• V.SUBRAMANYAM.

ABSTRACT: Regionalism is the expression of a common sense of identity and purpose by people within a specific geographical region, united by its unique language, culture, language, etc. In a positive sense, it encourages people to develop a sense of brotherhood and oneness which seeks to protect the interests of a particular region and promotes the welfare and development of the state and its people. In the negative sense, it implies excessive attachment to one’s region which is a great threat to the unity and integrity of the country. In the Indian context generally, the term 'regionalism' has been used in the negative sense. Regionalism is more a form of “politics of pressure” and a bargaining technique then the feeling of one’s separate existence. It is often seen that the people living in a particular region instigate the regional feelings of the people for the fulfilment of their specific demands and adopt the confrontationist attitude towards the center as well as other states. They calm down after the fulfilment of their specific demands and the intensity of their regional feelings comes down. Some people regard regionalism and nationalism as opposed to each other but this is not bound to be so. The need is to establish balance between regional and national interests and in case of the establishment of best balance between them, regionalism assumes a positive form and helps in strengthening unity and integrity of the country. But when regionalism assumes the form of separatism it becomes dangerous and we should be cautious about it. Regionalism is not only the problem pertaining to Indian politics alone rather, it is a world- wide phenomenon and this problem is influencing the politics all over the world in different forms. However, its nature and basis varies in different parts of the world. Even prior to independence, regionalism was used as a tool by the imperialist to promote their policy of keeping India divided regionalism was deliberately encouraged by many with the result that the people of each region thought more in terms of their region rather than of India as a whole. In India, this problem has taken a serious turn after independence and thus, it is posing a serious challenge to the unity and integrity of the country. In the constitution every step was taken to ensure that the feeling of regionalism was cut down from the roots. But with the passage of time, it has become very clear that regional feelings very much thrive in India state and local leaders, in order to maintain or rather strong- then their leadership, very much exploit regional feelings. In this way regionalism is getting more and more deeply entrenched so that its uprooting is becoming an increasingly arduous task.

KEYWORDS: Regionalism. Indian Politics. Separatism. Pre-independence. National Interests. Imperialist. Government Policy.

"TOPIC: REGIONAL POLITICS AND ITS EXPRESSION IN INDIA-A STUDY", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 3, page no.i436-i441, March-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2303865.pdf

"TOPIC: REGIONAL POLITICS AND ITS EXPRESSION IN INDIA-A STUDY", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 3, page no. ppi436-i441, March-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2303865.pdf