Reference: India after Gandhi by Ramcharndra Guha

Reorganization into Linguistic States

Background 1917: Congress committed to creation of linguistic states Encouraged by Gandhiji 1937: Nehru appreciated linguistic diversity 1947: Nehru’s view changed, supported by Sardar Patel

and Rajaji Gandhiji supported postponing linguistic reorganization JVP Committee: revoked Congress approval to linguistic

provinces

Punjab Movement Sikh demanded separate state in West Punjab Akali Dal: Organized the movement under Master Tara

Singh Deliberately used the term independence Supported by Jats, opposed by low-caste Sikhs Biggest blow in first general election 1966: Punjab and Haryana created out of Punjab

province

Telugu Movement Rich literary history with Andhra glory as Vijayanagar Empire Started pressurizing Congress for separate Andhra state 1952: Potti Sriramulu began fast-unto-death Nehru ignored for 5 weeks, finally wrote to Rajaji 15 Dec 1952: Potti Sriramulu passed away Violence commenced 1 Oct 1953: Andhra State was inaugurated

State Reorganization Committee Members: Fazal Ali, K. M. Pannikar, H. N. Kunzru 1954-55: 104 towns, 9000 interviews, 152250 written submissions Oct 1955: Submitted the report North India: Bihar, U.P., Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh South India: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka East India: Existing provinces Bombay: Bilingual state, no united Maharashtra, suggested separate

Vidarbh 1 Nov 1956: New states based on language came into existence

Samyukt(United) Maharashtra Movement

Roots in Samyukt Maharashtra Parishad established in 1946 Bombay Citizens Committee: Wanted city of Bombay out of Maharashtra 15 Nov 1955: SRC report debated in Loksabha Famous personalities backed the movement 16 Jan 1956: Police swooped down leaders, strike commenced on 18th

1 Nov 1956: Bilingual Bombay State with Y. B. Chavan as Chief Minister After 1957 elections, Y. B. Chavan presented Maharashtra’s case 1 May 1960: Creation of Gujarat and Maharashtra (with city of Bombay)

Miscellaneous States 1963: Nagaland was granted statehood 1972: Meghalay and Mizoram carved out of Assam 1975: Sikkim becomes part of India 1987: Formation of Arunachal Pradesh 2000: Formation of Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and

Jharkhand 2014: Formation of Telangana

Effects of Linguistic Movements Revealed extraordinary depth of popular feeling Regional literature was flourished New structure were erected as a symbol of pride Deep apprehension among nationalist elite

Timeline of Creating States

Next in this series

First general election

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