India after Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

by Ramachandra Guha

For Kannadigas and for Andhras, for Oriyas as for Maharashtrians, language proved a more powerful marker of identity than caste or religion. This was manifest in their struggles, and in their behaviour when the struggle was won. One sign of this was official patronage of the arts. Thus great effort, and cash, went into funding books, plays and films written or performed in the official language of the state. Much rubbish was funded as a result, but also much work of worth. In particular, the regional literatures have flourished since linguistic reorganization. Another manifestation was architecture. To build a new capital, or at least a new legislative assembly, became a sine qua non of the new states.