REGIONALISM, ETHNICITY AND LEFT POLITICS

Regionalism and provincialism in politics is not new in India. The problems of linguistic and cultural identity, ethnicity and autonomy demands have led to violent expressions like Dravidaland, Khalistan, Nagalim, Jharkhand, Gorkhaland, Kamtapur, and the like. Far from disrupting the democratic structure, the autonomy movements not only extend the base of democracy, but also develop language, script, improvise symbols of identity, leading to new awareness of community history. Framed in five chapters on Regional Dimensions, Politics of Provincialism, Politics of Ethnicity, Politics of Secular Mobilisation and Figments of Left Politics, this study intends to analyse different aspects of democratic politics and movements in India. In the appendices, clippings on movements and the issues of immigration, influx of Bangladeshis, identity, political murders, starvation deaths, facts and fictions of left politics have been included to make this anthology meaningful both to the liberal, leftist supporters and general readers.