Definitions

Balkanization according to wikipedia (including a super cool map that rotates through the years of what the Balkans look like geopolitically since the Ottoman Empire!) 

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Understanding Federalism

Wikipedia
says it is is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together (Latin: foedus, covenant) with a governing representative head. The term federalism is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces). Federalism is a system in which the power to govern is shared between national and central (state) governments, creating what is often called a federation. Proponents are often called federalists.

Federalism is the type of politics wherein a group of members create a sovereign constitution with central governing authority and political units.

Wiki uses the example of India as a unique form of Federalism... 28 states and 7 Union territories, but with exceptions based on caste and/or class of individuals or ethnic minorities.  Does this give rise to uncontrollable separatist movements? i.e too much freedom = no enough central control?  

US is given as another example where parts came together to create a functional whole.  Though, the debate continues to rage about state vs. central government control of things like speed limits and health care.

I'm curious about Nepal's process and their vision of the term. 

Gilgit-Baltistan

Historically (? Source) a part of Kashmir (State language is Urdu but linguistics in Baltistan suggest strong connection to Tibeto-Burmese languages as opposed to Persian/Arabic What is the persian/arabic family of languages called?) folks in Gilgit-Baltistan have been under Pakistani rule since 1949. 

India recently made a public claim for the region.  This article verbalizes India's claim that Pakistan is illegally occupying the land there, despite claims from the newly elected Chief Minister Mehdi Shah that the region has no connection to Kashmir.  Elections in November were successfuly administered and CM Shah's win made G/B officially the fifth province in Pakistan. 

India is calling out Pakistan for not addressing human rights violations that have occured in the past few years as the seperatist movement is gaining momentum. 

Watch this region - another example of contracted ethnic conflict where struggle for human rights against oppressive nationalist government is compounded by the fact that many eyes are on the strategic region.  Issues are Karakoram Highway (KKH) for trade with China, Taliban presence in areas north and west of Balitistan, other seperatist movements as a result of central Pakistani government not paying much attention to folks up there - including human rights issues of food and resource accessability, health needs, and education. Read this one about that.

Indian Federalism

The Economist talks about the different separatist movements here happening in India, most notable the Gorkhas living in West Bengal who have been "at" the Gorkhaland movement since the 70's (check facts)

With states created as recently as 2000, Indian government seems to pay attention to the needs of disenfranchised ethnic groups and listen to their struggles presuming that creating a separate states does indeed address the needs of these communities.

At what cost? What is the goal of Indian nationalism? How does this impact the region economically?

How does India's bent toward balkanization of the country show an example for Nepal who's government is trying to address the same issues?