An early manifestation of regionalism was the Telangana movement in what became the state of Andhra Pradesh. The princely ruler of Hyderabad, the nizam, had attempted unsuccessfully to maintain Hyderabad as an independent state separate from India in 1947.
His efforts were simultaneous with the largest agrarian armed rebellion in modern Indian history. Starting in July 1946, communist-led guerrilla squads began overthrowing local feudal village regimes and organizing land reform in Telugu-speaking areas of Hyderabad, collectively known as Telangana (an ancient name for the region dating from the Vijayanagar period).
In time, about 3,000 villages and some 41,000 square kilometers of territory were involved in the revolt. Faced with the refusal of the nizam of Hyderabad to accede his territory to India and the violence of the communist-led rebellion, the central government sent in the army in September 1948. By November 1949, Hyderabad had been forced to accede to the Indian union, and, by October 1951, the violent phase of the Telangana movement had been suppressed.
The effect of the 1946-51 rebellion and communist electoral victories in 1952 had led to the destruction of Hyderabad and set the scene for the establishment of a new state along linguistic lines. In 1953, based on the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission, Telugu-speaking areas were separated from the former Madras States to form Andhra, India's first state established along linguistic lines. The commission also contemplated establishing Telangana as a separate state, but instead Telangana was merged with Andhra to form the new state of Andhra Pradesh in 1956. The concerns about Telangana were manifold.
The region had a less developed economy than Andhra, but a larger revenue base (mostly because it taxed rather than prohibited alcoholic beverages), which Telanganas feared might be diverted for use in Andhra. They also feared that planned dam projects on the Krishna and Godavari rivers would not benefit Telangana proportionately even though Telanganas controlled the headwaters of the rivers. Telanganas feared too that the people of Andhra would have the advantage in jobs, particularly in government and education. The central government decided to ignore the recommendation to establish a separate Telangana state and, instead, merged the two regions into a unified Andhra Pradesh.
However, a "gentlemen's agreement" provided reassurances to the Telangana people. For at least five years, revenue was to be spent in the regions proportionately to the amount they contributed. Education institutions in Telangana were to be expanded and reserved for local students. Recruitment to the civil service and other areas of government employment such as education and medicine was to be proportional. The use of Urdu was to continue in the administration and the judiciary for five years. The state cabinet was to have proportional membership from both regions and a deputy chief minister from Telangana if the chief minister was from Andhra and vice versa. Finally, the Regional Council for Telangana was to be responsible for economic development, and its members were to be elected by the members of the state legislative assembly from the region.
In the following years, however, the Telangana people had a number of complaints about how the agreements and guarantees were implemented. The deputy chief minister position was never filled. Education institutions in the region were greatly expanded, but Telanganas felt that their enrollment was not proportionate to their numbers. The selection of the city of Hyderabad as the state capital led to massive migration of people from Andhra into Telangana. Telanganas felt discriminated against in education employment but were told by the state government that most non-Telanganas had been hired on the grounds that qualified local people were unavailable. In addition, the unification of pay scales between the two regions appeared to disadvantage Telangana civil servants. In the atmosphere of discontent, professional associations that earlier had amalgamated broke apart by region. Discontent with the 1956 gentlemen's agreement intensified in January 1969 when the guarantees that had been agreed on were supposed to lapse. Student agitation for the continuation of the agreement began at Osmania University in Hyderabad and spread to other parts of the region.
Government employees and opposition members of the state legislative assembly swiftly threatened "direct action" in support of the students. The Congress-controlled state and central governments offered assurances that non-Telangana civil servants in the region would be replaced by Mulkis, disadvantaged local people, and that revenue surpluses from Telangana would be returned to the region. The protestors, however, were dissatisfied, and severe violence, including mob attacks on railroads, road transport, and government facilities, spread over the region. In addition, seventy-nine police firings resulted in twenty-three deaths according to official figures, the education system was shut down, and examinations were cancelled. Calls for a separate Telangana state came in the midst of counter violence in Andhra areas bordering Telangana. In the meantime, the Andhra Pradesh High Court decreed that a central government law mandating replacement of non-Telangana government employees with Mulkis was beyond Parliament's constitutional powers. Although the Congress faced dissension within its ranks, its leadership stood against additional linguistic states, which were regarded as "antinational." As a result, defectors from the Congress, led by M. Chenna Reddy, founded the Telangana People's Association (Telangana Praja Samithi).
Despite electoral successes, however, some of the new party leaders gave up their agitation in September 1971 and, much to the disgust of many separatists, rejoined the safer political haven of the Congress ranks. In 1972 the Supreme Court reversed the Andhra Pradesh High Court's ruling that the Mulki rules were unconstitutional. This decision triggered agitation in the Andhra region that produced six months of violence. Throughout the 1970s, Andhra Pradesh settled into a pattern of continuous domination by Congress (R) and later Congress (I), with much instability and dissidence within the state party and constant interference from Indira Gandhi and the national party. Chenna Reddy, the erstwhile opposition leader, was for a time the Congress (I) state chief minister. Congress domination was only ended by the founding of the Telugu National Party by N.T. Rama Rao in 1982 and its overwhelming victory in the state elections in 1983. Polls taken after the end of the Telangana movement showed a certain lack of enthusiasm for it, and for the idea of a separate state. Although urban groups (students and civil servants) had been most active in the movement, its support was stronger in rural areas.
Its supporters were mixed: low and middle castes, the young and the not so young, women, illiterates and the poorly educated, and rural gentry. Speakers of several other languages than Telugu were heavily involved. The movement had no element of religious communalism, but some observers thought Muslims were particularly involved in the movement. Other researchers found the Muslims were unenthusiastic about the movement and noted a feeling that migration from Andhra to Telangana was creating opportunities that were helping non-Telanganas. On the other hand, of the two locally prominent Muslim political groups, only one supported a separate state; the other opposed the idea while demanding full implementation of the regional safeguards. Although Urdu speakers were appealed to in the agitation (e.g., speeches were given in Urdu as well as Telugu), in the aftermath Urdu disappeared from the schools and the administration. The Telangana movement grew out of a sense of regional identity as such, rather than out of a sense of ethnic identity, language, religion, or caste. The movement demanded redress for economic grievances, the writing of a separate history, and establishment of a sense of cultural distinctness. The emotions and forces generated by the movement were not strong enough, however, for a continuing drive for a separate state. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the People's War Group, an element of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), renewed violence in Andhra Pradesh but was dealt with by state police forces
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Travelling journey
I love traveling in trains and enjoy the window views and can sit hours doing nothing but sitting next to a window and watch. Ever since I started birding the pleasure I derive out of this doubled. In fact even my bus journey too is not as boring as it used to be!
I especially enjoy the mornings, as soon as I see daylight, I wake up and start glancing out of window or the door till my tummy cramps of hunger!So I started doing birding from train after boarding it!
As you wake up in the morning and stand next to the door, the cool breeze that hits your face and the unique fragrances the wind carries makes me feel so good (baring those you experience as you enter urban
places in the morning, you know what I am talking about) . The colors of skies, changing terrains, different vegetation all makes it interesting. So when you add birding to those pleasures it will turn out to be awesome!
Last Friday night I boarded the Hyderabad bound train and as usual woke up early and started my birding.
It rained the previous night and the skies are overcast. Everything looked green and fresh with shining drops of water on leaves. The red vented bulbuls are the first to be noticed followed by happy-go-singing ashy prinias.
I tell you it's different ball game birding from the train.
You need to be confident and quick at spotting and there is no second look. It gets tougher when train picks up speed and easier when it slows down.
I was expecting just the common species and kept an eye open. As the train went past a Water body I could quickly see a white throated kingfisher and few cormorants. One interesting thing is that as the train goes past a place the birds get disturbed from their perches and start flying away thus giving you good chance of spotting them! I saw a purple heron doing that besides few herons and cattle egrets.
Surprisingly at one place I noticed a couple of birds that looked very much like francolins , they stay still very close to the track say 10 mtrs away unfazed by the speeding train! What followed next was the biggest surprise of the morning for me, as the train went past a green meadow two birds came flying and perched on tree top and i figured them out to be a pair of pied cuckoos. I had seen pied cuckoo but never in pairs! When i just thought that made my day, the train this time fiushed off a black shouldered kite from a perch at lower elevation which swiftly moved to another perch closer to the train! Ilost a breath there!
I saw small egrets, cattle egrets in the paddy fields as well as pond herons. The best part is spotting peafowls! They are literally everywhere to be seen. For a stretch of 30-40 kms, Every 10 mins I spotted one or more. This particular area is between raichur and Secunderabad stations, more precisely closer to vikarabad. At one
small station I noticed a colony of swallows making nest below road-over-rail bridge. I saw swifts, silverbills , mynas and lots of doves worth a mention, they are the ones that get flushed first! A baya weaver nest just barely above surface of a water body made it interesting.
This is truly one of my memorable railway birdings... Here is the list:
1. Common myna
2. House crow
3. Jungle crow
4. Pied cuckoo
5. Spotted dove
6. Laughing dove
7. Peafowl
8. Indian robin
9. Cattle egret
11. Small egret
12. Pond heron
13. White throated kingfisher
14. Purple heron
15. Little cormorant
16. Black shouldered kite
17. Francolins (?)
18. Silverbills (?)
19. Ashy prinia
20. Swifts (?)
Rail birding is interesting since you hardly need any equipment and the train will flush the birds for you.
The habitats keep changing, you get to see birds of different habitats without walking.... so many advantages! hey but remember to hold onto the supporting rod while standing at the door
Am I alone or does any of you do this kind of birding? Would love to hear your experiences! Well that reminded me of Karthik talking about the swallow congregation he noticed on a rail bridge!
I especially enjoy the mornings, as soon as I see daylight, I wake up and start glancing out of window or the door till my tummy cramps of hunger!So I started doing birding from train after boarding it!
As you wake up in the morning and stand next to the door, the cool breeze that hits your face and the unique fragrances the wind carries makes me feel so good (baring those you experience as you enter urban
places in the morning, you know what I am talking about) . The colors of skies, changing terrains, different vegetation all makes it interesting. So when you add birding to those pleasures it will turn out to be awesome!
Last Friday night I boarded the Hyderabad bound train and as usual woke up early and started my birding.
It rained the previous night and the skies are overcast. Everything looked green and fresh with shining drops of water on leaves. The red vented bulbuls are the first to be noticed followed by happy-go-singing ashy prinias.
I tell you it's different ball game birding from the train.
You need to be confident and quick at spotting and there is no second look. It gets tougher when train picks up speed and easier when it slows down.
I was expecting just the common species and kept an eye open. As the train went past a Water body I could quickly see a white throated kingfisher and few cormorants. One interesting thing is that as the train goes past a place the birds get disturbed from their perches and start flying away thus giving you good chance of spotting them! I saw a purple heron doing that besides few herons and cattle egrets.
Surprisingly at one place I noticed a couple of birds that looked very much like francolins , they stay still very close to the track say 10 mtrs away unfazed by the speeding train! What followed next was the biggest surprise of the morning for me, as the train went past a green meadow two birds came flying and perched on tree top and i figured them out to be a pair of pied cuckoos. I had seen pied cuckoo but never in pairs! When i just thought that made my day, the train this time fiushed off a black shouldered kite from a perch at lower elevation which swiftly moved to another perch closer to the train! Ilost a breath there!
I saw small egrets, cattle egrets in the paddy fields as well as pond herons. The best part is spotting peafowls! They are literally everywhere to be seen. For a stretch of 30-40 kms, Every 10 mins I spotted one or more. This particular area is between raichur and Secunderabad stations, more precisely closer to vikarabad. At one
small station I noticed a colony of swallows making nest below road-over-rail bridge. I saw swifts, silverbills , mynas and lots of doves worth a mention, they are the ones that get flushed first! A baya weaver nest just barely above surface of a water body made it interesting.
This is truly one of my memorable railway birdings... Here is the list:
1. Common myna
2. House crow
3. Jungle crow
4. Pied cuckoo
5. Spotted dove
6. Laughing dove
7. Peafowl
8. Indian robin
9. Cattle egret
11. Small egret
12. Pond heron
13. White throated kingfisher
14. Purple heron
15. Little cormorant
16. Black shouldered kite
17. Francolins (?)
18. Silverbills (?)
19. Ashy prinia
20. Swifts (?)
Rail birding is interesting since you hardly need any equipment and the train will flush the birds for you.
The habitats keep changing, you get to see birds of different habitats without walking.... so many advantages! hey but remember to hold onto the supporting rod while standing at the door
Am I alone or does any of you do this kind of birding? Would love to hear your experiences! Well that reminded me of Karthik talking about the swallow congregation he noticed on a rail bridge!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
BRAVE OR COWARD
After my engagement, my dear would-be used to call me once or twice a week. On one of his call he asked me “Savita, where you would like to go for the honeymoon”. I was not ready for this question and questioned him back and said “I have no plans, do you have any?” He asked me how about going to North India like Nanital, Shimla, and Mussorie etc. I replied, “I am little scared of Heights so can we go for some other place?” He said then how about having a tour of Royal Rajasthan? I replied, “It is too hot, I am scared of heat and getting lost in Desert, can we go to some other place?” Ok he said. I could hear the frustration in his voice. He asked “How about Goa or Kerala?” I replied “I am sorry but I am very scared of Deep waters”. He said we are just going to explore these places and enjoy our time together. You are scared of everything so better we will have our honeymoon in Home itself. He banged the phone. I felt very sorry for him. But later he called me back and said “I have booked our tickets and you will know the place after our marriage”. That heavenly place was Ooty. I saluted his wisdom, he choose a perfect place for a person like me.
It is not that I am a coward. But really I am always preoccupied of the fear of unknown. I still remember when Escalators were first installed in Vadodara central shopping mall in Vadodara. There I was so much scared on going on those Escalators that I always wasted my time searching for elevators or walking up the Stairs. I think I would never be conversant with them till my small daughter challenged me. She said “Mamma be a risk taker….” Even my younger daughter walks up and down with so ease. I practised and now I am very use to of escalators. Once I heard one man telling his wife “Yeh Upar Jane wali Seedi hein aur woh neeche aana wali seedi hein (this stairs takes you up and that one takes you down)”. His wife replied “Bade he buddhu hein yeh seher wale, hammare yehen to upar aur neeche jane ke liye ek he seedi hoti hein (These people are so foolish, in our town we have only one stairs to go up and down)”.
Recently we were looking for a new Apartment. But I was so much scared after the recent earthquake that combined with other features the most important concern was the floor of the apartment. People generally prefer for the higher level apartments in the high raise buildings but we preferred for the apartment up to 2nd or 3rd floor because if earthquake strikes again we can at least try to run down the stairs.
You all will think that I am a big Coward scared of each and everything. But it is not so. Seven years back I was working as an Asst. Professor in a Degree College. I was very popular teacher in the campus and shared a very good repo with the Students. Once I was appointed as the examiner in an examination hall. All students in my Hall were appearing as private and not associated with any Degree college. As it was my first experience of acting as an examiner and not a student I was really very excited. After doing all sorts of formalities, I reached into the respective hall in which I was deputed with one more person.
Everything started fine. While taking the round I felt surprised looking at the appearance of many of the students. They were looking quite aged for the B.com II year exams. I was enjoying my new role and was feeling quite responsible. A boy should call man distracted me many times. He was every time looking back, pulling the sheets of the other student and copying the answer. I felt irritated and asked him to look in the front and do not disturb others. But he turned deaf to my words and doing the same thing again. I went up to him and warned him that if I saw him again doing cheating I will send him out of the room. Till now he was quite but now he turned up to me and replied “What is your problem MadamJI, Mind your own business”.
My temper lost all controls. I just snatched his copy and asked him to leave the room. He stood up and asked the other co-examiner to make me understand and give back his copy. The co-examiner came up to me and asked to give his copy back. I denied and warned him if he will not leave I will call the security. That boy gathered all his belongings and pointed finger towards me and warned “I will see you…” In the whole left time I was feeling very foolish of myself. Why I tried to act smart? What I will do now? He was looking like a Goonda. As the exam time was coming to cease my nervousness was going on increasing.
When exam was finished, I went to the principles office. He knew this episode in advance. He congratulated me for being brave. I told him that he has warned me and I am feeling scared. He said “Today do not go on you’re vehicle, I will drop you in my car”. I was evaluating the whole episode in mind and decided to go alone. As I drove to the college gate, I saw the same boy with four-five more goonda’s waiting for me. As I reached closer, He caught hold the handle of my bike and asked “Madamji, Kya problem hein Apka?” I was shaking like a dry leaf from inside. I told him that he was wrong and I was doing my duty. He replied “Madam you should take care of poor people, I will again fail this year”. He sounded as pleading to me. I was surprised with the change of his tone. To my utter surprise I turned back to see near about 20-25 bad students of my college standing behind me in the posture as if challenging those boys.
Those boys left just saying will avoid making mistake in future. I turned back to see my students still standing behind. I thanked them and went my way in peace. On my way I was thinking that if today I would have got scared and took lift from principal, those boys would have intercepted me somewhere else but now I felt very safe and was having a faith in my heart that I was right and little brave also. What’s say???
FEELINGS
I was just too busy for some time for writing blog. Based on my recent experience, I am here to share my feelings with you.
I read one of the research reports saying in a day, we have approx 60000 thoughts. It is really next to impossible to control these thoughts by a normal human being to reduce his stress. Further, I felt it can definitely be channelized for positive outcome by controlling our feelings.
Feelings can be again good and bad, while you must have felt some day everything positive and you are full of energy and enthusiasm, while some day toned low. This is because of feeling and consequently thoughts are based on the feeling on that particular day. How to control your feelings now?
Controlling feeling means positive thoughts means peace. I noticed feelings are dependent on our beliefs. These beliefs are dependent on the way, we are brought up and incidents in our life.
I felt coming up low tone feelings is very difficult, you need very good support from your love ones and definitely time to over come. Meeting new people, reading books, watching movies to feel world around, also mitigate your thoughts getting affect due to low tone feeling.
Thus please be with your loved one and give time to feel world around for your peaceful life. Don’t be self cantered or give too much concern on your low tone feeling , rather think of coming new day , new sun and tight your belt for the best day in your life ,which is today and best moment is every moment we live here.
Bye Bye….
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)