Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
out in several states over the broadcast of a 10-minute news
program in Urdu in Bengaluru (Bangalore). Hindi derived
from Hindustani, a language used in Mughal bazaars
and military camps. It incorporates numerous Persian
words, as this was the Mughal court language. There are
several dialects, but Indian schools teach “Standard
Hindi” written in the Devanagari (Sanskrit) script.
Urdu is similar to Hindi in grammar, but from a
political perspective it is different. It borrows from Arabic
and Persian and is written in a Persian script. Muslims in
northern India see Urdu as their “special language.”
T Transcending this linguistic web is English, which
was made the language of high school education in the
1830s. Contrary to Indian advice, the Imperialistic
British ignored linguistic boundaries when establishing
state boundaries. In 1953, there was a T Telugu movement
for a linguistic state. In 1956, there were language riots in
Bombay between Marathi and Gujarati speakers. Bound-
aries had to be changed.
Bombay became part of Maharashtra. In the south,
Kerala and Tamil Nadu were formed to benefit Malay-
alam and Tamil speakers, respectively . Orissa was defined
in the eastern tribal region, and Karnataka was created
for Kannada speakers. These are only a few examples of
boundary restructuring following partition.
The Nagas, who reside in the mountainous region of
India' s northeast along the Myanmar (Burma) border,
were incorporated into Asom (Assam) at independence.
They had since insisted upon having their own state.
Nagaland was created in 1961.
In 2000, three additional states were created. A
number of poverty-stricken districts in southern Bihar
formed Jharkhand. T To assuage tribal groups that had been
agitating for independence since the 1930s, Chhattisgarh
was formed. A highland region of Uttar Pradesh known
as Uttaranachal became the state of Uttarakhand.
Since then, numerous other groups have demon-
strated publicly and made demands for their own states.
Uttar Pradesh is agitating to be cut into four parts. Several
ethnic groups in the Asom (Assam) region want their
own states. Most significantly , northern Andhra
Pradesh wants to separate from the rest of the otherwise
impoverished state. If T Telangana were to be created, it
would be centered on the city of Hyderabad—the “IT
City .” The remaining Andhra Pradesh would be left with-
out this major source of state income.
Boundary alterations did not mask the fact that In-
dia' s elites spoke and read in English—a “foreign
tongue.” Government efforts to force Hindi as India' s
only national language were met with strong resistance.
It has spread, nevertheless, via media such as schools and
television, and interregional migrations. Hindi is even a
lingua franca (common language) for mixed migrant
worker groups. English remains the language of private
schools, colleges, and universities. Moreover, India' s
modern, urban social class is differentiated by English
more than any other cultural force. Many intellectuals
argue that an English education should be the means em-
ployed to “uplift” the poor masses.
Language issues remain significant. In Goa, recent
attempts to force English speakers to learn Konkani caused
mass demonstrations. Politicians representing Uttar
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are calling for the eradica-
tion of English. In 2010, the government of Karnataka
abolished English classes in more than 2,000 schools.
Primary-school students are to be taught only in Kannada
(the state language). Schools and English-speaking
higher institutions that do not comply will be closed. The
state already has a dearth of skilled labor, and Bengaluru
(Bangalore)—focus of India' s high-tech industry and call-
centers—attracts educated, English-speaking workers
from elsewhere in the country . Disagreements and con-
flicts over language clearly have far-reaching impacts on
political and socioeconomic development.
Caste Complexities
Even though there is a growing ambivalence toward caste
in India' s upper social strata, caste rules and regulations
apply among virtually all people. Brahmins, Rajputs,
Marathas, and Jats are examples of regular castes. But
more than two-thirds of Indians belong to so-called sched-
uled castes and tribes. Scheduled tribes are also called adi-
vasis, meaning “original inhabitants.” These include such
groups as the Nagas of Nagaland and the Bondas of Orissa
(Figure 8-8). Another term employed by the government
is other backward classes (OBCs) that include the bulk of
the population—the “lower middle classes.”
The Indian government has published lists includ-
ing 405 scheduled castes, 255 scheduled tribes, and
3,500 OBCs. These groups are entitled to special social
and political benefits. Discrimination in favor of the
“backward” classes did not begin with independence. It
began in the state of Mysore (Karnataka) in 1921. In this
state, 92 percent of the people belong to the backward
classes for which university admissions and jobs are
reserved. In contrast to predictions at the time, the state
did not collapse, and the capital of Bengaluru (Bangalore)
has become the center of India' s computer industry .
 
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