[chengiz]

Patriotism is there, but the main problem here is that India is pretty much already very Balkanized in geography and class if not national boundaries. It also has a strong central government. Any revolutionary/indepedence movements therefore tend to be fringe (someone in Maharashtra does not really care for farmer movement in Bengal) and easily controlled (due to the strong center). The patriotism means that any overtly violent army action is not frowned upon but rather encouraged by most who have a voice. The extreme poverty means the poor are so wretched they do not have a voice. We have met people on a two hour drive (which means only about 30 km) outside Mumbai who have never been to a big city and know nothing beyond how to get to the next day. If by some magic, most Indians become a bit educated tomorrow, and have some life other than mere existence, then we can talk about actual Balkanization. Until then, India will exist as it always has. There is also the Partition which has affected the national psyche: talk of dividing the country is like so far out there, you'd be considered a traitor a few levels before that.