Development and Regionalism: Anthropological, Ecological and Psychological Perspective (An Old and Rare Book)

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This book unwraps shrouded mysteries that loom large about the concept and paradox prevailing in the arena of development (unequal) and people's in terms of schism and inculcating feeling for regionalism based on resource availability, linguistic features, ethnicity and psychological considerations. It offers an in- depth anthropological perspective of analytical frame to delve with growing urge of the people for carving out a 'niche of their own' in terms of regions providing autonomy, spurt to ethno- centric values and (perhaps!) good governance.
Ten case studies presented here covering the length and breadth of the country are unique reflections of people's perspective and measurement of the paradigm of Development and Regionalism. Each case - from Ladakh and Gorkhaland autonomy to the state formation of Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh issues that are yet sulking viz. Vidarbha, Telangana and Kamtapur; self imposed criteria for further fragmentation of some already carved out states viz. Meghalaya; and instances of over concern like Tehri Dam is significantly important as it mirrors people's echo and cautions for any further look and to tackle 'Development vis-a-vis Regionalism' and adjudge its propriety.

Dr. Ramesh Chandra, Deputy Director in the Anthropological Survey of India obtained his Ph.D. from Lucknow University on his study conducted among the Kinners-a highland society of north- western Himalayas. Dr. Chandra, a senior anthropologist has done extensive field research on various anthropological themes viz. Polyandry, Communication, Cultural Ecology, Tribal Development, Social Forestry and Environmental Anthropology. He has authored/edited several books-Highlanders of North-western Himalayas, Instructional Communication and Modernity in Tribal World and Environment, Forest and Tribes' besides his numerous contributions made to other edited books. His research publications have appeared in both national and international journals. He has worked in prime institution and Government organization on coveted positions, recent being Director (Research) in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Dr. Syed Ishteaq Ahmad obtained his M.A. degree in Psychology from the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, B.Ed. from NEHU, Shillong, D.M. & S.P. from Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, LLB and Ph.D. from Magadh University, Bodh Gaya. Dr. Ahmad started his carrier from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi and presently, he is Senior Psychologist in the Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkata. He has carried out extensive field research among the castes and tribes of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Sikkim. His field of interest is cross-cultural psychology, industrialization and mental health. A book 'Industrialisation and Mental Health' and good number of research papers in the field of clinical and social psychology are to his credit. Dr. Ahmad is the state co-ordinator and editor of Arunachal volume of the national project "People of India".

Multi-disciplinary research studies are being carried out by the Anthropological Survey of India. Besides anthropologist, scholars from the disciplines of Human Ecology, Linguistics and Psychology are also involved in the research activities in this organisation. Our research publications are the result of the joint endeavour by the researchers from various disciplines.
The present volume is an outcome of the field study taken up by the research scholars of the survey on the project "Development and Regionalism: Anthropological, Ecological, and Psychological Perspective" a national project undertaken by the survey during the ninth plan. For the last few years, many societies have been witnessing the impact of planned development inconsistent to their expectations. This is said to have been the cause of imbalance development, disproportionate exploration of the natural resources and inadequate distribution of these resources. Consequently, this has given rise to factionalism and regionalism, generally, based on language and ethno-centricism. The disproportionate development is causing great dissatisfaction among the various sections of the people. The hon'ble ex-president Shri K.R. Narayanan on the eve of Republic day in 1998 observed, the society is divided vertically and horizontally in innumerable compartments. Economic development, technological changes and social reform movements have not succeeded in pulling down these domestic walls because the benefits of development do not flow systematically from one compartment to another, causing poverty and many other problems in the society. We find that gap in between the developed and undeveloped states on one hand and within such states on the other are increasing with an uncontrollable pace. It is fact that backwardness of region is the great obstacle in the national development. The uprising discontentment has given spurt to factionalism and increasing the problems of regionalism in our country.
The present volume contains ten specific cases selected from different parts of the country reclining under the tremendous pressure of regionalism. Although, these ten studies presented in this volume cannot claim to have provided a complete national scenario, so far as, the canvas of regionalism is concerned, as the number of such problematic areas is far more than ten cases.

The present volume is an outcome of the research study carried out among the people at grass root level of different regions of the country under the national project "Development and Regionalism: Anthropological. Ecological and Psychological Perspective" undertaken by the Anthropological Survey of India as its endeavour during the ninth plan. The project was conceived, formulated and executed by the scientific members of the survey. The project has two components: one dealing with the viewpoint of villagers while the other concerning the elite segment of the society. Case studies presented here are largely the reflections of the views echoed by the people at village level. In all the ten cases dealing with the problem of 'Development and Regionalism' have been presented in this volume. Barring a few exceptions, for each field study, a research team of two research scholars carried out the field work in their respective field areas for a period of approximately two months. On the basis of the field work, the data were analysed and presented in the report. Subsequently, a workshop was held at North East Regional Centre, Shillong in the month of April-May 2001, where the problems related to the specific cases were critically discussed and the reports were finalised. The reports of the projects have been steered by two co-ordinators: Dr. Ramesh Chandra, Deputy Director, North-West Regional Centre, Dehradun and Dr. S.I. Ahmad, Senior Psychologist, Head Office, Kolkata.

The present volume is an outcome of a field study undertaken by the researchers of the Anthropological Survey of India on the project 'Development and Regionalism: anthropological, ecological and psychological perspective'-a national project undertaken by the survey during the ninth plan which were presented in the seminar entitled "Anthropological Studies in Andhra Pradesh: An Appraisal" organized during the Inaugural function of Andhra Pradesh Field Station, Visakhapatnam in April 2002. It was envisaged that for the last few years many societies have been witnessing the impact of planned development inconsistent to their expectations. This is said to have been caused due to imbalanced development, disproportionate exploration and exploitation of natural resources and inequitable distribution of these resources. It has given rise to factionalism and regionalism based on language, ethno-centrism and over concern for environment. However, ideologically speaking, ever since the inception of Development Planning in independent India, virtually all parts of the country and the people living therein have been experiencing the fruits of development process having bearing on distribution of resources based on some principles, in one way or the other. However, even after a period of 57 years of independence and about 50 years of rigorous planning for India's development, the sections of societies, in anthropological terms, have witnessed the impact of such planned development contrary to their expectations. This is believed to have been caused due to imbalanced approach having crept in the development execution as such without understanding the intricate horizon of the problem, disproportionate exploration of natural resources and somewhat inequitable distributions of such resources as well. Yet, much remains to be achieved on one hand to depict a satisfactory picture of accomplishment as a sense of incompatible delivery of goods has been left in the minds of masses in certain niches or the other.