Growth and Development of Telangana and Demand for separate state- Consequence of a Renaissance ??

Recently, there has been increasing endorsement by the Anti-Separation propagandists that, Telengana in terms of infrastructural development is growing faster than other regions. They argue citing data supporting it that Telengana is better developed being united with Andhra than separated. They do provide comparative numerical data in support of their proposition, in terms of GDP growth %, literacy growth%, Irrigated Land Growth% and several other similar parameters. This data in terms of accuracy, no doubt irrevocable, are misinterpreted grossly to denigrate the separate state demand. The data is accurate but a poorly reliable inference is drawn from it. This becomes clear if the absolute quantitative data on the same parameters (instead of percentages) are compared between the regions. Almost all telangana districts stand far behind the Andhra districts in absolute measures.

Notably most of this relative percentage growth data compares the parameters between recent decades. I agree with the data but I carry little enthusiasm towards the inference drawn from it by the Anti-separation propagandists. In fact, this data provides a clue to the actual reason behind recent upsurge of demand for separation after a long perceived silence. It provides a circumstantial evidence to the notion that the present demand for separate telengana is not a carefully designed clever political ploy unleashed by some disdained unemployed politician. The data substantiates the fact about the growing awareness among the people of the region that, their region and people are being unduly exploited, their culture and history suppressed, their rights and due share in resources and employment grossly unappropriated and that their immediate needs and necessities were constantly overlooked and poorly represented for the past six decades in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The demand for separate state is a consequence of this new pragmatic thinking imparted by growing knowledge and education rather than a loosely derived inference that it is based on lies and ill-formed political aspirations.

There is a glaring similraty between current Telangana society/Telangana movement and the European Society following Renaissance movement in pre-modern times. Renaissance meaning "new awakening" was a cultural movement that spread across the Europe during first half of the second millenium, that has opened doors for Scientific and Industrial Revolution, both of which drove the world into modern age of Science and Technology and most importantly, formation of democratic nation states. The birth of Renaissance had given a new breathe to the dying spirit of culture and art in the feudalistic society where most people endured suppression and ignorance from faith due to autocratic rule supported and indirectly governed by corrupt Roman Church. The period of medieval ages was thusly described in historical excerpts as "Dark Ages of Europe". Renainssance brought light of knowledge and wisdom to the people of the entire continent, enabled people to think and innovate their skills pushing forth the entire generations in to modern age of Science and Inventions. The remarkable and crucial component of Renaissance was the concept of "Humanism" which advocates individual growth by encouraging self education through questionning, experimentation and expressionism. It respects individuality against glorification by elite association. It encourages people to question authority. It paved way to pragmatism. This is reflected in all the realms of renaissance, whether it may be art, science or sculpture, the innovations were carried essentially with essence of humanism. The first seeds for the concept were sown in the earliest centuries of last millenium when several universities were established all over Europe. Along with the growth of Universities there came new knowledge that deluged people with awareness of supression and falsehood. The new inventions like printing made the knowledge available to greater populace. Along came proofs to disproove ancient axiomatic beliefs purported by the Church. Authority of the church and kings were openly questioned. Hegemony of the Church in the society ceased to exist with increasing reforms. Kingdoms had to abandon their old autocratic ways by bringing in political reforms like acceptance of Magna Carta. The actual renaissance undeniably started in the field of art during 15th century in Florence, Italy. Variuous geo-political reasons that existed in Italy during the period encouraged the new age thinkers to accumulate in Florence. It quickly passed to major cities in Europe with in next few decades. The concept of unity and strength of nations formed by identical cultures and tradition overwhelmed the warring tribes and feudal lords. With formation of new nation states came political stability and created an arena to develop Scientific Knowledge.
In India, such reforms came with East India Company's rule and followed by the British Crown's imperialistic occupation. The introduction of the new western ideas of Renaissance Humanism in to indian society helped pave way to formation of a strong national identity. Once warring local kings and rulers now came to terms with British and accepted their authority to safeguard their own authority. Outside the princely states however, more common people became aware of the ideas. Eventually they understood the suppression and exploitation the people are suffering under British regime. British regime by establishing colleges and missionaries have themselves helped in imparting the new age ideas to large indian populace. This inturn resulted in Indian Independence movement when more people began to realize the essence of freedom and democracy. This is exemplified by the participation of millions of people from subcontinent in the movement against British Imperialism.
Telangana, then a part of princely state of Hdyerabad ruled by Nizam was a late entrant in to the global world dominated by new thinking. The Osmania University established by the Nizam in 1917 in Hyderabad became the new center for Telangana Renaissance. The newly educated progressive thinkers propagated the concept of freedom in the people, who were long suffering from the ills of feudal society. The new wave of communism that spread across the world after World War -II was gladly accepted by the suppressed agararian society of telangana. They revolted against the Nizam and his feudal lords. The resulting political and communal tensions were calmed down after Police action, there by consolidating the princely state into the Indian Union. After a brief period of independent existence as a separate state Telangana region was merged with Andhra state on the basis of linguistic commonality. However most telangana people were reluctant due to the fears of being suppressed by the more educated and developed Andhra. The indifferences were settled by the promise of safeguards documented as Gentleman's agreement, proceedings were quickly passed to form a new state of Andhra Pradesh. However the bureaucratic and political dominance of Andhra region effectively nullified the safeguards and there was an increasing unrest among the people that resulted in separate telangana movement of 1969.

However the amalgamation of the state in to the Indian Union and subsequent merger with AP brought some benefits to telangana people. New colleges and educational institutions were established and Hyderabad as the capital of the combined state became the nerve center for Industrial growth and development. This helped in a second wave of renaissance that resulted in Separate telangana movement in 1969 that was entirely concentrated in Universities, edcuationally enlightened towns of telangana. After the brutal supression of the movement the region underwent a long period of Naxalite movement that it self had roots in previous telangana rebellion against Nizam.

The economic liberalization of 90's and ensuing Information explosion brought the next wave to the region. The new policies embraced by the indian government successfully rooted out Naxalite movement and there by allowing the knowledge and awareness to reach remotest of the villages in Telangana. However the growing disparities and the marginalization of telangana poor in a combined state became more evident and became popular among the people. That is the reason why, unlike the previous movement of 1969, today's telangana separation movement has reached village level. The Renaissance has reached the grassroot levels and the awareness it brought among the suppressed has pushed them to question the authority. The people today are not simply succumbing to the political leaders and their promises. Instead they are strongly opposing them and pushing them to accept their demands.

If telangana today is better than the telangana 50 years back, then it is true. But the truth cannot preclude the existence of political and bureaucratic dominance of Andhra plutocrats. People are more aware of the truth than ever before, that their resources are not being utilized properly in their region. The people are aware that their safeguards had been unimplemented. They understand that the jobs that rightfully belonged to telangana locals were being continually alloted to non-locals. The agreements of the united state had been circumvented cleverly. Telangana if it is fighting for separate state, then it is because of the growing awareness of injustice and certainly not due to ignorance.