Regionalism and Regional Consciousness

• Nationalism is not a political theory but merely a sentiment of togetherness, communion, historic connection or a common ethnic conciousness. It is a unit formed by a sense of common defense or aspiration to present themselves in international arena or the desire to emerge as an economic & political power to establish hegemony or a religious sentiment.
• Regional Conciousness on the other hand is awareness or knowledge where people identify themselves with a geographical area, either on the basis of language or same ethnicity. Regional Conciousness leads to regionalism where regionalism is the personification of a group or community with land.
• Regionalism is either based on the ethnic conciousness or strive for economic growth or aspiration for cultural identity existing between the national tide.Regionalism is not antithetical to nationalism rather it contributes in the growth of nation as it highlights the regional problems through their demands which further helps in national integration.
• In the Indian context, regional disparity - interstate or intrastate - is the sole casue behind regional conciousness. Through meeting the regional demand, greater nationalism can be made.
• The interstate dispute are the other factor behind regional conciousness:
• • Boundary related(Maharashtra & karnataka; Punjab & Haryana)
  • River water dispute
  • Inter-linking of river dispute
  • Taxation dispute
  • Dispute over capital
  • Migration related dispute
  • Power sharing dispute
  • Mineral exploitation