India, June 9 -- Although Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, widely acclaimed as the architect of modern India, had a nuanced view of language and the formation of states, he nonetheless recognised the importance of popular sentiments in shaping state boundaries.

His initial reservation against the formation of linguistic states in India stemmed from concerns about potential fragmentation and regionalism. It, however, appears now that the great stalwart's apprehensions over such divisions undermining national unity were not entirely unfounded!

The idea that people of this great nation think of themselves as owing allegiance to their respective states rather than the nation as a whole is slowly gaining ground.

Now, more than ever, the concepts o...