To
All Members of U P Pol.Science Association
SUB: Invitation for National Seminar
Sir,
It is a matter of immense pleasure to humbly inform you that the Department of Political Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow is going to organise a one-day national seminar entitled ‘The Politics of division of Uttar Pradesh: Recent trends and consequences’ on 11 March 2010. We feel pleasure in inviting you to participate in the seminar and request you to kindly email your acceptance and a brief abstract of your paper. The concept note and the schedule of the programme are attached herewith.
With thanks;
Yours’ sincerely
Dr. Ripu Sudan Singh
Convenor of the Seminar
Head, Department of Political Science
Tel: 0522-2995673 (O), 09415153001
Email. ripsrevolts@rediffmail.com
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Registration on the spot will begin at 8.30 am . The fee for various categories is as follows:
- Teachers & Employed persons : Rs.300/-
- Student/Research Scholars: Rs. 200/-
- The payment will be made in cash on the counter to Ms. Santwana Pandey (Mobile no-09336974968) & Mr. Anil Kumar (Mob no- 09889171827), PhD. Scholars, Department of Political Science, BBAU, Lucknow.
- Kindly email your acceptance & an abstract of maximum 300 words (MS word) at ripsrevolts@rediffmail.com, sp.rsh.sch@gmail.com, Kumaranil1100@gmil.com,
- Genuine research papers will be published.
- Each participant will get a certificate at the end of the seminar.
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Organizing Committee:
§ Dr. Sartik Bagh, Associate Professor, DPS/BBAU, 0921116753 (Co-Convenor)
§ Dr. S.K. Pandey, Assistant Professor, DPS/BBAU, 09319909225
§ Dr. Sudhir Kumar, Assistant Professor, DPS/BBAU, 09793008826
§ Mr. Siddhartha Mukerji, Assistant Professor, DPS/BBAU, 09369313558
One Day National Seminar on
The Politics of Division of Uttar Pradesh: Recent Trends and Consequences
Concept Note
Though Uttar Pradesh is one of the 28 states within India, it houses the fifth largest population in the World. While its territorial size is relatively smaller compared to many other states in India, it sends the maximum number of representatives to the Indian Parliament. It is poor, overpopulated, underdeveloped yet it is politically the most vibrant state in India. Uttar Pradesh is the second largest state-economy in India after Maharastra contributing 8.17% to India's total GDP. Between 1999 and 2008, the economy grew only 4.4% per year, one of the lowest rates in India. But the state has a record of providing the maximum national leadership; eight of India's fourteen Prime Minister's are from Uttar Pradesh. They are: Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Sastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Choudhary Charan Singh, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Atal Bihari Bajpai. The contemporary political scene is also interesting in the national context. The UPA chairman, Sonia Gandhi, the de facto PM hails from UP. Other prominent politicians include BJP leader and past Human Resources Development minister Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, SP leader and ex-Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadava, BSP leader and now fourth time Chief Minister Mayawati, BJP President and ex-Chief Minister Rajnath Singh, former BJP Chief Minister Kalya Singh, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh, and many others.
It is well recognized that U.P. has always been the epicentre of Indian politics. However, in recent years partition of UP into smaller states has become a subject of enormous political and academic debate. It has not only intensified the political activities, but has created tumoil in the political debates and discussion. Since late- 1990s there has been a resurgence of demands for the creation of separate states from different regions of Uttar Pradesh: Harit Pradesh in western parts; Purvanchal in eastern region; Bundelkhand in southern parts and; Madyanchal in central area. Creation of Uttarakhand along with Jharkahnad and Chhatttisgarh in 2000 further boosted up these demands. It is observed that unlike the case of Uttarakhand, the demands for other states in UP have been devoid of the popular participation in the form of movements. These have been largely raised by the professional politicians, who have been striving for effective accommodation in the power structure. Arguments adduced in favour of demands from all regions of UP are almost the same in relation to most indicators–administrative efficiency, viability of smaller states, political discrimination/neglect of some castes supporting these demands, discrimination of the respective regions by the state governments or the centre regarding development, social and cultural differences, etc. But in case of Harit Pradesh the prosperity of western UP is also propped up as a ground for the need of a separate state; its advocates contend that the prosperity of western UP is being exploited in order to feed the backward regions of the state, especially eastern UP. While most of the grievances of these regions are real, some of them seem to be artificially constructed.
The politics of separate states in different regions of UP revolves around the axis of regions, castes and developmental matters. It is found that while some castes have a high numerical strength in most of these regions, their level of political representation remains low and are not in a position to articulate their demands for regional deprivation. In the wake of 2007 assembly elections with BSP getting absolute majority, some of those demanding separate states since before have got weakened and a new dimension has been added to the politics of separate states in UP. Recently with the announcement of a special package for Bundelkhand by the Congress government at the Centre, the BSP government under the leadership of Mayawati announced its intention to divide the State into three parts i.e. Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh and Purvanchal. This has been vehemently opposed by the Samajwadi Party.
The politics of partition has created intense political debates which necessitate comprehensive and prior attention. Hence, the proposed seminar will have the following objectives:
- Analyzing the general political and administrative factors behind the division of U.P
- Understanding the specific context in which the demands for division has gained momentum, namely, elections, coalition politics, competitive politics, factionalism within the political parties, and the larger or hidden agenda
- Understanding ways in which political elites are being used by economic forces?
- Locating the symbiotic relationship between the political leadership and the big corporate houses for supporting the division of U.P
- What are the benefits that the major political parties in U.P politics are going to accrue from the partition?
- Understanding and investigating the implications of division of U.P on Indian politics at large
- Analyzing the specificities of division in case of each region in U.P
Orientation of the Seminar:
While focusing primarily on the political dimensions of partition of U.P, the seminar will adopt an interdisciplinary approach in understanding its various facets. For instance, the understanding of the collaboration between the political elites and corporate houses in supporting the partition will also reflect some of the economic and sociological aspects of division. Since the subject of discussion will also include implications of partition on the Indian politics in general, it would be important to relocate the changing nature of federalism in the context of demands for partition of U.P.
Programme Schedule
(11th March, 2010, Conference Hall, Administrative Block)
Inaugural session: 9.30 am – 12.30 am
- Welcome Address by the convenor & Head, Pol. Science, Dr. Ripu Sudan Singh
- Address by the Chief Guest Prof. Girijesh Pant, Political Economist and Vice Chancellor, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttaranchal
- Keynote address by Prof. Paul R. Brass, Professor, Emeritus, Political Science and International Studies, Washington University, Seattle, USA
- Presidential address by Prof B. Hanumaiah, Vice Chancellor, BBAU, Lucknow
- Vote of thanks: Prof Kameshwar Choudhary, Dean, School For Ambedkar Studies, BBAU, Lucknow
Tea-Break: 12.30 am-12.45 am
First Session: 12.45 am-2.30 pm
- Presided by Prof. Paul R. Brass, Professor Emeritus, Political Science and International Studies, Washington University, Seattle, USA
- Presentation by Dr. Jagpal Singh, Associate Professor, Pol. Science, IGNOU, New Delhi
- Presentation by Dr. A.K. Varma, Associate Professor, Pol. Science, Christ Chruch College, Kanpur
- Presentation Dr. Sartik Bagh, Assciate Professor, Pol. Science, Baba Saheb Bhimrao University, Lucknow
- Question hour Session and remarks by the Chair
Lunch Break: 2.30 pm-3.00 pm
Second Session: 3.00 pm- 4.30 pm
- Chaired by Prof. Girijesh Pant, Political Economist and Vice Chancellor, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttaranchal
- Presentation by Prof. R.R. Jha, Pol. Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varansi
- Presentation by Prof. Romki Ram, Chairperson, Punjab University, Chandigarh
- Presentation Dr. Sanatan Nyak, Associate Professor, Economics, Baba Saheb Bhimrao University, Lucknow
- Presentation Dr. Sudhir Kumar Suthar, Assistant Professor, Pol. Science, Baba Saheb Bhimrao University, Lucknow
- Question hour Session and remarks by the Chair
Tea Break: 4.30 pm 4.40 pm
Valedictory Session: 4.40 pm- 6.30 pm
- Presided by Prof. Prof. R.R. Jha and Prof. Ronki Ram
- Valedictory Address: Prof. Mohd. Muzammil, Department of Economics, Lucknow University, Lucknow
Vote of thanks by Dr. Shashi Kant Pandey, Assistant Professor, Pol. Science, BBAU
