The Growing North-South Divide in India

The widening North-South divide in India goes beyond regional differences. It reflects deep-seated socio-political and economic disparities. These disparities are increasingly straining the fabric of the country. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks to solidify its dominance through the advancement of Hindutva. This approach has led the nation to grapple with a sharp ideological rift.

The BJP’s ideological push, rooted in a Hindu-nationalist vision, aligns closely with the interests of the northern states, yet meets profound resistance in the South.

This resistance, combined with socio-economic inequalities and policy interventions like the Delimitation Act, raises urgent questions about India’s claim to unity and federalism.

The BJP has long sought to consolidate power through a Hindutva agenda, suppressing progressive ideologies that dominate the southern political landscape. Scholars argue that the party’s focus on a Hindu-majority identity excludes secular voices and diminishes regional autonomy (Owaisi, 2024). Hindutva, with its roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), envisions India as a culturally unified Hindu state. This vision is incompatible with the secular and pluralistic values prevalent in the South. The imposition of a singular cultural and religious identity on India’s southern states, where regional pride and linguistic diversity are paramount, has spurred resistance. This ideological imposition, scholars argue, seeks not only political consolidation but a transformation of India’s identity.

Also See: From Secular to Sectarian? Tracing Hindu Extremism in India

Socio-Economic Divides: A Tale of Two Indias

Southern states outpace the North on nearly all socio-economic indicators, with higher literacy rates, stronger healthcare systems, and superior educational infrastructure. 

Southern India, with an 80% literacy rate, far surpasses the North’s 60%, translating into better employment opportunities and income levels. Southern states also house the majority of India’s medical and engineering institutions. This underscores a divide in both educational access and quality. The discrepancy has implications beyond individual success. It influences social cohesion and resilience against ideological extremism, which remains more prevalent in underdeveloped regions.

The economic imbalance is further accentuated by the contribution of southern states to India’s economy. They account for 25% of tax revenues, yet receive disproportionately less financial support from the central government. Southern leaders argue that revenue generated in the South is reallocated to subsidize northern states. This practice, they claim, perpetuates a cycle of dependence that reinforces socio-economic disparities. Scholars note that this burden creates structural inequities within India’s federal system. This dynamic leads to resentment among southern states that feel their contributions are undervalued.

The Delimitation Act: A Political Power Shift?

The proposed Delimitation Act seeks to shift political representation in favor of the populous northern states, which tend to support the BJP. By recalculating parliamentary seats based on population, the BJP could substantially increase representation from the North, diminishing the South’s influence in the Lok Sabha. While proponents argue that this move reflects population realities, critics contend that it penalizes southern states for effective population control measures adopted in previous decades. Scholars warn that such policy adjustments could destabilize India’s federal balance, rendering the South politically subordinate despite its economic contributions.

South Against Hindutva: An Assertion of Identity

The South’s resistance to Hindutva ideology is not merely an opposition to religion-based politics; it is an assertion of cultural and political autonomy. 

Southern states, which include Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, have fostered progressive socio-political movements grounded in Dravidian ideologies and regional pride. These ideologies champion secularism and resist the monolithic Hindu identity promoted by the BJP. As a result, the South’s political landscape remains a formidable obstacle for the BJP’s centralization efforts. Election results in 2024, where the BJP saw setbacks in southern states, underscore this cultural divide, reflecting a persistent reluctance among southern voters to align with Hindutva.

A Foreign Policy Misalignment

India’s foreign policy, heavily influenced by the BJP’s nationalist rhetoric, prioritizes northern concerns such as Sino-India tensions and the India-Pakistan conflict. Southern leaders, in contrast, advocate for policies centered on socio-economic development and regional interests. The skewed representation of the northern states in leadership positions contributes to a foreign policy that, critics argue, overlooks the priorities of the South. This divide underscores the lack of a cohesive national vision and amplifies the South’s desire for greater political autonomy within India’s federal structure.

India at a Crossroads: Cultural Hegemony and the Spread of Hindutva

Understanding the spread of Hindutva through the lens of Antonio Gramsci’s theory of cultural hegemony offers a compelling analysis. Gramsci argued that dominant groups in society maintain control not only through political and economic means but by cultivating a worldview that becomes accepted as “common sense” across the populace. 

The BJP’s projection of Hindutva functions as such a hegemonic force, normalizing Hindu-centric values within state policies and national discourse. 

This cultural hegemony marginalizes alternative ideologies, framing them as unpatriotic or anti-national. As Gramsci would contend, the BJP’s strategy seeks not only political dominance but the internalization of Hindutva as the accepted national identity, thereby suppressing resistance from regions like the South that hold divergent cultural and political ideals.

The North-South divide in India is more than an internal conflict. It reflects a clash between competing visions for the nation’s future. Northern states are increasingly aligning with the BJP’s Hindutva agenda. In contrast, the South maintains a distinct identity rooted in progressive values and regional pride. The proposed Delimitation Act, along with financial reallocations favoring the North, exacerbates these divisions. This situation raises critical questions about India’s commitment to federalism and democratic representation. As India stands at this ideological crossroads, the enduring resistance from the South serves as a powerful counter-narrative to Hindutva’s vision. It urges a reexamination of the principles that define the Indian union.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of the South Asia Times.