Answer: 

Introduction:

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 etc. Positive regionalism promotes a sense of pride in connecting to one’s roots and culture.

Body:

Regional identities in India have not always defined themselves in opposition to and at the expense of the national identity but the present wave of regional movements can be seen to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness because:

• Cultural differences: India is a diverse country with a multitude of cultures and languages, and regionalism can be seen as a way for people to preserve and celebrate their unique cultural identities.
• Historical injustices: Some regions may feel that they have been marginalized or treated unfairly by the Union, leading to a desire for greater autonomy and self-governance. Regionalism becomes a tool for them to mobilize the masses using their cultural symbols.
• Political parties: Political parties often use regionalism as a campaign platform in order to appeal to voters in their respective regions. This can fuel regional identity and a sense of loyalty to one’s own region.
  • The reservation of jobs for locals in private companies in many states like Haryana, Karnataka, etc.
• Social media: It highlights various facets of regional culture and identity to bring together people belonging to a region. This cultural assertiveness further leads to regionalism.
• Imposition of a conflicting ideology or aspiration: Linguistic aspirations and expression of ethnicity have long remained a formidable basis of regionalism. Example: Imposition of Hindi became a trigger for regional movements in Southern states.

But it is not just about cultural assertiveness, some regional movements are due to genuine issues faced by the people of the region:

• Crisis situations: Cultural identity becomes a tool to mobilize people in situations like high unemployment, poverty, uneven development, continuous neglect of a region, etc despite being rich in natural resources. This leads to ‘Son of soil’ movements with regional identity as its basis.
  • Ill-conceived top-down approach for development or survival of one region at the cost of the other region.

Conclusion:

Overall, it can be argued that rising cultural assertiveness is one of the main drivers of regionalism in India, as it allows people to express and protect their unique cultural identities, and can also be used by political parties and governments as a way to gain support and advance their own agenda. Rising cultural assertiveness has not allowed different regions in India to develop cultural relationships with each other and within it. But India’s solidarity lies in its variety, which ought to be safeguarded and advanced.

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