The Linguistic Reorganisation of the States, a pivotal moment in the history of modern India, marked a significant shift in the country’s administrative landscape. Enacted in 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act, this transformative initiative aimed to redraw state boundaries based on linguistic, cultural, and historical considerations. This monumental undertaking sought to address the complex diversity of languages and cultures within the Indian subcontinent, ultimately striving to foster a more cohesive and harmonious nation. The Linguistic Reorganisation of the States not only reshaped administrative boundaries but also played a crucial role in shaping regional identities and promoting linguistic diversity as a cornerstone of Indian unity.
The linguistic reorganization of states in India was a significant development in the early years of independent India. Here’s a summary of the key points:
- Historical Context: At the time of independence, India had eleven major languages spoken by over a million people each. The boundaries of provinces in pre-independent India were largely a result of British conquest, administrative convenience, or territorial annexation.
- Congress’ Early Efforts: In the 1920s, Congress recognized regional linguistic identities and divided India into 21 linguistic units for its organizational set-up. Many provincial Congress committees were based on linguistic zones.
- Congress’ Initial Opposition: However, when demands for linguistic reorganization came up in the Constituent Assembly in 1946 and post-independence, the national leadership under the Congress opposed it on the grounds of national unity. The challenging post-independence scenario, including partition and other pressing issues, influenced this stance.
- Dhar Commission and JVP Committee: The Linguistic Provinces Commission, led by Justice S.K. Dhar, was appointed in 1948 to examine the need for linguistic provinces. It opposed linguistic reorganization for the sake of national integration. The JVP Committee, appointed in 1948, also went against the creation of linguistic states for similar reasons.
- Andhra Movement: The first significant demand for a linguistic province came from the Telugu-speaking region of Andhra. Swami Sitaram and later Potti Sriramulu led fasts to death to demand a separate state of Andhra. Sriramulu’s death led to widespread agitation and ultimately the creation of Andhra on October 1, 1953.
- States Reorganisation Commission (SRC): In response to growing demands, the Nehru government appointed the SRC in August 1953. It recommended the reorganization of states along linguistic lines, and its recommendations, with some modifications, were implemented.
- States Reorganisation Act of 1956: This act led to the creation of fourteen states and six centrally administered territories. However, some states still had linguistic minorities and regional economic disparities.
- Exception to Linguistic Principle: In some cases, states were formed based on other considerations, not strictly linguistic. For example, Nagaland was created based on ethnic identity, and Punjab remained trilingual.
- Ongoing Evolution of States: Since then, new states have been formed, not necessarily along linguistic lines, reflecting the dynamic nature of India’s state boundaries.
- Andhra Pradesh Paves the Way: The creation of Andhra Pradesh in 1953 set an example for other linguistic groups, inspiring movements for their own states or boundary rectifications based on linguistic grounds.
- Formation of the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC): Responding to the growing demands, the Nehru government established the SRC in August 1953. The commission, led by Justice Fazl Ali, K.M. Panikkar, and Hridaynath Kunzru, submitted its report in October 1955.
- States Reorganisation Act of 1956: The recommendations of the SRC were accepted with some modifications, leading to the passage of the States Reorganisation Act in November 1956. This act provided for the creation of fourteen states and six centrally administered territories.
- Challenges in the New States: Despite the reorganization, many of the newly formed states still had sizeable linguistic minorities and regional economic disparities.
- Specific State Mergers and Formations:
- Telangana was merged with Andhra.
- Kerala was formed by merging the Malabar district of the old Madras Presidency with Travancore-Cochin.
- Bombay state was enlarged by merging the states of Kutch and Saurashtra, along with the Marathi-speaking regions of Hyderabad state.
- Mysore state was expanded by adding Kannada-speaking areas from adjoining states.
- Bifurcation of Bombay: The SRC opposed the splitting of Bombay and Punjab. In 1960, widespread riots erupted in Bombay City, leading to the agreement to bifurcate Bombay into Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960. Bombay city became part of Maharashtra, while Ahmedabad became the capital of Gujarat.
- Creation of Nagaland: Due to Naga’s demand for a separate state based on ethnic identity, the Government of India agreed to the formation of Nagaland in 1960, which was inaugurated in 1963.
- Punjab’s Trilingual State: In 1956, the states of PEPSU were merged with Punjab, resulting in Punjab being a trilingual state with speakers of Punjabi, Hindi, and Pahari. The demand for a separate Punjabi Suba, a Punjabi-speaking state, gained communal overtones due to Sikh and Hindu communalists.
- Ongoing State Formation: Over the years, many new states have been formed, not strictly along linguistic lines, reflecting the evolving nature of India’s state boundaries.
This historical context underscores the complexities and significance of linguistic reorganization in post-independence India. The linguistic reorganization of states was a significant step towards accommodating India’s linguistic diversity and has had a profound impact on the political, social, and cultural landscape of the country.
FAQs
Q1: What is a linguistic reorganization of states?
A1: Linguistic reorganization of states refers to the process of restructuring administrative boundaries based on linguistic or language-based criteria.
Q2: What are the objectives of linguistic reorganization?
A2: The objectives include fostering linguistic homogeneity within states, promoting cultural identity and autonomy for linguistic communities, and facilitating efficient governance by aligning administrative boundaries with linguistic boundaries.
Q3: What role does language play in the reorganization of states?
A3: Language serves as a primary criterion for defining the boundaries of states, ensuring that linguistic communities can preserve their language and culture while participating in the political process within a defined administrative unit.
Q4: How does linguistic reorganization impact governance?
A4: Linguistic reorganization can lead to better governance by creating states with populations speaking a common language, which can facilitate communication between government and citizens, improve public service delivery, and foster a sense of belonging and identity among residents.
Q5: What challenges are associated with linguistic reorganization?
A5: Challenges include addressing linguistic diversity within states, potential conflicts between linguistic communities, administrative complexities in implementing the reorganization, and ensuring equitable representation and resource distribution among linguistic groups.
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