What if Telengana becomes a reality?

Like India, Andhra Pradesh as a united state suffers from serious social, political and economic problems. Since 1956, when the state formed, Andhra Pradesh on paper made lot of progress on all fronts. The reason why I am stressing this is, rural Andhra Pradesh still remains more or less same - let it be Andhra, Rayalaseema or Telengana. Andhra Pradesh as a state got two industrial hubs. If one is Hyderabad the other is Visakhapatnam. Both Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam were developed in fact by the Government of India for strategic reasons. Visakhapatnam is the Eastern Naval Command HQ, along with other central public sectors this is the only cosmopolitan City in the entire state after Hyderabad. Last few years, some effort was made to establish the new economy sectors in Visakhapatnam since most of the high tech, pharmacy, bio tech sectors are heavily located in and around Hyderabad metro area.

All other cities in state including biggies like Vijayawada, Warangal or Tirupathi lack infrastructure or cosmopolitan outlook to come on par with even Visakhapatnam. Due to shortsighted strategic planning of the Andhra Pradesh political leaders, unfortunately it is Hyderabad that is hugely grown at the cost of all other regions and cities in the state.

As a result, all the roads lead to Hyderabad city and infact it became a mini India with Malayalees to Kashmiris, Assamese to Gujarathis making Hyderabad as their home and lived peacefully for decades.

Without any doubt Hyderabad is the most contentious issue if Telangana happens. And that is the problem as well today. There are two possibilities. Hyderabad becoming a Union Territory along with Seemandhra and Telagana. Without Hyderabad, Telangana is of no value. Same is the case of Seemandhra. Second possibility is make Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema.

What will be Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema as independent states?

Andhra region perhaps is the only region outside Bihar with worst caste politics. This region is highly volatile with simmering caste politics and the society is split vertically on caste bases. Kapus and Kammas will become even more dominating since Reddy influence will be waned. This region with the exception of Visakhaptnam is not industrialised. No jobs for the youth. This is a predominantly agriculture region. I see the if this becomes a state, only to become hot bed for the communal violence and high unemployment. Perhaps on the lines Kerala. Highly educated with no jobs depending on the US dollar economy.

Rayalaseem without any doubt is the most backward region in the state. This is driest region with little irrigation facilities. Still a feudal society, this region is best known for the bomb culture and extreme levels of violence amongst the family gangs and clans. This state will become if it were to become, the youth would not have jobs and there is no dependency on agriculture or business. I see this is the worst effected region if the split happens

Telengana is not as backward economically compared to Rayalaseema. As a matter of fact, Hyderabad, Rangareddi, parts of Medak, Khammam (I am from here), Warangal and Nizamabad are better off even now, with many economic advantages. If Hyderabad also goes to Telengana, the GDP of Hyderabad probably would help rest of the state provided the politicians are honest to develop. But, Telengana is the hotbed for the naxalite movement and also will become the state with highest Muslim population. I would not wonder if in near future Muslims being the largest minority demand a separate state. Moist elements who have the mutual and strong political sympathies with Telengana Rastra Samithi (TRS) may divide the new state further since north Telengana is the far less developed (except Mahabubnagar in south) than South Telengana. Also, Telangana movement as a matter of fact is having more support in North than Southern Telengana.

For the past 50 years, that is why Hyderabad attracted people and migration from all the regions. Because, Hyderabad could provide a level of comfort and security that is not seen in one of the regions in the state. Added to that, with the lopsided development of the state, minus Hyderabad rest of the regions would suffer seriously.

Probably if I were Indian the first question to ask is, what if Telengana becomes a reality what will be the impact on the three regions. I see it will be a disaster for all three regions. Remember India is still a developing nation despite the fact that British left us to our own fate 60 years back. And further division of India into smaller states, in hope that will make some one better off actually will make India even vulnerable - this time from internal forces.