The south’s muted voice as political power shifts north

Despite the national movement being led primarily by figures from northern, western, and eastern India, the influence of the southern region in Indian politics and policy has felt diminished in recent times. While leaders such as Gandhi, Nehru, Netaji, and Patel were revered across the country, their southern counterparts like C. Rajagopalachari, T. Prakasam, and EMS Namboodiripad (EMS) did not achieve the same level of national recognition.

Furthermore, the contributions of various resistance movements and anti-British revolts in the south have not received the same level of acclaim, particularly in northern India.

Historically, the Indian National Congress, which served as a unifying political party, boasted a diverse array of southern leaders within its ranks. This inclusivity helped the party establish itself as a platform for political voices from across the nation. However, the rise of northern political dominance, fueled by demographic factors and the preference for a 'national' language, has led to a skewed power dynamic where northern India has overshadowed southern India.

Both the Indian National Congress and the Jana Sangh, now known as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have been largely led by individuals from the north. Over the past eight decades of India's independence, only one southern leader has served a complete term as Prime Minister, with others often serving as mere placeholders. The political ascendancy of the Nehru-Gandhi family in the Congress party and the ideological and regional dominance of Hindi in the BJP has further entrenched northern political hegemony, stifling the progress of southern political leadership.