
Ans : Article 370 of the Indian Constitution gives greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir
Q. 4. Who was Tara Singh ?
Ans : Master Tara Singh was a prominent Sikh religious and political leader.
Q. 5. In which year was the Akali Dal in Punjab formed ?
Ans : In 1920 Akali Dal was formed in Punjab.
Q. 6. Write the full form of MNF.
Ans : The full form of MNF is Mizo National Front.
Q. 7. Who was Laldenga ?
Ans : Laldenga was the founder and leader of the Mizo National Front.
Q. 8. When was the Assam agitation on foreigner’s issue started ?
Ans : In 1979 the Assam agitation was started on foreigner’s issue.
Q. 9. To which state does the AGP belong ?
Ans : AGP belong to Assam.
Q. 10. In which year did Goa become a state of the Indian Union ?
Ans : In 1987 Goa become a state of the Indian Union.
Q. 11. When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated ?
Ans : Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31st October 1984.
Q. 12. Who was the leader of the Naga National Council ?
Ans : The leader of the Naga National Council was Angami Tapo Phizo.
Q. 13. When Anandpur Sahib Resolution was passed ?
Ans : In 1973 Anandpur Sahib Resolution was passed.
Q. 14. When government of India carried out Operation Blue Star ?
Ans : In June 1984 Govt. of India carried out operation Blue Star.
Q. 15. When was first Assembly Election held in Sikkim ?
Ans : In 1974, the first Assembly Election was held in Sikkim.
Q. 16. Write the full form of MGP.
Ans : The full form of MGP is Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
17. When was Sikkim merged with India ?
Ans : In 1975, Sikkim was merged with India.
Q. 18. State the full form of AASU.
Ans : The full form of AASU is All Assam Students Union. ”
Q.19. Say “True” or “False” :
(a) Before 1947 Jammu and Kashmir was a Princely State.
Ans : True.
(b) Dravidian Movement was one of the first regional movements in Indian politics.
Ans : True.
(c). Many of the Kashmir is believed that the autonomy conferred by Article 370 is enough.
Ans : False,
(d) The “Operation Blue Star” was carried out by the Government of India in 1984.
Ans : True.
(e) In 1966 the MNF started an armed campaign for independence.
Ans : True.
(f) After the reorganisation of Punjab, the Akalis came to power in 1978.
Ans : False.
(g) Mohammad Ali Abdullah of the National conference led the popular movement.
Ans : False.
(h) Nagaland State was created in 1962.
Ans : False.
(i) Assam Assembly elections were held in December, 1986.
Ans : False.
Q. 20. When was National Conference established ?
Ans : 1948.
Q. 21. In which state Assam Gana Parishad is active ?
Ans : Assam.
Q.22. Who was the founder president of Telugu Desam ?
Ans : N.T. Rama Rao
Q. 23. Under which Article of the Constitution Jammu and Kashmir is given greater autonomy ?
Ans : 370.
Q. 24. When Sikkim was merged with India ?
Ans : 1974.
Q. 25. In which year Nagaland State was created ?
Ans : 1963. 26.
Q. 26. When Govt. of India carried out operation Blue Star ?
Ans : 1984.
Q. 27. What do you mean by Seven Sister ?
Ans : Seven states of North East-Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
Q. 28. Mention any one factor that leads to regionalism ?
Ans : Economic backwardness.
29. Fill in the blanks :
(a) Sikkim became the state of the Indian Union.
Ans : 22nd.
(b) The reorganisation of the North-East was completed by___.
Ans : 1987.
30. Fill in the gaps :
(a) In___ the Govt. of India sent the army which liberated____.
Ans : 1972, Bangladesh.
(b) After independence, area was made an autonomous the district within___.
Ans : Delhi, India.
SHORT ANSWER
Q. 1. In 1972 which two union territories were given the status of statehood ?
Ans : In 1972 Manipur and Tripura were given the status of statehood.
Q. 2. When was Sikkim merged with India.
Ans : Sikkim was merged with India in April 1975. The Sikkim Assembly first sought the status of associate state and then in April 1975 pass a resolution asking for full integration with India.
Q. 3. What do you understand by ‘Regionalism’.
Ans : Regionalism is a significant type of sub territorial loyalty administrative divisions or provinces at times generate a degree of loyalty separate from identification with the national territory. In a vast and diversified polity like India, Regionalism is a legitimate phenomena.
Q. 4. How Regionalism has effected Indian Politics ?
Ans : Regionalism has effected the Indian politics a lot. In the course of democratic politics, regional aspirations get strengthened. Sometimes, the concern for national unity may overshadow the regional needs and aspiration. At other times a concern for region alone may blind us to the larger needs of the nation.
Q. 5. Write two causes of the origin of regionalism.
Ans : Two causes of the origin of Regionalism are like :
(i) When religious and linguistic groups of a multicultural country feels continuously ignored and neglected then the feeling of regionalism may out burst.
(ii) When the economic benefits of a country are unevenly distributed then too the negative feeling of Regionalism may arise.
Q. 6. Write few lines about Laldenga.
Ans : Laldenga (1937-1990) was the founder and leader of the Mizo National Front. He turned into a rebel after the experience of the famine in 1959. He led an armed struggle against India for two decades and reached a settlement and signed an agreement with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986. He became the Chief Minister of the newly created state of Mizoram.
Q. 7. What do you understand by MNF ?
Ans : In 1966 the Mizo National Front started an armed campaign for independence of Mizoram. Thus started a two decade long battle between Mizo insurgents and the Indian army. The MNF fought a guerilla war, got support from Pakistani government and the Indian army, The MNF fought a guerilla war, got support from Pakistani government and secured shelter in then Pakistan.
Q. 8. Mention any two provisions which reflect special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Ans : The two provision which reflect special status to Jammu and Kashmir are :
(i) Article 370 gives greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir compared to other states of India. The state has its own constitution.
(ii) All Provisions of the Indian Constitution are not applicable to the state. Laws passed by the Parliament apply to Jammu and Kashmir only if the state agrees.
Q. 9. Give the significance of Article 370 of our constitution.
Ans : Article 370 of Indian Constitution gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Under Article 370 Jammu and Kashmir is given greater autonomy compared to other states of India. The special status has provoked two opposite reactions. There is a section of people outside of Jammu and Kashmir that believes that the special status of the state conferred by Article 370 does not allow full integration of the state with India. This section feels that Article 370 should therefore be revoked and Jammu and Kashmir should be like any other state in India.
Q. 10. What is the basic nature of Kashmir issue ?
Ans : The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is also of regional aspiration. The Kashmir issue is always seen as a major issue between India and Pakistan. But the political situation in the state has many dimensions, like external and internal. It involves the issue of Kashmiri identity knows as Kashmiriyat and the aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for political autonomy.
Q.11. What is the basic principle of the Indian approach to diversity ?
Ans : India adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity. Democracy allows the political expressions of regional aspirations and does not look upon them as anti national. Besides democratic politics allows parties and groups to address the people on the basis of their regional identity, aspiration and specific regional problems. Thus in the course of democratic politics, regional aspiration get strengthened.
Q.12. What issues do regional movements involve?
Ans : Regional Movements based on regional aspirations involved :
(i) Armed assertion by the people.
(ii)Their repression by the government.
(iii) A collapse of the political and electoral process.
Q. 13. What do you mean by Seven Sisters ?
Ans : The seven states of north-eastern India namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura are collectively known as seven sisters. Amongst them, Assam is known as the gateway of North East.
Q. 14. Write few lines on ‘Instrument of Accession’.
Ans : Instrument of Accession was signed by the princely rulers as a documental evidence to accede to India. With the signing of this legal instrument, the princely states external affairs, communication and defence was looked after by India and rest all other departments were under the control of the princely state. It is to be noted that except few problematic states like Junagarh, Manipur, Travancare, Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir, most of the princely ruler inked Instrument of Accession.
Q. 15. Why “Opinion Poll” was held in Goa in 1969 ?
Ans : Led by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) one section of people of Goa, desired that Goa, as a Marathi speaking area should merge with Maharashtra. However many Goans were keen to retain a separate Goan identity and culture, particularly the Konkani language. They were led by the union Goan Party (UGP) In January 1967, the central government held a special ‘opinion poll’ in Goa asking people to decide if they wanted to be part of Maharashtra or remain separate. It was for the first time in free India that peoples wishes or referendum was held on a subject.
Q. 16. What was the problem of Goa ?
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No. 15. (Long Answer
Q. 17. How the problem of regionalism can be solved ?
Ans : The problem of regionalism can be solved by : fi Ensuring equal development of all the regions of the country.
(1) Protecting the separate socio-cultural identity of various groups.
Q. 18. In which year first Assembly Election was held in Sikkim ?
Ans : In 1975 the first assembly election was held.
Q. 19. Mention any two provisions, which reflect special status to Jammu and Kashmir ?
Ans : Same as Short Q. No. 8. (Short Answer)
Q. 20. Who led the Popular Movement in Jammu and Kashmir to get rid of maharaja?
Ans : Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah led the Popular Movement in Jammu and Kashmir to get rid of Maharaja.
LONG ANSWER
Q. 1. Give the significance of Article 370 of our constitution.
Ans : Article 370 of Indian Constitution gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Under Article 370 Jammu and Kashmir is given greater autonomy compared to other states of India. The special status has provoked two opposite reactions. There is a section of people outside of Jammu and Kashmir that believes that the special status of the state conferred by Article 370 does not allow full integration of the state with India. This section feels that Article 370 should therefore be revoked and Jammu and Kashmir should be like any other state in India.
Q. 2. Give a brief description of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ans : Jammu and Kashmir is the most violent issue between the relationship of India and Pakistan since Independence. It has resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of many families. It involves the issue Kashmiri identity known as Kashmiriyat and the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for political autonomy. The political situation in the state has many dimensions like external and internal. Jammu and Kashmir comprises three social and political regions like – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The heart of the Kashmir region is the Kashmir valley. The people are Kashmire speaking and mostly Muslim with a small Kashmiri speaking Hindu minority.
Q. 3. How does regionalism come in the way of bringing about unity in diversity ?
Ans : It is absolutely correct that Regionalism comes in the way of bringing about unity in diversity. India is a multicultural and multilingual country, There are many ethnic groups who live within India. The state as well central government will definitely face problems to satisfy each and every cultural group. Nation building is an ongoing process. Expression of regional issues is not an aberration oran abnormal phenomenon. It produced a reconciliation which reduced the tensions existing in many regions. The example of Mizoram shows how political settlement can resolve the problem of separatism effectively. The second lesson is that the best way to respond to regional aspiration is through suppression.
Q. 4. discuss the nature of the Dravidian Movement.
Ans : ‘Vadakku vaazhkirathu, Therkku Thaeikirathu’ mean the north thrives even as the south decays. This popular slogan sums up the dominant sentiments of one of India’s most effective regional movements, the Dravidian movement, at one point of time. This was one of the first regional movements in Indian politics. It initially aimed for a separate provide nation but this movement did not go for violence. It used democratic means like public debates and the electoral platform to achieve its ends. This strategy paid off as the movement acquired political power in the state and also became influential at the national level.
The Dravidian Movement led to the formation of Dravida Kazhagam (DK) under the leadership of prominent Tamil Social reformer E.V. Ramasamy Periyar. The organisation strongly opposed the Brahmins dominance and affirmed regional pride against the political, economic and cultural domination of the North. Initially the Dravidian movement spoke in terms of the whole South India, however lack of support from other states limited the movement to Tamilnadu.
Q. 5. The Assam movement was combination of cultural pride and economic backwardness. Explain.
Ans : The Assam movement was a combination of cultural pride and economic backwardness. It is true because the Assam Movement aimed to protect cultural identity of the Assamese people and to bring economic development. Assam has been a backward state and there was an apprehension that the separate socio-cultural identity of Assamese people are in danger. There has been large scale migration of outsides to Assam which has threatened the identity of Assamese people. There was a threat that unless the illegal foreigners are detected and deported the Assamese people will become minority in their own homeland.
Q. 6.List the areas of tension immediately after independence in India.
Ans : Immediately after independence India had to face with many difficult issues like partition displacement, integration of princely states, reorganization of states and so on.
(i) Soon after independence the issue of Jammu and Kashmir came up. It was a question of the political aspirations of the people of Kashmir valley
(ii) Similarly in some parts of the North East, there was no consensus about being a part of India. First Nagaland and then Mizoram witnessed strong movements demanding separation from India.
(iii)In the South, some groups from the Dravid movement briefly toyed with the idea of a separate country.
(iv) The Akali Dal launched a movement on the question of the distribution of water between Punjab and its neighbouring states. Soon the leadership of the movement passed from the moderate Akalis to the extremist elements and took the form of armed insurgency.
Thus all these issues create lot of problems in Independent India.
Q. 7. ‘Regionalism does not imply separatism’. Explain.
Ans : Regionalism doesn’t only uphold separatism. All regional movement need not to lead separatist demands because regional aspirations are very much a part of democratic politics. There are many more examples which shows that regionalism does not only bear separatist tendency with it. In 1966, the Mizo National Front started an armed struggle for independence. This started a long battle between Mizo insurgent and the Indian army. Finally, a peace agreement was signed between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga.
According to this accord signed in 1986, Mizoram was granted all statehood with special powers and MNF agreed to give up their struggle for secession from the Indian Union. The story of Nagaland is similar to Mizoram. After a period of long insurgency, a section of the Nagas signed an agreement with the government of India, although it was not acceptable to other rebels. Thus all these experience proof that regionalism does not implies only separatist tendency.
Q. 8. Mention any four regional parties of India.
Ans : Four Regional Political Parties of India are – National Conference of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam Gana Parishad of Assam, Akali Dal of Punjab and D.M.K. of Tamilnadu.
Q. 9. Why did Anandpur Sahib Resolution become controversial ?
Ans : During the period of 1970’s a section of Akali Dal, demanded political autonomy for Punjab.The Akali Dal passed a resolution which asserted autonomy. In 1973, at Anandpur Sahib a conference of Akali Dal was held. In that conference a resolution was taken demanding political autonomy for Punjab. This is known as Anandpur Sahib Resolution. The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was termed as Controversial because it was narrow in its approach. The resolution reflected only the aspirations of Sikh Community. Later on this resolution led to secessionist demand for the creation of “Khalistan.”
Q. 10. All regional movements need not lead to separatist demands. Explain by giving examples.
Ans : It is true that all regional movements do not lead to separatist demands. In 1966, the Mizo National Front (MNF) started an armed struggle for independence. This started a long battle between Mizo insurgents and the Indian army. The MNF fought a guerilla war got support from pakistan and shelter in East Pakistan. (Now Bangladesh). The Indian army even used air force to suppress them. But these measures causes more anger and alienation of the people from India. When insurgency bore no fruit, Laldenga came back from exile in Pakistan and started negotiations with the government of India. Finally, a peace agreement was signed between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga. According to this accord signed in 1986, Mizoram was granted full statehood with special powers and MNF agreed to give up their struggle for secession from the Indian union. The story of Nagaland is similar to Mizoram. After a period of long insurgency, a section of the Nagas signed an agreement with the government of India, although it was not acceptable to other rebels.
Q. 11.Describe the politics and programmes of Shiromani Akali Dal.
Ans : The Akali Dal is the oldest and the most successful of the regional parties in India. It claims to be the role representative body of the Sikhs. It is openly and publicly committed to promote and protect the interest of the Sikhs through political power. By a skillful manipulation of religious symbols, the language issue and the issue of Sikh subnational identity, the Shiromani Akali Dal has been able to abstract large concession from the British government, then from the Congress party, and after independence from the central government. It has been consistently shifting its stand on the content of the interest of the Sikhs and it has used both agitational and constitutional methods to achieve its goals
The Akali Dal demanded re-distribution of river water between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab in lieu of some territory to Haryana and the re-orientation of centre-state relations etc. They demanded all these following the agitational as well as constitutional approach.
| Sl. No. | CONTENTS |
| Unit 1 | PART – 1 |
| Chapter 1 | The Cold War Era |
| Chapter 2 | The End of Bipolarity |
| Chapter 3 | US Hegemony in World Politics |
| Chapter 4 | Alternative Centres Of Power |
| Chapter 5 | Contemporary South Asia |
| Chapter 6 | International Organisations |
| Chapter 7 | Security In The Contemporary World |
| Chapter 8 | Environment And Natural Resources |
| Chapter 9 | Globalisation |
| Unit 2 | PART – 2 |
| Chapter 1 | Era of One-Party Dominance |
| Chapter 2 | Challenges of Nation Building |
| Chapter 3 | Politics Of Planned Development |
| Chapter 4 | India’s External Relations |
| Chapter 5 | Challenges to and Restoration of Congress System |
| Chapter 6 | The Crisis of Democratic Order |
| Chapter 7 | Rise of Popular Movements |
| Chapter 8 | Regional Aspirations |
| Chapter 9 | Recent Developments in India Politics |
Q. 12. Discuss the Assam Accord.
Ans : After six years of Anti-foreigner Movement, the Rajiv Gandhi led government entered into negotiations with the AASU leaders leading in the signing of an accord in 1985. This is the famous Assam Accord, regarding the issue of outsiders.
The main point of this accard are :
(i) According to this agreement those foreigners who migrated into Assam during and after Bangladesh war and since, were to be identified and deported.
(ii) With the successful completion of the movement, the AASU and the Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AGP) organised themselves as a regional political party called Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)
(iii) It came to power in 1985 with the promise of resolving the foreign national problem as well as to build a ‘Golden Assam’.
Assam Accord brought peace and changed the face of politics in Aşsam, but as a whole it did not solve the problem of immigration.
Q. 13. Are regional parties necessary in India ? Give any two arguments in support of your answer.
Ans : Yes, regional political parties are necessary in India because of following reasons :
(i) The Regional Political parties will understand the regional issues and local problems much better than the national parties.
(ii) The Regional parties owing to a region can give representation to almost all groups and ethnic tribes of the state. This will prevent regional movements and agitations.
Q. 14. Describe the policies and programme of DMK..
Ans : DMK is one of the regional political party of Tamilnadu, which originally sprung from Dravidian movement of the forties which had been anti Brahmin, anti-north and anti-Hindi. Founded in 1949 by C.N. Annadu Mai, the DMK emerged as the first political organ of the movement.
DMK is socialistic and democratic in its outlook. The party committed to the upliftment of the poor and down trodden. They have had incorporated in their programmes such socialistic measures as land ceiling, removal of controls, help to backward communities, slum clearance, provision of drinking water for villagers etc. They have made suitable legislative provisions for the grant of subsidies and loans to the farmers. In the last one decade, there has been a great emphasis on populist social welfare schemes including mid-day meal for children, old age pensions, free distribution of chappals and saris etc.
Q. 15. List the communities who wanted separate states in the North-East region.
Ans : The following communities wanted separate states in NorthEastern region:
(i) The Assamese Community.
(ii) The Naga Community.
(iii) The Mizo Community.
(iv) The Bodo Community.
Q. 16. Discuss the policy and programme of Telegu Desam Party (TDP)
Ans : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is the ruling party of Andhra Pradesh, came into being in 1982 as a consequence of maladministration in the state and continued insults to the Telugu sense of Pride by the centre. It was a revolt against the denial of state autonomy through the imposition of successive Chief Ministers by the central government. The party was Launched by NT Rama Rao in the 1983 state elections, TDP swept the polls and came into power. After the death of NTR in 1994, TDP under the leadership of NTR’s son in law, Chandrabadu Naidu ruled the state and played an active role in the formation and stability of the centre. In the united front government (1991-98) TDP was a partner. After this, it gave outside support to the BJP led government. It was able to get the past of the Speaker of Lok Sabha in the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha.
Beside the charismatic motivation the party is famous for some social welfare schemes like-cheap, cheap rice, saris, old age pension etc. have been a source of strength for the party. The value of the schemes in the perspective of the state’s overall economic progress and development is no doubt open to question.
Q. 17. Discuss the ideology and electoral performance of National Conference.
Ans : The National Conference of Jammu and Kashmir was build up nearly half a century ago by Sheikh Abdullan with the assistance of a political group of some like minded Kashmiri Hindus and Muslims. The party through its various incarnations has symbolised Kashmiri aspirations for about five decades and banks on its base in the Kashmir valley. The National Conference is a dominant force in the Kashmir valley community wise, the National Conference draws support from Kashmiri particularism which has a strong Islamic component. The Kashmiri Muslim have an emotional attachment with this party described as “home-spun” political organisation of Kashmir by its founder.
In the 1951 election in state N.C. won all the 75 seats of the State Assembly (73 seats unopposed) Sheikh Abdullah’s anti India attitude resulted in his arrest in 1953 and he was released in 1964. Till his death in 1982, he was almost the supreme leader of the NC. After His death the leadership of the NC passed into the hands of his son Dr. Farooq Abdullah. NC stands for autonomy. In 1999, NC joined BJP led government at the centre. In the last Assembly election, it lost power in the state.
Q. 18. Discuss the factors responsible for the emergence of regional parties in India ?
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No. 17. (Long Answer)
Q. 19. What are the factors responsible for the development of “Regionalism’ in India ?
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No. 5. (Short Answer)
Q. 20. Assam movement was a combination of cultural pride and economic backwardness’ , Justify ?
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No, 5. (Long Answer)
Q. 21. ‘Regionalism is a cures’. How can it be curbed? Give any four suggestions ?
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No.6. (Very Long Answer).
Q. 22. What are the different forms of separatist politics of Kashmir ?
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No. 5. (Very Long Answer)
Q. 23. What do you know about Kazi Lhendup Dorji Khangsarpa ?
Ans : Kazi Lhendeep Dorji Khangsarpa was born in 1904 in Sikkim. He was main leader of democratic movement of Sikkim. He formed Sikkim Praza Mandal and in 1962 he formed Sikkim National Congress and became Chief Minister of Sikkim.
Q. 24. Write short notes on :
(a) E.V. Ramaswami Naicker.
Ans : E.V. Ramaswami Naicker was born in 1879 in Tamilnadu and died in 1973. He was the prime leader of Dravirian movement in Tamilnadu. Dravirian movement was a strong regional movement.
(b) Punjab accord.
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No. 1.
VERY LONG ANSWER
Q.1. What were the main provisions of Punjab Accord ? In what way can they be the basis for further tensions between the Punjab states ?
Ans : The decade of 1980’s witnessed major developments in the state of Punjab. The social composition of the state changed first with partition and d later on after the carving out of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. While the rest of the country was reorganized on linguistic lines in 1950s, Punjab had to wait till 1966 for the creation of a Punjabi speaking state. The Akali Dal, which was formed in 1920 as the political wing of the Sikhs, had led the movement for the formation of a ‘Punjab Suba’. The Sikhs were now a majority in the truncated state of punjab.
After the reorganisation, the Akalis came to power in 1967 and them in 1977. On both the occasions it was a coalition government. The Akalis discovered that despite the redrawing of the boundaries, their political Position remained precarious. Further, their government was dismissed by the centre mid-way through its term. The Sikhs community, like all other religious communities, was internally differentiated on caste and class lines. The congress got more support among the Dalits, whether Hindu or Sikhs, than the Akalis.
Soon, the leadership of the Akali movement passed from the moderate Akalis to extremist elements and took the form of armed insurgency. A large proportion of sikhs in India and abroad saw the military operation as an attack on their faith and this gave further impetus to militant and extremist groups. The militants made their headquarters inside the Sikh holy shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar and turned it into an armed fortress. In June 1984, the government of India carried out ‘Operation Blue Star’ code name for army action in the Golden Temple. In this if operation, the government could successfully flush out the militants, but it also damaged the historic temple and deeply hurt the sentiments of the Win Sikhs.
Still more tragic target turn of events complicated the Punjab problem further. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 october 1984 outside her residence by her body guards. Both the assassins were Sikhs and wanted to take revenge for Operation Blue star. The entire country was shocked by this development but in delhi and other parts of northern India violence broke out against the Sikh community.
The violence against the Sikhs continued for almost a week. More than two thousand Sikhs were killed in the national capital, the area worst affected by this violence. Hundreds of sikhs were killed in other parts of the country, PF especially in UP and Bihar. Many Sikhs families last their male members Are and thus suffered great emotional and financial loss.
What hurt the Sikhs most was that the government took a long time in restoring normalcy and po that the perpetrators of this violence were not effectively punished. Twenty years later, speaking in the parliament’ in 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan singh expressed regret over these killings and apologized to) the nation for the anti sikh violence.
Q. 2. Discuss the role of Congress in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ans : During most of the period between 1953 and 1974 the congress exercised a lot of influence on the politics of Jammu and Kashmir.
These influences can be mention like following ways :
(i) The National Conference is a dominant force in the Kashmir valley, congress has a corresponding position in the Jammu region. while Both have pockets of influence in each other’s areas of strength.
(ii) A truncated National Conference (minus Sheikh Abdullah) remained in power with the active support of congress for some time but later it merged with the congress. The congress conference alliance, and the establishment of the alliance rule in Kashmir, with Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister of the state. Thus congress gained direct control over the government in the state.
(iii) The congress party also made several attempts to reach an agreement between Sheikh Abdullah and the government of India.
(iv) Finally in 1974 Indira Gandhi reached an agreement with Sheikh and he became the Chief Minister of the state.
(v) Some of the activities of the National Conference feel that their party has virtually been reduced to a “rubber stamp” in the hands of the congress. They resent being treated like junior partners by the centre. The National conference act like “stooges” of the congress leadership.
Q. 3. What was the tragic turn which complicated the Punjab problem further ?
Ans : The assassination of the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31st October 1984 outside her residence by her body guards who were Sikhs bought the entire nation under a state of Shock and complicated the Punjab problem further.
(i) In Delhi and in many parts of Northern India violence broke out against the Sikh community and continued for almost a week.
(ii) More than two thousand Sikhs were killed in the national capital, the area worst affected by this violence.
(iii). Hundreds of Sikhs were killed in other part of the country, especially in places like Kanpur, Bokaro and Chas,
(iv) Many Sikh families lost their male members and thus suffered great emotional and heavy financial loss.
(v) What hurt the Sikhs most was that the government took a time in restoring normalcy and that the perpetrators of this violence were not effectively punished.
Twenty years later speaking in the Parliament in 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed regret over these killings and apologised to the nation for the anti-sikh violence.
Q. 4. Which Prime Minister expressed regret over the violence against Sikhs after Indira Gandhi’s death ?
Ans : After twenty years later, speaking in the Parliament in 2005, Prime Minister of India Dr. Monmohan Singh expressed regret over the killings of Sikhs during the violence in the after math of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. He also apologised to the nation for the anti Sikh violence.
Q. 5. What are the factors that fuel the fires of separatism in India ?
Ans : Separatist politics which surfaced in Kashmir from 1989 had taken different forms and is made up of various strands.
(i) By 1989, the state had come in the grip of a militant movement mobilised around the cause of a separate Kashmiri nation. The insurgents got moral, material and military support from Pakistan.
(ii) Regional differences in the process of development also fuel the fires of separatism in India. If some states remain poor and develop rapidly. It creates separatist tendency among the underdeveloped states or regions.
(iii) Lack of significance power sharing also lead to separatism. It is not sufficient to have a formal democratic structure. Besides that, groups and parties from the region need to be given share in power at the state level, If regions are not given a share in the national level decision making the feeling of injustice and alienation car spread
(iv) It is the best way to respond to regional aspiration is through democratic negotiations rather than through suppression suppression led to negative result.
Q. 6. How the problem of regionalism can be solved ?
Ans : Most of the regional problems can be solved through negotiated settlements or accords between the central government and the groups leading the movement for autonomy. The best way to respond all these problems through democratic negotiations rather than through suppression. The question of diversity in India followed the path of democracy. Democratic politics thus strengthen regional aspirations and problems get adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.
Q. 7. Identify one similarity and one difference between the crisis in Punjab ans Assam during the 1980s.
Ans : One similarity between crisis in Punjab and Assam during the 1980’s is that both are related with some kind of development crisis in Punjab occurs due to the formation of a ‘Punjab Suba’ and crisis in Assam occurs due to illegal migration or outsiders from Bangladesh.
One difference between these two so called crisis is that in Punjab, the social composition of the state changed first with partition and later on after the carving out of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. On the other hand Assam Movement was a combination of cultural pride and economic backwardness.
Q. 8. What lessons we draw from the chapter Regional Aspiration.
Ans : From the chapter Regional Aspiration we can draw some valuable lesson like :
(i) First and the most elementary lesson is that regional aspirations are very much a part of democratic politics. Expression of regional issues is not an aberration or an abnormal phenomenon. A large and diverse democracy like India must deal with regional aspirations on a regular basis. Nation building is an ongoing process.
(ii) The second lesson is that the best way to respond to regional aspirations is through democratic negotiations rather than through suppression, This produced a reconciliation which reduced the tensions existing in many regions.
(iii) The third lesson is about the significance of power sharing. It is not sufficient to have a formal democratic structure. Besides that, groups and parties from the region need to be given share in power at the state level. The regions together form the nation. So, the regions must have a share in deciding the density of the nation.
(iv) The fourth lesson is that regional imbalance in economic development contributed to the feeling of regional discrimination. Regional imbalance is a fact of India’s development experience. Naturally, backward states or backward regions in some states feel that their backwardness should be addressed on priority basis and that the politics of the Indian government have caused this imbalance. If some states remain poor and others develop rapidly, it leads to regional imbalance and inter-regional migrations.
Q. 9. Discuss the factors responsible for the emergence of regional parties in India.
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No. 18. (Long Answer)
Q. 10. Do you think think that regionalism is good for indian democracy ?
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No. 13. (Long Answer)
Q. 11. How does regionalism come in the way of bringing about unity in diversity ?
Ans : Same as Ans of Q. No. 3. (Long Answer)
MULTIPLE QUESTIONS
Q. 12. Correct and rewrite the following :
(a) The Assam Movement was led by religious leaders who demanded the expulsion of non-Hindus from Assam.
Ans : The Assam Movement led by the student leaders who demanded the expulsion of Non-Hindus from Assam.
(b) The basic principle of India’s approach to diversity is : “The Indian nation shall not tolerate the rights of different regional and linguistic groups to retain their own culture.
Ans : The basic principle of India’s approach is diversity is: “The Indian Nation shall tolerate the rights of different regional and linguistic groups to retain their own culture.
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