more This paper explores the idea of transformative harmony as a concern of the political. This paper explores the idea of transformative harmony as a concern of the political. It also suggests the need for longitudinal research into legitimacy in Telangana as part of an ongoing concern with the legitimation of risk and democracy in this volatile and vulnerable region. It argues that these should serve as an reference point to the government in the complex task of securing its legitimacy in Telangana. Given that the new state has been in existence for over a year, the paper seeks to provide a reminder of the hopes, dreams and expectations which formed the basis of the struggle for a new state. The paper argues that demands for secession focussed crucially on a) gaining access to resources as a means of alleviating risk exposure (the legitimation of risk) and b) the exercise of political power in the attempt to secure resources as the means to alleviating risk (the legitimation of democracy). This is undertaken through examining the perspectives of participants in the build-up to secession in three Telangana villages. more This paper explores the process of legitimation involved in the struggle for secession in Telangana. This paper explores the process of legitimation involved in the struggle for secession in Telanga.
