📌 Class 12 Political Science – Chapter 8 🌟 Regional Aspirations (NCERT / CBSE Notes)
Published on
By
Amresh Academy
📌 Class 12 Political Science – Chapter 8
🌟 Regional Aspirations – Notes
🏛️ Region and the Nation: Indian Approach
India’s nation-building approach 🇮🇳 balances unity (एकता) and diversity (विविधता).
Principle: The Indian nation respects regional and linguistic rights (क्षेत्रीय और भाषाई अधिकार) while preserving national unity. 🌏
Democracy allows political expression of regional aspirations (क्षेत्रीय आकांक्षाएँ) without labeling them as anti-national. 🗳️
Regional issues are accommodated in policy-making (नीति निर्माण) processes. ✅
Post-independence events:
Mass agitations (जन आंदोलन) in Jammu & Kashmir and North-East for separation.
Formation of linguistic states: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat. 🗺️
Protests in Southern India against Hindi as official language.
Internal boundaries were redrawn (सीमाओं का पुनर्निर्धारण) to manage diversity. 🔄
🏔️ Jammu and Kashmir
Major regions (मुख्य क्षेत्र):
Jammu – mix of foothills and plains (पहाड़ी और मैदान)
Kashmir – central valley
Ladakh – mountainous, sparsely populated; divided between Buddhists (बौद्ध) and Muslims (मुसलमान)
Before 1947, it was a Princely State (रियासत) ruled by Hari Singh, a Hindu ruler, though majority population was Muslim.
October 1947: Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators (कबायली घुसपैठिए) → forced Hari Singh to seek Indian military help. ⚔️
Hari Singh signed Instrument of Accession (संपर्क का दस्तावेज़) → India agreed to maintain J&K autonomy (स्वायत्तता).
🌐 External and Internal Disputes
🏛️ Politics Since 1948
1953–1974: Congress Party influenced state politics.
National Conference merged with Congress → Congress directly controlled J&K government. 🏢
1974: Indira Gandhi agreement with Sheikh Abdullah → became Chief Minister.
1982: Farooq Abdullah succeeded → later dismissed by Governor → resentment (असंतोष) grew.
1986: National Conference formed electoral alliance with Congress.
🔥 Insurgency and Effect
1987 Assembly elections: National Conference-Congress alliance won → Farooq Abdullah became CM.
1989 onwards: Militant movements (सशस्त्र आंदोलन) demanding separate Kashmir nation.
1990s: Violence and army action (सैन्य कार्रवाई) escalated.
2002: Fair elections → People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-Congress coalition government formed.
⚡ Separatism
Emerged in Kashmir from 1989 → multiple strands:
Despite conflict, plural (बहुलतावादी) and secular (धार्मिक स्वतंत्रता) culture of the state largely remains intact. 🌈
✅ Key Takeaways
India’s approach balances national unity and regional diversity. ⚖️
Democracy allows peaceful political expression of regional aspirations. ✊
Kashmir illustrates plural society, autonomy, and ongoing challenges. 🌏
Regional movements shaped India’s federal and political structures. 🏛️
🏞️ Punjab
1980s: Major developments in Punjab.
Social composition (सामाजिक संरचना) changed due to Partition (विभाजन) and carving out of Haryana & Himachal Pradesh. ✂️
Akali Dal (formed 1920) 🕊️ – political wing of Sikhs (सिख), led movement for Punjabi Suba.
Punjab reorganised linguistically in 1966 → Punjabi-speaking state.
🏛️ Political Context
🔥 Cycle of Violence
Militants occupied Golden Temple (Amritsar) → turned it into armed fortress. 🏰
June 1984: Government launched Operation Blue Star ⚔️ → flushed out militants, temple damaged → hurt Sikh sentiments.
31 Oct 1984: Indira Gandhi assassinated by Sikh bodyguards → widespread anti-Sikh violence (2,000+ killed).
☮️ Road to Peace
Rajiv Gandhi initiated dialogue with moderate Akali leaders. 🤝
1985 Punjab Accord (Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal Accord) signed → peace slowly restored by mid-1990s.
1997: Akali Dal (Badal)-BJP alliance won first post-militancy normal elections. 🗳️
🌄 North-East
⚖️ Key Issues
Demands for Autonomy (स्वायत्तता)
Secessionist Movements (विभाजनवादी आंदोलन)
Opposition to ‘Outsiders’ (बाहरी लोगों का विरोध)
🏛️ Demands for Autonomy
Initially, entire region (except Manipur & Tripura) part of Assam.
Central Government created Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh → reorganisation completed by 1972.
🔥 Secessionist Movements
Mizo Hills: Famine 1959 → formation of Mizo National Front (MNF) led by Laldenga.
Guerrilla war, support from Pakistan → peace accord 1986 → Mizoram full statehood, secessionist struggle ended.
Nagaland: Similar story but incomplete peace → partial agreements with some rebel groups.
🚫 Movements Against Outsiders
Large-scale migration → local communities vs migrants.
Assam Movement (1979–1985): Led by All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) → demanded deportation of foreigners post-1951.
Result: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) formed → won 1985 elections → aimed to resolve foreign national problem.
🏔️ Sikkim’s Merger
🏛️ Accommodation and National Integration
Regional aspirations (क्षेत्रीय आकांक्षाएँ) are part of democratic politics. 🗳️
Best response: democratic negotiations (लोकतांत्रिक वार्ता) > suppression.
Regional imbalance in economic development (आर्थिक विकास) → feelings of discrimination. ⚖️
🏖️ Goa’s Liberation
Post-1947: Portuguese refused to withdraw → ruled Goa, Daman & Diu since 16th century. ⛵
1961: Army operation liberated Goa → declared as Union Territory (केंद्र शासित प्रदेश). 🏝️
🏞️ India: Unity in Diversity
1980s: Rise of regional aspirations (क्षेत्रीय आकांक्षाएँ) → movements, negotiations, and accords. 🤝
Indian approach balanced unity (एकता) and diversity (विविधता) 🌈 → redrew internal boundaries while preserving regional cultures & linguistic groups.
🏛️ Early Challenges Post-Independence
Partition (विभाजन), displacement, integration of princely states (राज्यशाही राज्य), and reorganisation of states.
Jammu & Kashmir: Regional political aspirations.
North-East: No initial consensus to join India.
Dravidian Movement: Briefly considered a separate country.
🏔️ Jammu & Kashmir
Three regions: Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh.
Regional autonomy (क्षेत्रीय स्वायत्तता) promised → Instrument of Accession (एकता समझौता) signed.
Article 370: Special federal status → protects autonomy. 📜
1953–1974: Congress dominated politics.
1974: Sheikh Abdullah → Chief Minister.
1989 onwards: Separatist politics emerged → stronger demand for intrastate autonomy (राज्य के भीतर स्वायत्तता).
🏯 Punjab
1973 Anandpur Sahib Resolution: Akali Dal → demand for regional autonomy & redefine centre-state relations. ✍️
Akali government dismissed in 1980 → movement escalated into armed insurgency (सशस्त्र विद्रोह).
1985 Punjab Accord: Rajiv Gandhi & Harchand Singh Longowal → transfer of Chandigarh, border commission, compensation & better governance. 🤝
Violence continued → President’s Rule imposed.
1997 elections: Akali Dal + BJP → major victory. 🗳️
🌄 North-East
Region: Seven Sisters (सात बहनें) → completed reorganisation by 1972. 🏞️
Autonomy demands persisted: Bodos, Karbis, Dimasas → partial autonomy granted.
Assam Accord (1985) → resolved issue of “outsiders.”
Assam Movement (1979–1985): Cultural pride + economic backwardness → against outsiders to protect local culture. 🌾
🔥 Secessionist & Autonomous Movements
🏖️ Goa’s Liberation
Portuguese ruled Goa, Daman & Diu → refused to join India post-1947. ⛵
1961 Operation Vijay → Army liberated Goa. 🇮🇳
1987: Goa became full-fledged State (राज्य).
📚 Words That Matter
Instrument of Accession: Accord between Maharaja of Kashmir & India for accession. 📝
Insurgency (सशस्त्र विद्रोह): Armed rebellion against own government. ⚔️
Khalistan: Proposed separate Sikh state for autonomous identity. ✡️
Operation Blue Star: June 1984 → army action in Golden Temple against militants. 🏰
Seven Sisters: 7 North-East states. 🌸
Mizo National Front (MNF): Formed 1959 → autonomous movement for Mizoram. 🛖
