Sub-regionalism and Political Movements in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh has a rich political history marked by sub-regionalism, especially influenced by the two distinct hill areas—Simla Hills and Punjab Hills. This differentiation played a crucial role in shaping the political, social, and cultural identity of the people. The struggle for the formation of Himachal Pradesh as a state and the establishment of regional autonomy were significantly influenced by the Praja Mandal movement and the integration of various princely states after independence.
1. The Concept of Sub-regionalism in Himachal Pradesh
-
Sub-regionalism refers to a movement where people within a specific sub-region of a state seek to preserve or assert their distinct identity. In the context of Himachal Pradesh, this phenomenon was deeply intertwined with the geographical, cultural, and historical differences between the Simla Hills and Punjab Hills.
-
The Simla Hills were primarily princely states before independence, where the people’s struggle was often guided by the nationalist movement but aimed at democratizing the governance of their native rulers.
-
The Punjab Hills, which came under British control in 1846, were more involved in the struggle to overthrow British colonial rule.
2. Praja Mandal Movement in Himachal Pradesh
A. Praja Mandal in Simla Hills
-
The Praja Mandal movement was conceived in 1939 at the All India State Peoples’ Conference held at Ludhiana. This movement aimed at democratizing the administration of princely hill states and establishing political rights for the people.
-
The Himalayan Riasti Praja Mandal was formed in December 1939 to coordinate Praja Mandal activities across multiple hill states.
-
Praja Mandals were established in states like Chamba, Sirmaur, Mandi, Bushahr, and Sundernagar, advocating against the autocratic rule of princes.
-
The movement faced suppression by local rulers, who banned Praja Mandal activities, and the British authorities were cautious, fearing the spread of nationalist sentiments.
-
A significant event was the Panjhota Agitation in Sirmaur, where people formed an independent government to demand their rights, leading to mass arrests. This movement mirrored the Quit India Movement (1942) and contributed to the growing political consciousness in the region.
B. Praja Mandal in Punjab Hills
-
The Punjab Hills (comprising regions like Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti) had a different political environment, as they were under direct British rule after the Anglo-Sikh war of 1846.
-
The British introduced direct administrative control over these regions, including recruitment into the Dogra regiments and policies designed to suppress nationalist movements.
-
Despite these efforts, the nationalist movement gained momentum after Mahatma Gandhi’s influence, particularly in Kangra where Satyagraha movements and the Quit India Movement were widely supported.
-
The Himalayan Hill States Regional Council was formed in 1946, under the leadership of prominent leaders like Dr. Y.S. Parmar and Pandit Padam Dev, which played a key role in the integration of princely states into Himachal Pradesh.
-
The post-independence movement, known as the Suket Satyagraha (launched on February 18, 1948), led to the merger of several princely states into the Chief Commissioner’s Province of Himachal Pradesh.
3. Political Integration of Himachal Pradesh
-
After independence, the integration of princely states began with the merger of 30 hill states into the Chief Commissioner’s Province of Himachal Pradesh by April 15, 1948. These states included Chamba, Mandi, Suket, Bushahr, Keonthal, and Sirmaur, among others.
-
The integration process faced challenges as Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) disrupted the geographical cohesion of Himachal Pradesh, and Chamba was separated from the rest of the region.
-
In 1954, the state of Bilaspur (which had been a separate Chief Commissioner’s Province) was merged with Himachal Pradesh, followed by the State Reorganization Act of 1956, which initially converted Himachal Pradesh into a Union Territory.
-
The political structure was further altered as democracy was reversed, and Himachal Pradesh had its Legislative Assembly abolished in the absence of a popular ministry.
A. The Demand for a Greater Himachal (Vishal Himachal)
-
The demand for a ‘Greater Himachal’ was intensified by the Congress Party, particularly after the formation of Punjabi Suba in 1966.
-
The hill districts of Shimla, Kullu, Kangra, Lahaul-Spiti, and Nalagarh from the erstwhile Punjab were merged with Himachal Pradesh in 1966, and by 1970, the Statehood of Himachal Pradesh was granted.
-
On January 25, 1971, Himachal Pradesh was inaugurated as the 18th state of India after a 23-year-long struggle for integration and statehood.
-
The political leaders, notably from the Congress Party, played a key role in asserting the state’s autonomy and cultural identity, despite the demands for merging with Punjab from some quarters.
4. Sub-Regionalism in Himachal Pradesh: Apple Growers Association (AGA)
The formation of pressure groups like the Apple Growers Association (AGA) is a classic example of sub-regionalism in Himachal Pradesh, where distinct cultural and economic interests shape political alignments:
-
The AGA represents apple growers primarily from districts like Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmour, Chamba, and Mandi—areas traditionally known for apple cultivation.
-
The districts like Hamirpur, Kangra, and Una, which were merged from Punjab, do not have suitable climatic conditions for apple cultivation, and their culture differs significantly from the old Himachal areas.
-
This has created a political divide within the state, with apple-growing areas often seeking favorable treatment for their needs.
A. Political Affiliation of the Apple Growers
-
The political affiliation of the AGA members largely supports the Congress Party, especially since the 1980s.
-
In the 1980 Parliamentary elections, 66.66% of AGA members voted for Congress, reflecting the party’s empathy towards apple farmers’ issues, such as the apple scab disease in 1980, which caused extensive damage to crops.
-
However, the BJP also attracted a segment of the votes, and regional discrimination allegations were raised, particularly by BJP leaders like Shanta Kumar, who claimed that the lower regions of Himachal (Hamirpur, Kangra, Una) were being neglected in favor of apple-growing areas.
B. Impact of the ‘Apple Scab Scandal’
-
The apple scab relief scheme introduced by the Congress government, though initially well-intentioned, faced manipulation by some growers, leading to an ‘apple scab scandal’.
-
The scandal was used by the BJP to gain political leverage in the 1982 State Legislative Assembly elections, where regional discrimination became a key issue.
-
Despite the scandal, Congress retained support in the apple-growing areas, with 64.86% of AGA members voting for them in the 1985 elections.
5. Conclusion
The evolution of sub-regionalism in Himachal Pradesh is intricately tied to its historical and political trajectory. The Praja Mandal movements in both the Simla Hills and Punjab Hills laid the foundation for the integration of princely states and the eventual formation of Himachal Pradesh as a state. The distinct identities of the apple-growing regions, political movements, and the AGA illustrate how sub-regional interests continue to influence the politics of the state.
Himachal Pradesh’s political identity, shaped by movements, pressure groups, and cultural divisions, underscores the complexity of sub-regionalism and its impact on the state’s political and cultural dynamics.