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Chapter I: Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, Introduction:, In India the problem of reorganiging the stae on the basis of the boundries exissted from the bigining, but after independence various linguistic groups demanded the reorganization of state. Unity in, diversity in the characteristic of Indian society from kashmir to kanyakumari. Sentimentally we all are, one but on the issue of development diversity still exists. Some times on issue of water distribution,, language, customs and tradition. People are divided federalism in not understood in its real sense., Linguistic diversity in one of the most important issue in dividing the people. People speaking a, particular language think of themselves to be one out of which unilingual states came into existence ., Reorganization of state on linguistic basis., In 1924 conference of congress of Kolkata. Gandhiji supported organization state on linguistic basis., Congress focused demands of people according to which reorganization of state on linguistic basis was, supported by favouring demands of people . Congress could reach to the heart on the people .on this, basis only Joglekar etc. Demanded reorganization of Maharashtra state. Regarding reorganization of state, linguistic uniformity was given priority., According to Nehru commission report people demanding unilingual state should be considered. In the, election manifesto of congress for the year 1945-46 there in clear indication of reorganization of states, on linguistic basis., Nagpur pact:, Marathi speaking people of Vidharbha , sanyukt Maharashtra met at Nagpur to give equal, importance to all division of Sanyukta Maharashtra. They tried to unity. Marathi speaking people of, difference parts of the country., State reorganization commission:, On 22nd Dec. 1953 govt. Of india established state re organization commission under leadership, of justice Fazil Ali. On 10th 1955 the commission presented its report which was supported by congress., For reorganization of states on linguistic basis and to solve problems related with this issue J.V.P., commission was establish in the year of 1949 Jairamdas Daulatram , Vallabhbhai Patel & Pattabhi, Sitaramyya were member of this committee .in its report committee reorganization of state on linguistic, basis ,but in the existing situation it was not possible . The committee focused the demand of Marathi, speaking people for the establishment of maharashtra but it denied inclusion of Mumbai in Maharashtra, .They also denied separate province for Varhad then report of the committee made the issue of, Maharashtra more complicated.
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Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad, On 12 May 1946, Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad was established under leadership of, Malkhodkar., Aims & objectives of Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad:, 1) On the basis of linguistic re-organization of states area of Marathi speaking people should, be linked with Maharashtra state., 2) Maharashtra to be created on the basis of democratic socialism., 3) Political, economical & social equality to be established & concept of co-operative to be, adopted for social development., 4) The programme adopted by Samyukta Maharashtra to be implemented., , Daar commission:, After independence congress changed its policy about reorganization of state., Linguistic provinces commission was established on 17th June 1947 under leadership of, justice S.K. Daar to decide on what basis reorganization of state should be completed., The committee presented its report on 13th Dec. 1948 in which it opposed reorganization, of state on linguistic basis as it may affect national sentiment., J. V. P. Commission :, For reorganization of state on linguistic bases is to solve problems related with, this issue J. V. P. commission was establish in the year 1949 . Jairamdas Daulatram;, Vallabh bhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramaiya were members of this committee. in its report, the committee for reorganization of state on linguistic basis but in the existing situation it, was not possible the committee forward the demand of Marathi speaking people for the, establishment of Maharashtra. But it denied inclusion of Mumbai in Maharashtra. They, also denied report province for Varhad. The report of at the committee made the issue of, Maharashtra more complicated, Akola Pact:, While discussion of Daar committee were in process at the same time supported of, Marathi speaking people met at Akola on 8 th Aug. 1947 in which they supported, independent Samyukta Maharashtra for Marathi speaking people of Varhad. This decision, was against recommendation of Daar commission.
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Triple state plan:, On 8th Nov. 1955 Govt. of India declaired Triple state plan. Bombay city , Gujarat &, Maharashtra. It was decided that Mumbai city, Gujarat & Maharashtra would be, established on 17 Nov. 1955. A meeting of Maharashtra congress held at Pune in which, members opposed the idea of triple state., On 21 Nov. 1955 people of Maharashtra went on strike against this plan. After that on 22, Dec. 1955 Bombay municipal corporation favoured demand of Samyukta Maharashtra., , Nehru decision of 1956:, On 16th Jan 1956 Pandit Nehru declared Govt. Of India ‘s decision about, reorganization of state. According to which, 1) Bombay will remain under control of central Govt., 2) Two states of Marathi speaking people named Maharashtra & Saurashtra were to be, established., 3) Kannad speaking area were to be included in to Mysore state., 4) Boundary conflict were to be decided by all the concern political parties., Mass movement started against this decision throughout Maharashtra. Marathi, speaking people lost confidence in central Govt. Demand for inclusion of Bombay in, Samyukta Maharashtra became forceful., , Establishment of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti :, On 6th Feb. 1956 Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was established under leadership of, Keshavrao Jedhe, a common platform for the demand of Samyukta Maharashtra was, needed. Except congress party all opposition parties favoured Samyukta Maharashtra, Samiti. The aims & objectives of previous Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad & newly, established Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti were similar but as Samyukta Maharashtra, Parishad became useless the new Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was established to, propogate the ideas of SamyuktaMaharashtra Samiti newspapers & magazines like, prabodhan, Navyug & Maratha played important role. From 1956 samiti became
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more aggressive. On 27th July 1956 samyukta Maharashtra samiti arranged a march,, in which they demanded samyukta Maharashtra. On 1st Aug. 1956, when Pandit, Nehru addressing the people of Pune at race court, simultaneously samyukta, Maharashtra samiti organized a huge conference at Shaniwarwada while it was, heavily raining., , Decision of Bi Lingual state:, On 7th Aug. 1956 Lok Sabha passed bill of bi lingual state. This legislation was passed, against will of people of Maharashtra & Gujarat. Congress leaders of Maharashtra & Gujarat, accepted decision of central leaders, but opposition leaders of Maharashtra opposed this, legislation on 1st Oct. 1956. Leaders of samyukta Maharashtra samiti met at Shivaji Park ground,, where they approved about decision of bi lingual state was unjustified., , General Elections of 1957:, In the year 1957 elections of legislative assembly & Lok Sabha were conducted, simultaneously. In order to create independent Maharashtra contesting election was the only, solution for leaders of samyukta Maharashtra committee. In this election congress was defeated, badly in Maharashtra but position of congress was better in Vidharba & Gujarat. In May 1957, samyukta Maharashtra samiti achieved ground success in Bombay corporation which proved that, the experiment of bi lingual state could not be successful., , Unveiling ceremony of statue of Shivaji Maharaj :, On 30 Nov. 1957unveiling ceremony of statue of Shivaji was performed by Pandit Nehru . At, that time leaders of Samyukta Maharashtra samiti expressed their protest and demanded, formation of Samyukta Maharashtra. They questioned the right of Pandit Nehru to unveil the, statue of Shivaji Maharaj. In the right of success of leaders of samiti their protest to Nehru was, meaningful. Nehru, who opposed independent Maharashtra, had no right to unveil the statue., , Marching towards establishment of Samyukta Maharashtra:, Taking into consideration the protest to the decision of bi lingual state finally congress had, to consider the demand of the committee. Creation of an independent state of Maharashtra was, regarded unavoidable. In the year 1958 Mrs. Indira Gandhi became president of congress. She
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also promised feelings of peoples of Maharashtra. In her Bombay visit she promised that the, demand of people of Maharashtra would be considered., Formation of independent Maharashtra:, In the conference of Chandighad congress took decision about creation of Samyukta, Maharashtra. On 1st May 1960 Samyukta Maharashtra was created. Inagural function of, Samyukta Maharashtra was hold at Shivaji Park. Pandit Nehru inaugurated the function., Samyukta Maharashtra samiti played key role in formation of samyukta Maharashtra., Evaluation of Samyukta Maharashtra Movement:, In the year 1956, 14 states were created on the lingual basis ,in accordance with the report, submitted by state re-organization committee. But in Maharashtra bi lingual state of Marathi &, Gujarati speaking people was created, which was unjust & humiliating for both of them. Because, other states were unilingual, but Bombay was a bi lingual state in which three crore Marathi &, two crore Gujarati people were put together. For the progress of democracy creation of state on, linguistic basis was regarded by state re-organization committee, but on the contrary in, Maharashtra & Gujarat the decision of central Govt. was not in accordance with the principles of, progress of democracy., Central Govt.’s decision to keep Bombay out of Maharashtra was supported by industrialist, & rich people of Bombay. Central Govt. was under the severe influence of these industrialist. So, they tried their level best to keep Mumbai as an independent state. The decision of bi lingual, state was supported by congress in order to maintain party discipline local leaders also supported, the decision but all opposition parties came together & formed samyukta Maharashtra, committee. All the influential leaders like S.M. Joshi, Uddhavrao Patil, Keshavrao Jedhe,, Raghunath Rao Khandilkar, Mohite, Chavan, Pendse, Raut, Atre, More, Deshmukh,etc., joined, samyukta Maharashtra samiti through which they protested against the injustice which was, imposed on the people of Maharashtra through bi lingual state. They twice marched to Delhi &, proved the injustice given to them. Many people lost their lifes in the struggle for samyukta, Maharashtra. Finally leaders recognized the feelings of people of Maharashtra & created, samyukta Maharashtra along with Mumbai., Samyukta Maharashtra movement proved regional consciousness in the elections of 1957., People voted against congress party, which proved support of common people to creation of, samyukta Maharashtra. Out of 135 seats congress could get only 33 seats, remaining 102 seats, were captured by samyukta Maharashtra samiti. Will of people of Maharashtra forced central, Govt. to create samyukta Maharashtra., Samyukta Maharashtra movement was in accordance with democratic values. People’s, demand to create state of Marathi speaking peoples was right. Sikh created Punjab for them in
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the similar way people of Maharashtra demanded a separate state for them. If people speaking, different languages live in a single state, it may cause instability and unrest, which may affect, democratic values. On the other hand if people of a single language live in a single state it, creates unity among them. To create co-operation among ruler & rule similar language helps a, lot. People can take active part in politics if the language of ruler & rule is similar. If the regional, aspirations are fulfilled, it creates the feeling of national integration. In a nation like India where, diversity exists, there is need of creating feeling of oneness. But bi lingual state in Maharashtra, divided Marathi & Gujarati speaking peoples, which cause clash among them., In the name of national integration bi lingual state in Maharashtra hurt people of state., Samyukta Maharashtra committee demanded a separate state of Marathi speaking people. Right, national integration can be achieved only through satisfying regional demands. Demand of, samyukta Maharashtra in no way, a demand for an independent state. They never demanded, separation from the union.
