Demand for linguistic states: background
When all the members of a family who speak one language live together, communication is easy. So Marathi-speaking people wanted to live in one state, so that education, administration and development would be in their language.
Linguistic reorganisation means making a separate state for people speaking one language. After independence the demand of Marathi speakers for one state started the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra Movement’.
Key idea 1 : Early thoughts — In 1911 the British had to cancel the partition of Bengal. About this time N. C. Kelkar said that all Marathi-speaking people should be in one state. In 1915 Lokmanya Tilak demanded the reorganisation of provinces on the basis of language, but as independence was the bigger issue it was set aside. On 12 May 1946 a resolution on Samyukta Maharashtra was passed at the Sahitya Sammelan in Belgaon.
Key idea 2 : Dar Commission and JVP Committee — On 17 June 1948 the Constituent Assembly appointed a commission under Justice S. K. Dar; its report came on 10 December 1948 but the issue was not solved. On 29 December 1948 the Congress appointed the ‘JVP Committee’ of Nehru, Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya. It accepted linguistic states in principle but said the time was not right.
Key idea 3 : Fazal Ali Commission and the Nagpur Pact — In 1953 the Nagpur Pact was made; under it it was decided to join Western Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Marathwada and assurances for development were given to Vidarbha. On 29 December 1953 the Central Government appointed the ‘States Reorganisation Commission’ under Justice Fazal Ali. On 10 October 1955 the commission recommended a bilingual state for Mumbai.
- Easy : When was the Samyukta Maharashtra resolution passed at the Belgaon Sahitya Sammelan? — On 12 May 1946.
- Medium : Who were in the JVP Committee? — Nehru, Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
- Exam-type : What did the Fazal Ali Commission recommend? — A bilingual state of Mumbai.
In the figure: Tilak’s demand, the Belgaon resolution, Dar and JVP, the Nagpur Pact and the Fazal Ali Commission.
What happened before the JVP Committee report? On 29 December 1948 the Congress appointed a committee of Nehru, Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Its report accepted linguistic states in principle but said ‘the time is not right now’.
What happened after the JVP Committee report? After the report there was a sharp reaction throughout Maharashtra. Senapati Bapat held rallies to awaken the people. Acharya Atre got a resolution for Samyukta Maharashtra passed in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation by 50 votes to 35, which made clear the wish that Mumbai should be in Maharashtra.
1915 = Tilak; 1946 = Belgaon; 1948 = Dar, JVP; 1953 = Nagpur Pact; 1955 = Fazal Ali report.
The JVP Committee did not completely reject linguistic states; it only said ‘the time is not right now’.
Memory clue: Remember ‘15-46-48-53-55’ — Tilak, Belgaon, Dar, Nagpur, Fazal Ali. Memory clue: five numbers, five names.
Spot the difference
| Commission / committee | Year | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Dar Commission | 1948 | Issue not solved |
| JVP Committee | 1948 | Accepted in principle, time not right |
| Fazal Ali Commission | 1955 | Bilingual state of Mumbai |
Practice questions
- 1What is linguistic reorganisation of states?
- 2What demand did Lokmanya Tilak make in 1915?
- 3Why did the JVP Committee get this name?
- 4What was the main decision of the Nagpur Pact?
- 5Why was the Fazal Ali Commission’s recommendation not acceptable to Marathi people?
- 6Which resolution did Acharya Atre get passed?
- 7What was the effect of the JVP Committee report in Maharashtra?
- 8Why did the demand of Marathi speakers not stop even after the Dar Commission and the JVP Committee?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Making a separate state for people of one language.
- 2The demand for reorganisation of provinces on the basis of language.
- 3From the initials of its three members (Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Pattabhi Sitaramayya).
- 4Joining Western Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Marathwada.
- 5Because in it Mumbai would remain separate from Maharashtra.
- 6The Samyukta Maharashtra resolution in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, by 50 votes to 35.
- 7There was a sharp reaction throughout Maharashtra and Senapati Bapat awakened the people.
- 8Because the wish for a single-language state with Mumbai remained and the reports did not fulfil it.
Samyukta Maharashtra Movement
When all the children of a school come together to state a demand, it carries weight. Workers, farmers, artists, journalists and women of Maharashtra all came together and the movement became big.
The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement was the movement to form the state of Maharashtra by joining all Marathi-speaking regions together with Mumbai.
Key idea 1 : Kamgar Maidan and 21 November 1955 — On 7 November 1955 a meeting of workers’ organisations and many parties was held in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Shripad Amrut Dange; S. M. Joshi moved a resolution for Samyukta Maharashtra. A march led by Senapati Bapat went to the Legislative Assembly. The government banned it; there was a lathi charge and that evening a meeting of about 50 thousand was held at Kamgar Maidan. A one-day strike was decided for 21 November 1955.
Key idea 2 : The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti — On 6 February 1956 a meeting was held at the Tilak Smarak Mandir in Pune under the chairmanship of Keshavrao Jedhe and the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti’ was formed. Shripad Amrut Dange became president, Dr T. R. Naravane vice president and S. M. Joshi general secretary. Acharya Atre, Prabodhankar Thackeray and Madhu Dandavate played important roles.
Key idea 3 : Newspapers, shahirs and women — ‘Prabodhan’, ‘Kesari’, ‘Sakal’, ‘Navakal’ and Atre’s ‘Maratha’ awakened the public. Balasaheb Thackeray drew cartoons under the pen name ‘Mavla’. Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe, Shahir Amar Sheikh and D. N. Gavankar roused people with ballads. Many women, such as Sumatibai Gore, Durga Bhagwat, Ismat Chughtai and Kamalatai More, also took part.
- Easy : When and where was the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti formed? — 6 February 1956, Pune.
- Medium : Who was the general secretary of the Samiti? — S. M. Joshi.
- Exam-type : Who drew cartoons under the pen name ‘Mavla’? — Balasaheb Thackeray.
In the figure: Leaders, workers, newspapers-shahirs and women — four supports of the movement.
What happened before 21 November 1955? After the meeting of 7 November 1955 the agitation became intense. Morarji Desai was the Chief Minister; the government banned the meeting and made a lathi charge. Even then a large meeting was held at Kamgar Maidan and a one-day strike was decided for 21 November.
What happened after 21 November 1955? On 21 November 1955 the police fired on the procession at Flora Fountain. It is held that 106 people were martyred during the whole agitation. In their memory the Flora Fountain area got the name ‘Hutatma Chowk’.
What happened before the formation of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti? After the Fazal Ali report of 10 October 1955 Marathi speakers were unhappy, and after the events of 21 November this grew further. The need for organised efforts throughout Maharashtra was felt.
What happened after the formation of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti? On 6 February 1956 the Samiti was formed in Pune. On 1 November 1956 the bilingual Mumbai State came into existence, but the Samiti continued the struggle. In the 1957 elections the Samiti got great success.
7 November 1955 = meeting; 21 November 1955 = firing; 6 February 1956 = Samiti; 106 = martyrs.
The figure of 106 martyrs is for the whole agitation; that many did not die in the firing of 21 November alone.
Memory clue: Remember ‘7-21-6’ — 7 November meeting, 21 November firing, 6 February Samiti. Memory clue: three dates, three steps.
Spot the difference
| Event | Date | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Workers’ meeting | 7 November 1955 | Dange presided |
| Flora Fountain firing | 21 November 1955 | Hutatma Chowk |
| Founding of the Samiti | 6 February 1956 | Pune, Keshavrao Jedhe |
Practice questions
- 1What was the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement?
- 2Who was the president of the Samiti?
- 3How did the name Hutatma Chowk come about?
- 4Which resolution was moved at the meeting of 7 November 1955?
- 5How did newspapers and shahirs help the movement?
- 6Why might leaders from different parties have come together in the Samiti?
- 7What happened next after the Fazal Ali report and the events of 21 November?
- 8What happened before and after 21 November 1955?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A movement to form the state of Maharashtra by joining all Marathi-speaking regions with Mumbai.
- 2Shripad Amrut Dange.
- 3In memory of the martyrs of the firing of 21 November 1955 the Flora Fountain area got this name.
- 4The resolution that Samyukta Maharashtra should be formed with Mumbai and Vidarbha (moved by S. M. Joshi).
- 5By raising public awareness through articles, cartoons and ballads.
- 6Because everyone had the same aim: Maharashtra with Mumbai.
- 7On 6 February 1956 the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was formed.
- 8Before: the meeting of 7 November 1955, the ban and lathi charge; after: firing on 21 November and Hutatma Chowk.
Success: bilingual state, Pratapgad and 1 May 1960
The joy of getting a result after years of hard work is special. The people of Maharashtra got the fruit of their struggle on 1 May 1960.
On 1 May 1960, under the Mumbai Reorganisation Act, the two linguistic states of Maharashtra and Gujarat came into being. Yashwantrao Chavan became the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Key idea 1 : The bilingual state and the elections of 1957 — On 1 November 1956 Gujarati and Marathi areas together formed the bilingual state of Mumbai. In 1957 the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections were held; the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti got great success in them. This made clear the voters’ opposition to a bilingual state and support for Samyukta Maharashtra.
Key idea 2 : The demonstration at Pratapgad — On 30 November 1957 the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on horseback at Pratapgad was to be unveiled by Prime Minister Nehru. At that time the Samiti held a huge demonstration under Bhai Madhavrao Bagal. Strong demonstrations were held at Pasarni Ghat and Poladpur and the sentiments of Marathi people reached Nehru.
Key idea 3 : 1 May 1960 and the border question — The Central Government agreed to the two linguistic states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. In April 1960 Parliament passed the Mumbai Reorganisation Act and on 1 May 1960 the State of Maharashtra came into being; Yashwantrao Chavan became the first Chief Minister. Some Marathi-speaking areas such as Belgaon remained in Karnataka and this border question is still discussed today.
- Easy : When was the bilingual state formed? — On 1 November 1956.
- Medium : By whom was the statue at Pratapgad to be unveiled? — Pandit Nehru.
- Exam-type : Who was the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra? — Yashwantrao Chavan.
In the figure: The bilingual state, the electoral success, Pratapgad and 1 May 1960 — the final steps of the struggle.
What happened before the Pratapgad demonstration? The Samiti learned that Nehru was coming to Pratapgad on 30 November 1957. It was a big function to unveil Shivaji’s statue, but the Marathi people’s question was not yet solved. The Samiti decided to hold demonstrations.
What happened after the Pratapgad demonstration? Thousands of people demonstrated at Pasarni Ghat and Poladpur. Through this Nehru understood the feelings of the Marathi people and the Central Government took a favourable stand on Samyukta Maharashtra.
What happened before 1 May 1960? The Samiti’s success in the 1957 elections made the Central Government aware of the people’s verdict. In April 1960 Parliament passed the Mumbai Reorganisation Act under which Maharashtra and Gujarat were to become two states.
What happened after 1 May 1960? At dawn on 1 May 1960, at a special Labour Day ceremony at Raj Bhavan, Pandit Nehru announced the formation of the State of Maharashtra. Yashwantrao Chavan became the first Chief Minister. On the same day the State of Gujarat was also formed; Jivraj Mehta became its first Chief Minister.
1956 = bilingual; 1957 = elections and Pratapgad (30 November); 1960 = Maharashtra (1 May).
Maharashtra and Gujarat were separated on the same day, 1 May 1960; on 1 November 1956 only the bilingual state was formed.
Memory clue: Remember ‘56-57-60’ — bilingual state, elections and Pratapgad, Maharashtra. Memory clue: 1 May = Labour Day = Maharashtra Day.
Spot the difference
| Event | Date | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual state | 1 November 1956 | Mumbai State |
| Pratapgad demonstration | 30 November 1957 | Feelings reached Nehru |
| Formation of Maharashtra | 1 May 1960 | Yashwantrao Chavan first CM |
Success: bilingual state, Pratapgad and 1 May 1960
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appPractice questions
- 1When did the State of Maharashtra come into being?
- 2Who was the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra?
- 3What did the result of the 1957 elections show?
- 4Under whose leadership was the demonstration at Pratapgad held?
- 5When was the Mumbai Reorganisation Act passed?
- 6What is the border question?
- 7What was the result of the demonstration at Pratapgad?
- 8What happened before and after 1 May 1960?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1On 1 May 1960.
- 2Yashwantrao Chavan.
- 3It showed voters’ opposition to a bilingual state and support for Samyukta Maharashtra.
- 4Bhai Madhavrao Bagal.
- 5In April 1960.
- 6The dispute about Marathi-speaking areas such as Belgaon remaining in Karnataka.
- 7Nehru understood the feelings of Marathi people and the Centre’s stand became favourable.
- 8Before: the success of 1957 and the Act of April 1960; after: on 1 May 1960 the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed.