States Reorganisation

Reorganisation of States

Before Independence Position

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak first prominent national leader to demand for linguistics formation of States
• INC supported language as basis of formation of States ; 1920 Nagpur Session → accepted it in principle;
• Gandhi → Linguistic formation of States
• B R Ambedkar → There must be definite checks and balances to see that communal majority does not abuse its power under the garb of linguistic states;

After Independence

• Partition of country on religion basis; fear of another division on language basis ;
• INC non-committal to the language as a basis of state formation 
• Several movements demanding separate states - Movements for Vishalandhra, Aikya Kerala and Samyukta Maharashtra were massive agitations that  led to the formation of state reorganisation commission under the chairmanship of Fazal Ali.
• Justice Dhar Commission (1948) → Rejected linguistic basis of state formation
• JVP Committee (1948) → Reaffirmed position of Dhar Commission → language should not be basis of statehood

Formation of First Linguistic State

• Demand for separate statehood for Telugu speaking areas of Madras; Potti Sriramulu died after 58 day hunger strike;
• Andhra was separated from Madras and first linguistic state of India born;

Fazal Ali Commission

• Integration and merger of Princely States was purely ad-hoc + need for reorganising on permanent basis;
• Rejected idea of One Language - One State
• Committee consisted of K M Panikkar, H N Kunzru and Fazal Ali (Chairman)
• Criteria for reorganization-
• Preserving and strengthening unity and integrity of the country; 
• Linguistic and cultural homogeneity 
• Financial, economic and administrative considerations 
• Planning and promotion of welfare of people in each states well as nation as a whole;
• Recommended abolishing 4 categories of States + recommended establishing 14 States and 6 UTs

Linguistic States - Analysis

For Linguistic States 

• Language basis of organisation of political units all over the world
• Fulfil aspirations of people;
• Creates feeling of sub nationalism within nation, and not necessarily secession
• Better protection and preservation of language, culture, heritage;
• Administrative convenience due to homogeneity;  

Against Linguistic States

• Fear of separate statehood only an intermediate stage; demand before secession;
• Danger to unity of India, they promote loyal loyalties;
• India’s diversity → who to grant separate statehood, and who not to;
• Promotes regionalism;
• Emergence of son of soil politics
• Rise of regional parties ; caste politics
• Neglect of linguistic minorities; 

Small States - Analysis

Arguments for small states 

• Distance from power center creates alienation, difficulty in administration, neglect etc;
• Administrative convenience;
• Address regional disparities
• Attention to local problems
• Decentralization
• Safety valve against grievances;

Against Smaller States

• Financial viability of smaller states not always possible, dependence on Central grants
• Fewer the states, smaller is the cost for administrative setup;
• Political science does not prescribe optimum size of a state for optimum governance;
• Enhances inter-state rivalries;
• Does not guarantee growth, development
• Huge expenditure to set up infrastructure, administrative machinery
• Promotes vested interests and politics 

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