Skip to main content

Central control 'draconian', offer Article 370 'special status' to villages, towns, districts

By Chandra Vikash* 
Growing up in the industrial town complex of Bokaro Steel City. currently in the state of Jharkhand, hailed by India’s legendary Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as among the “modern temples of India” and amidst school friends and neighbors from diverse parts of India, the feeling of national integration has been strong in my upbringing.
This got further reinforced, when I got into the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, where I studied from 1989 to 1993 where illustrious Google and now Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai was my classmate in the Metallurgical Engineering department. It was here that the words “Dedicated to the Service of the Nation” got strongly etched in my memory which you read in bold letters on the masthead of the Main Building of this sprawling campus in the state of West Bengal, the oldest and the largest among all IITs. Those were the formative years.
All the while till about four months back when the Government of India abrogated Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, whereby the special status of the state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) was removed. Consequently, the state was bifurcated into two union territories; J&K and Ladakh.
Around this time in the early 1990s when I was still at IIT Kharagpur, I also supported the movement for the state of Jharkhand breaking away from Bihar, which had gained lots of notoriety under the corrupt regime of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Priding over the special educational achievements of the townships of Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh I even wrote an article in the “The Telegraph: newspaper to this effect. So, I support not just the bifurcation into two UTs as well as the removal of the “special status” only to J&K as has been projected in the national media.
In the spirit of collaborative federalism and the oft-repeated mantra of "unity in diversity" that we all endorse across political ideologies and geographical identities, every village, town city and district in the country, however, is special. More so, when experiments in centralization have failed around the world from the breakup of Soviet Union to the coming collapse of behemoths from China to United States, Brazil, Africa and Europe.
As a climate and ecological activist for past two decades, I also strongly believe in Localised Abundance and Circular Economies as the only way to avert the looming ecological catastrophe and to leave behind a safe, sane and sustainable future for our children and coming generations. It is my earnest enquiry therefore whether can India buck this trend and should it. Here is why in a nutshell.

Local is the future: Globalisation of things is an idea whose time has gone

As a firm believer in the traditional indigenous of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, which means “world as a family” I am a strong proponent of globalization and a cosmopolitan at the core.
I travel around the country in my quest to learn about Indian culture, civilization and traditions and to share what I learnt from a diverse set of gurus – from Subodh Kumar, IIT Roorkee alumnus with his rich interest in Veda and Gaupalan; Ravindra Sharma “Guruji” of Kala Ashram in Adilabad; KN Govindacharya on Gau, Krishi and Rishi tradition; Ram Bahadur Rai on recent history since independence; Puri seer Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati; Swami Muktanand of Amritam Trust; Swami Shivanand of Matri Sadan in Haridwar among several others.
In the past, I travelled to UK, Japan, Singapore and US which helped me understand global perspectives beyond reading stuff.
My keen interest in understanding diverse cultures, issues and challenges and how our fates in a highly globalised economic system are closely intertwined has been bolstered by internet and for past decade by social media where I have nurtured a diverse set of friends and fellow travelers from around the world.
Yet, wherever I go, one thing that I insist upon is to eat local and in every possible way learn about and adapt to local customs and ways of life even on short trips. And I strongly believe that the global ecologically crises has been single-handedly cursed by our rabid and incessant greed and recklessness to capture markets by moving stuff around from centralized and “cheap” production units to elbow out much superior local produce.
This monstrosity feeds itself as over time, the local eco-systems of production become weaker and inferior teetering towards collapse, which leaves the market wide open to loot and plunder by the monopolistic industrial produce from centralized units. This is then dogmatically defended using rigid and draconian trade and tariff regimes that lock local economies into a subversive rut of disguised but predatory economic imperialism.
With the internet blackout stretching for more than 120 days in J&K, start-ups which began with much fanfare are closing down
The fitting response to resurrect local economies and preserve the diversity of cultures that sustains them, is to provide an Article 370 and 35A like “special status” to every village, town and district in the country and easing the burdening and draconian control of both the central and state governments, especially in the larger states.
This is already reflected in the existing Article 371, which just like the now abrogated Article 370, falls under PART XXI titled 'Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions' of the Indian Constitution. It extends to 11 states -- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka -- and outlines the special provisions in place for them. Six are from the Northeast where the provisions aim to preserve tribal culture.

Restore the internet that is like oxygen to the modern economy

With the internet blackout stretching for more than 120 days in J&K, start-ups which began with much fanfare are closing down. In an article today in A "The Hindu" report by Peerzada Ashiq points to how young Kashmiri entrepreneurs are leaving behind their homes and dreams to seek employment elsewhere.
Buoyed by the entrepreneurial instincts of Kashmiri youth, the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party regime had formulated a J&K Start-up Policy, which was made public in September 2018. It aimed to “facilitate and nurture the growth of at least 500 new start-ups in J&K in the next 10 years.” In just about one year, as the internet shutdown on August 5, the start-ups are in disarray for over 4 months now.
This has dealt a severe blow to women's empowerment in the region, as many women had set up with big dreams as entrepreneurs and as the distress prolongs this is forcing the local entrepreneurs to emigrate and is likely to abet rage and frustration turning to terrorism to settle scores unless quick and pressing action is taken to restore internet and communication services.

Immediate withdrawal of armed forces

Attending a press conference in Delhi on Thursday December 5 by various civil society groups from different states in India who recently undertook a ‘Restoration of Democracy’ march from Jammu to Srinagar, I arrived at a firm conclusion that the people of J&K are highly burdened and their daily lives in a disarray due to the heavy-handed armed forces presence in the region.
The group also released a report titled “Jammu to Srinagar Yatra: A Report on the Absence of Civil Liberties, Economic Distress, and Political Crisis” at this event and shared their experiences and insights. It is evident from the report that with the winter approaching, the continued army presence will debilitate the civil supplies and in tandem with the internet shutdown will jeopardize the seasonal migration between not just J&K regions but also with Ladakh which is now a separate Union Territory.
In turn, unlike the general perception, it is the erstwhile BJP supporting trading community in Jammu which has incurred a huge monetary loss from the economic breakdown as the supplies of high value produce from Kashmir is no longer getting routed through Jammu.
---
*Strategic thinker, ecosystem innovator and innovation coach, has wored in various companies – SAIL, Arvind Mills, TCS, Mastek, Logica, Reva Electric Car Co., Erehwon Innovation Consulting and Vertebrand Brand Consulting. At present, convenor, Global Academy for Indigenous Activism (GAIA)

Comments

TRENDING

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor*  A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas*  Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Overriding India's constitutional sovereignty? Citizens urge PM to reject WHO IHR amendments

By A Representative   A group of concerned Indian citizens, including medical professionals and activists, has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reject proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before the ratification deadline of July 19, 2025. 

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative   A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman*   The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.