The book titled South vs North – India’s Great Divide analyse the possible reasons for the rapid progress of the southern states, based on publicly available data and argues for a change in the electoral system of representation in our democracy.
A popular refrain among Tamil Nadu politicians during the 1970s and early eighties was “Vadakku Valargiradu, Therku Theiygiradu”, meaning North India is growing and South India is declining.
Significant Investments in the North
This was in response to significant investments in infrastructure and industries made by the Government of India in the north. Be it large public sector investmets like BHEL Haridwar or joint ventures like Maruti-Suzuki or infrastructure behemoths like Narmada Valley Development Authority or Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, or the Nuclear Power Corporation’s various power plants, north India appeared to get more than its fair share of investments.
Private participation in education and healthcare
During the same period there were very few mega projects in the South. It would be fair to say that lack of Union government’s investment interests as one of the reasons for the southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, to demand greater autonomy. With such demands of empowerment came the energy and compulsion to make their own plans and investments and invested judiciously in building a socially responsible state. Bringing in education and healthcare in private space on a large scale attracted investments and today, on both these counts, south India stands out, compared to the north, measured by standard factors like Gross Enrolment Ratio or Infant Mortality Rate.
Post-liberalisation
The southern states have made very good progress since liberalisation and are leading almost all other states in terms of per capita income, per capita tax contribution, responsible population growth and improved sustainability over consumption and conservative forex outflow, both at the individual as well as corporate level. The model of southern states is worth studying for emulation.
Unity amidst diversity
Nilakantan, a Data Scientist, has in his recent book, South vs North, analysed the possible reasons for the rapid progress of the southern states, based on publicly available data and argues for a change in the electoral system of representation in our democracy. From a fairness perspective, the author believes that the southern states are being penalised for performing and the northern states are rewarded in order to bring them on par with the southern states.
The author of the book, while appreciating the differences and what appears to be a lopsided division of tax revenue by the Centre, does not think that a fundamental change to the basis for parliamentary representation is needed. A quick remedy that seemingly addresses the immediate data points will cause greater complications. Like in every system, it is the implementation that fails the intent and there is no guarantee that a changed order or intent will get implemented better, or lead to the desired results. The strength of India lies in its unity amidst diversity and that ‘unification’ of belief among its populace is very essential before their behaviour can change. n
