Linguistic Reorganisation of States

The reorganisation of Indian states on a linguistic basis was a major administrative reform in post-independence India. At independence, India inherited a complex territorial layout consisting of former British provinces and merged princely states classified into Part A, B, C, and D categories. Popular movements demanded boundaries drawn along language lines to replace colonial-era administrative units. The creation of Andhra State in 1953, followed by the recommendations of the States Reorganisation Commission and the passage of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, reshaped the federal structure into linguistic states.

Pre-Independence Background and Early Demands

Early Congress Stance

The Indian National Congress supported linguistic reorganisation long before independence. At its Nagpur session in 1920, the Congress accepted language as the basis for structuring its Provincial Congress Committees.

The Nehru Report (1928)

The Nehru Committee Report of 1928, chaired by Motilal Nehru, explicitly supported the creation of linguistic provinces. It stated that administrative convenience, language, and public wish should determine territorial boundaries.

Post-Independence Committees and Commissions

Dhar Commission (1948)

The President of the Constituent Assembly, Rajendra Prasad, appointed the Linguistic Provinces Commission in June 1948, headed by retired Allahabad High Court Judge S.K. Dhar. The Dhar Commission submitted its report in December 1948, rejecting language as the primary criterion for state division. It recommended reorganising states based strictly on administrative convenience, financial self-sufficiency, and historical feasibility.

JVP Committee (1948)

Public discontent following the Dhar Commission report led the Congress to form the JVP Committee at its Jaipur session in December 1948. The committee comprised Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Submitting its report in April 1949, the committee formally rejected the linguistic principle for the immediate present, stressing national unity, security, and economic stability.

The Creation of Andhra State (1953)

Potti Sreeramulu’s Fast

The demand for a separate Telugu-speaking state from the composite Madras State intensified in the early 1950s. Gandhian activist Potti Sreeramulu began a fast-unto-death on October 19, 1952, demanding the creation of Andhra State. He died after 56 days of fasting on December 15, 1952.

Formation of Andhra

Widespread violent protests following Sreeramulu’s death compelled the Central Government to announce the creation of the first linguistic state. On October 1, 1953, Andhra State was carved out of the Telugu-speaking northern districts of Madras State, with Kurnool as its capital.

States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) 1953

Composition of the Commission

The creation of Andhra State sparked similar linguistic demands across India. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) on December 22, 1953. The three-member commission comprised:

• Justice Fazl Ali: Former Supreme Court Judge (Chairman).
• H.N. Kunzru: Scholar and parliamentarian (Member).
• K.M. Panikkar: Historian and diplomat (Member).

Key Recommendations

The Fazl Ali Commission submitted its report on September 30, 1955. It accepted language as a major basis for reorganising states, but rejected the theory of “one language, one state.” The commission recommended four essential factors for state reorganisation:

• Preservation and strengthening of the unity and security of the nation.
• Linguistic and cultural homogeneity.
• Financial, economic, and administrative considerations.
• Planning and promotion of the welfare of the people in each state and the nation as a whole.

The commission recommended replacing the Part A, B, C, and D state classification with 16 states and 3 centrally administered territories.

States Reorganisation Act, 1956

Constitutional Amendments

Parliament passed the States Reorganisation Act in August 1956. The 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 implemented these changes by modifying Article 1 and the First Schedule of the Constitution, abolishing the distinction between Part A, B, C, and D states.

The 1956 Administrative Map

On November 1, 1956, India was reorganized into 14 States and 6 Union Territories.

Subsequent Reorganisations (1960–Present)

Division of Bombay (1960)

The bilingual Bombay State experienced agitation by the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti and Mahagujarat Janata Parishad. The Bombay Reorganisation Act of 1960 split Bombay into Maharashtra (Marathi-speaking) and Gujarat (Gujarati-speaking), making Gujarat the 15th state of India.

Creation of Nagaland (1963)

In 1963, Nagaland was carved out of Assam to satisfy Naga political aspirations, becoming the 16th state.

Punjab Reorganisation (1966)

Following the Akali Dal’s demand for a Punjabi Suba led by Master Tara Singh and Sant Fateh Singh, the Shah Commission was set up in 1966. The Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 bifurcated Punjab into Punjab (Punjabi-speaking) and Haryana (Hindi-speaking, 17th state). The hilly areas were merged with Himachal Pradesh, while Chandigarh was declared a joint capital and Union Territory.

North-Eastern Reorganisation (1972)

The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act of 1971 granted statehood to Manipur (19th state), Tripura (20th state), and Meghalaya (21st state). Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh became Union Territories before attaining statehood in 1987.

Goa Statehood (1987)

Goa was separated from Daman and Diu by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987, becoming the 25th state of India.

New States in 2000 and 2014

• 2000: Chhattisgarh (26th) from Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand (27th) from Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand (28th) from Bihar.
• 2014: Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 created Telangana as the 29th state on June 2, 2014.

Key Facts for Quick Reference

• The S.K. Dhar Commission (1948) was the first body appointed by the Constituent Assembly to look into linguistic states.
• The JVP Committee (1948) was an informal party committee of the Indian National Congress, not a government-appointed commission.
• Andhra State was the first state created on a linguistic basis in independent India on October 1, 1953.
• Potti Sreeramulu is remembered as Amarajeevi for his sacrifice leading to the creation of Andhra State.
• The Fazl Ali Commission submitted its report in September 1955, recommending the abolition of Part A, B, C, and D states.
• The 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 replaced the fourfold state classification with a uniform structure of States and Union Territories.
• On November 1, 1956, India consisted of 14 States and 6 Union Territories.
• Gujarat became the 15th state of India following the division of Bombay State on May 1, 1960.
• Article 3 of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to form new states, alter state areas, boundaries, or names by a simple majority.
• Article 347 contains special provisions relating to language spoken by a section of the population of a state.
• Article 350A was added by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 to ensure primary education in the mother tongue for linguistic minorities.