TOPIC INFO (UGC NET)
TOPIC INFO – UGC NET (History)
SUB-TOPIC INFO – History (UNIT 9)
CONTENT TYPE – Short Notes
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1. Historical Background
2. Rational Behind Reorganization
3. Commissions and Committees
3.1. Dhar Commission
3.2. JVP Committee
3.3. Fazl Ali Commission (States Reorganization Commission)
4. Views on Linguistic Reorganization
4.1. B.R. Ambedkar
4.2. K.M. Munshi
4.3. Jawaharlal Nehru
5. Andhra Incidence
6. Benefits Served by Linguistic Reorganization
7. Challenges Posed by Linguistic Formation of States
8. State Reorganization Act, 1956
9. New States and Union Territories Created After 1956
10. Significance
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Linguistic Reorganisation of States
UGC NET HISTORY (UNIT 9)
Reorganization of states after independence posed an important challenge for a nascent country like India because of its diverse linguistic, cultural, and regional identities. This process has evolved over time, shaped by historical contexts, socio-political demands, and constitutional provisions. States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was the first major step in this direction.
Historical Background
- Indian states were originally formed as a result of historical accidents and circumstances. After independence, there has been a growing demand for reorganisation of the States on a linguistic basis.
- The Indian States were formed after independence taking cognizance of financial, economic, and administrative factors.
- In 1951, India had 27 states divided into four parts: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D.
| Part A | Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh (formerly Central Provinces and Berar), Madras, Orissa, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh (formerly United Provinces) |
| Part B | Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, Saurashtra, Mysore, Travancore-Cochin, Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, Patiala, and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), and Rajasthan |
| Part C | Delhi, Kutch, Himachal Pradesh, Bilaspur, Coorg, Bhopal, Manipur, Ajmer, Cooch-Behar, and Tripura |
| Part D | The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Part D) was a territory ruled by a governor appointed by the Indian President. |
- After independence, there was a demand for reorganisation of states on the basis of language as promised by national leaders before independence.
- To address these demands government established S.K. Dhar Commission and JVP Committee respectively in 1948.
- A prolonged agitation and the death of Gandhian leader Potti Sriramulu after a 56-day hunger strike pressurised government to establish a separate state for Telugu speaking people. Therefore a new state Andhra Pradesh was carved out from the state of Madras which led to formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1953.
- Consequently, similar demands rose from different parts of India for the creation of states on linguistic basis.
- To address these demands, government appointed States Reorganisation Commission under the leadership of Justice Fazal Ali in 1953 to consider reorganisation of states on the basis of language. K.M. Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru were other members of the commission.
- It recommended language as the basis of Reorganization of states. At the same time rejected the theory of “One Language-One State”.
- The commission’s recommendations were accepted with some modifications and implemented in the States Reorganisation Act in 1956. The act created 14 states and 6 centrally administered territories.
- In order to implement the States Reorganisation Act, 7th Constitutional Amendment Act was passed which nullified the qualification between Part A, B, C and D States.
- Following it, Parliament enacted various Reorganisation Acts from time to time, i.e.
- Bombay Reorganisation Act in 1960
- Punjab Reorganisation Act in 1966
- State of Himachal Pradesh Reorganisation Act in 1970
- North-Eastern States Reorganization Act in 1971
- The Reorganisation Acts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar, enacted by the Parliament in November 2000 as well as the creation of two Union Territories from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 are the most recent in this category.