“ Threats of narrow-minded Parochialism”

When we regard Kashmir to Kanyakumari as One India, no one is an interloper for another!
What is an interloper anyways? Anyone who stays at my home still cannot associate with my joys, sorrows, hopes or aspirations; isn’t it? The English remained as intruders despite spending 150 years in India just since they could not be one with the joys and sorrows of the Indians. A Marathi settled in Kannadiga region, UPiite migrated to Maharashtra, a Tamilian dwelling in Delhi or a Punjabi living in Andhra Pradesh – If all these people reside with only their kith and kin (where they think don’t belong) simply out of their vested interests, remaining absolutely disinterested in bonding with the localities or respecting their language, culture, festivals and reverences; posing themselves as the competitors against the localities for business, employment and power; bitterness is bound to soar. A man expresses anger out of a right. It could be an emotional right as well. The feeling that someone is intruding or someone is trace passing is surely annoying. And then this annoyance becomes public. Intemperance of anything is poisonous. It is as preposterous to behave in such selfish manner with local people that they get intense feeling of being imposed on; as it is to breach the principle of democracy against Parochialism; and induce the selfish superiority complex within the localities. What are principles? Nothing but observing appropriate restraints. ‘Regionality’ need not always be a poison or a pest! Our regional languages are extremely rich from the literature point of view. Their treasure cannot be neglected. People who recommend to divide the map of India with straight lines; must be regarding those who live in there as sheer dots - as lifeless as the map itself. Birds of the same feather flock together and this togetherness gives birth to distinct knowledge and arts thus celebrating life. A region is not merely a piece of land created for the convenience of revenue officer. Its a system implemented keeping in mind the holistic development of the folks of our country. The reason why it’s necessary to retain the language based regions is that; a person living in a remote hamlet can interact with his governing authority with confidence. The compulsion to learn the language he has never heard; thus making it difficult for him to “learn” itself; must be ended.
However its of utmost importance for the people migrating from one part of the country to another must obey the principle that they will not attack on the minds, hearts and most importantly the breadwinning hands of the localities out of their selfish motives and provinciality.

Ultimately; the only way for us to live together harmoniously is – we must try to understand the cause behind the other’s loud cry; and if he is hurt by us then we must change our ways. This is the only true principle that will lead to a society living in harmony. Selfish sinners don’t follow it and weaken the society. A character named man; full of paradoxical natures; when has thought about how to reduce resistance and reduced it ; only then he has managed to stay at peace. Lets affirm this fact in our minds that a nation and a region are not against but they are complimentary towards each other. The threats of parochialism and racism are a serious matter of concern and action for both politicians as well as citizens.

[This is an excerpt from a radio speech Mr. Pu. La. Deshpande originally in Marathi.
I translated it since it appealed to me and thought of sharing it with all my Marathi and non-Marathi friends. ]

- Pradnya