REGIONAL IMBALANCE AND SOCIAL BACKWARDNESS OF HYDERABAD KARNATAKA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

This paper on the issues regarding the northern Karnataka regions, which were amalgamated to the princely state, was in a differential phase of development in almost all areas of socio-economic development. The long-drawn movement led by the people of North Karnataka to integrate all Kannada-speaking regions finally materialized in 1956. But, it is in fact an irony that voices of separatism are raised in the same region, which had earlier championed the cause of unification of Karnataka. Due to the persistence of uneven development today, there have been demands for separate statehood in some of the backward regions of North Karnataka for many years. Such voices of separatism are not new to the state of Karnataka. At present, a feeling of discontent, deprivation and neglect is growing due to the persistent socio­economic backwardness and underdevelopment in the Bombay-Kamataka and the Hyderabad-Kamataka region of North Karnataka. Moreover, as various studies have shown that the backwardness in northern region of the state is more acute and alarming. The tendencies of dual Karnataka were apparent at that time. However, it is not a complete explanation of each and every aspect of state structure and state formation as studies are yet to be undertaken on this theme and there exist any research work particularly on North Karnataka.