Initiatives undertaken and controversies related to linguistic reorganizations of States

Introduction: The linguistic reorganisation of states in India, a significant undertaking in the post-independence era, aimed to redraw internal boundaries based on the primary languages spoken by the people. This discussion will explore the initiatives taken and the controversies that arose during this process. Furthermore, it will demarcate the changing internal boundaries of the Indian nation in the context of linguistic reorganisation, illustrated by the political maps of India in 1948 and 1964.

The Demand for Linguistic States

Following independence, the existing internal boundaries of India, largely a legacy of British administration and the integration of princely states, did not always align with linguistic demographics. This led to a growing demand for the creation of states based on language, fueled by the belief that linguistic homogeneity would foster better governance, cultural identity, and democratic participation.

Initiatives for Linguistic Reorganisation

The Indian government, after initial hesitation, embarked on a process of linguistic reorganisation through various initiatives:

The Dhar Commission (1948): Constituted to examine the feasibility of reorganising states on a linguistic basis, the Dhar Commission recommended against it, primarily citing concerns about national unity and administrative disruption. However, this report sparked widespread protests, particularly in South India.
The JVP Committee (1948): Faced with mounting pressure, the Congress party appointed the JVP Committee (comprising Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya) to re-examine the issue. While also expressing reservations, the committee acknowledged the strength of popular sentiment in favor of linguistic states.
The Case of Andhra Pradesh (1953): The death of Potti Sreeramulu, who fasted unto death demanding a separate Telugu-speaking state, galvanized public opinion and forced the government to concede the creation of Andhra Pradesh, carved out of Madras Presidency. This became a precedent for linguistic reorganisation across the country.
The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) (1953-1955): Recognizing the inevitability of linguistic reorganisation, the government appointed the States Reorganisation Commission, headed by Fazal Ali. The SRC conducted extensive studies and consultations and submitted its report recommending the reorganisation of states based primarily on language, while also considering factors like administrative convenience, economic viability, and national unity.
The States Reorganisation Act (1956): Based on the SRC’s recommendations, the Parliament passed the States Reorganisation Act, which led to the creation of 14 states and 6 union territories, largely along linguistic lines. This act significantly redrew the internal map of India.

Controversies Related to Linguistic Reorganisation

The process of linguistic reorganisation was not without its controversies and challenges:

Defining Linguistic Boundaries: Determining precise linguistic boundaries proved difficult, as many regions were bilingual or had significant minority language populations. This led to disputes and claims for inclusion or exclusion of certain territories.
Agitations and Violence: The demand for linguistic states often led to intense agitations, protests, and even violence in various parts of the country, as different linguistic groups vied for territory and resources.
Economic Viability: Concerns were raised about the economic viability of some proposed linguistic states and the potential for regional imbalances.
National Unity vs. Regionalism: While proponents argued that linguistic states would strengthen national unity by accommodating regional aspirations, critics feared that it could promote regionalism and threaten the integrity of the nation.
The Bombay State Bifurcation (1960): The bilingual state of Bombay, comprising Marathi and Gujarati speaking areas, witnessed prolonged agitations leading to its eventual bifurcation into the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960.
The Punjabi Suba Movement: The demand for a separate Punjabi-speaking state (“Punjabi Suba”) continued for several years after the 1956 Act, eventually leading to the creation of Punjab and Haryana in 1966.

Changing Internal Boundaries of India (1948-1964)

The linguistic reorganisation led to a significant redrawing of the internal political map of India between 1948 and 1964.

Map of India, 1948:

Internal Boundaries: In 1948, the internal map of India was largely based on the administrative divisions of British India and the integration of princely states. The country was divided into Provinces (like Madras, Bombay, Bengal, United Provinces) and centrally administered Chief Commissioners’ Provinces, along with the numerous princely states that had acceded. Linguistic boundaries were often disregarded in these arrangements. For instance, the Madras Presidency encompassed large Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada speaking regions. The Bombay Presidency included Marathi and Gujarati speaking areas.

(Imagine a map of India in 1948 showing large provinces like Madras Presidency, Bombay Presidency, Bengal Presidency, United Provinces, etc., along with the scattered princely states.)

Map of India, 1964:

Internal Boundaries: By 1964, the internal map of India had undergone a dramatic transformation due to the linguistic reorganisation. The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 and subsequent developments led to the formation of states primarily based on language:
- Andhra Pradesh (1953, 1956): Carved out of Telugu-speaking areas of Madras Presidency.
- Kerala (1956): Formed by integrating Malayalam-speaking regions of Travancore-Cochin, Malabar district, and Kasaragod taluk.
- Karnataka (initially Mysore, renamed in 1973): Consolidated Kannada-speaking areas from various former entities, including parts of Madras and Bombay Presidencies and the princely state of Mysore.
- Tamil Nadu (initially Madras, renamed in 1968): Retained the Tamil-speaking areas of the former Madras Presidency.
- Maharashtra and Gujarat (1960): Bifurcation of the former Bombay state based on Marathi and Gujarati languages respectively.
- Punjab and Haryana (formed later, but the initial linguistic demands were evident by 1964): The demand for a Punjabi-speaking state was a major factor influencing the political landscape.