Okay, so Telengana will be a separate state. And if that's what the people of Telengana want, what's the big deal. Let them have it.

Of course I wish it was done some other time, in some other way, for some other reason. A referendum perhaps. Certainly not to appease a violent mob or a fasting leader. But for a moment, let's put the method aside and look at the impact.

I do understand that this means another Raj Bhavan, another Assembly House, a few more MLAs and a painful revision of civics textbooks.

But a smaller state means that people come a wee bit closer to the government. It means a better chance of improved administration. If we look at our country as a market-place where each state competes for human resources and investment, the market has just become a little bit more competitive.

In fact, we should perhaps have many more small states and a hundred self-governing independent cities. People can choose where they want to live, so each state or city will try its best to be the residence of choice.

And all these states and cities can form a loose federation called India with the central government defining the constitution, looking after defence and running the supreme court (to serve as the court of final appeal and to resolve disputes between states). And (reluctantly) issuing currency.

So if one state wants to give a fertilizer subsidy or free televisions, let them go ahead but let them find their own money by taxing their people (the ones who are left). If a city wants to shut-down shops at 10.00 pm let them do so. The night-birds will just fly away to another city which is more free. This way we'll have a great number of options to choose from. Some city/states may have higher taxes and maybe better roads. Some city/states may have lower taxes, but more crime. But what will happen for sure is that there'll be a place for everyone and every taste.

What we have now is a mass-national-scam called India where a dominant centre controls our lives, takes our money and redistributes it based on a political agenda. What we need is smaller units of administration, that will by nature be more accountable and hopefully more efficient.

Seriously, I wish Bangalore were an independent city.