Has Vidarbha’s time come?

Nagpur: The region that finds mention since ancient times in epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and Kautilya’s Arthashastra always had distinct identity as the land of thick forests and beautiful maidens. Probably starting in the British era, the geopolitical changes caused material difference. Its fortunes fluctuated between a land of riches to now, the epicentre of poverty and neglect.Nagpur was once capital of Old Madhya Pradesh and then part of Central Provinces and Berar.
The demand for statehood based on this distinct identity is almost a century old. Post-Independence, the first state’s reorganization commission headed by Justice Fazal Ali ranked Vidarbha as eligible for statehood. But the then Congress dispensation found it politically convenient to lump the region into Maharashtra, the new linguistic state entity. This was done against the will of the people on the basis of promises that were never kept.
Four decades ago, a call by Jambuwantrao Dhote would bring entire region to a halt and people on the streets. But even that changed with political leaders, mainly of the Congress party, losing credibility as they served their personal interests over tat of the region and its people who were given step-motherly treatment when it came to development works, education, job opportunities, roads and mainly irrigation facilities.
So these political leaders and indifferent people of Vidarbha watched helplessly as four smaller states were carved out in 2010 by the Vajpayee-led NDA regime and, more recently, Telangana state was created by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government with tacit support of BJP.
So, what has changed now for a section of pro-Vidarbha leaders to believe that one strong push now could lead to creation of the new state by splitting Maharashtra? It all started with the BJP for the first time winning power with majority at the Centre and emerging largest party in Maharashtra two years ago. The statehood movement was breathing again.
The BJP, in order to woo voters from the region, made favourable noises that many thought were a firm promise to create the new state. But once in power, it feigned ignorance and stopped talking on the issue. Yet, people like former Shreehari Aney, who is carrying forward his grandfather Bapuji Aney’s legacy, believe that the time for Vidarbha has come as people are no longer willing to wait to meet developmental aspirations for development and equal opportunities. The Vidarbha protagonists are desperately hoping, if pushed to a corner, that the BJP would be able to honour its commitment for creation of smaller states. Only an emaciated Congress-NCP and lack of mass support on ground level are factors that are not helping the cause.