The State Reorganization Commissions in India were appointed to reorganize the existing states and territories in the country, primarily with the goal of linguistic and cultural homogeneity. These commissions played a crucial role in reshaping the political map of India, leading to the creation of states and union territories based on linguistic, ethnic, and administrative considerations. Two significant State Reorganization Commissions were appointed by the Government of India:
- First State Reorganization Commission (1953-1955):
- Background:
- The linguistic reorganization of states gained momentum in the early 1950s as there was a growing demand for states to be formed along linguistic lines. The Nehru government appointed the first State Reorganization Commission in 1953 to address these demands.
- Members:
- The commission was headed by Justice Fazal Ali, and its other members were Hriday Nath Kunzru and K.M. Panikkar.
- Recommendations:
- The Fazal Ali Commission submitted its report in 1955. It recommended the reorganization of states on linguistic lines, but it did not entirely adhere to linguistic principles in all cases. It took into account factors like administrative convenience, geographical contiguity, and historical and cultural affinities as well.
- Major Outcomes:
- The commission’s recommendations led to the creation of several states based on linguistic lines, including Andhra Pradesh (Telugu-speaking), Kerala (Malayalam-speaking), Karnataka (Kannada-speaking), and Maharashtra and Gujarat (Marathi and Gujarati-speaking).
- Exceptions:
- However, the commission did not recommend the linguistic reorganization of Bombay and Punjab. The city of Bombay remained bilingual (Marathi and Gujarati), and the state of Punjab continued to be a bilingual state with Punjabi and Hindi as official languages.
- Background:
- Second State Reorganization Commission (1983):
- Background:
- Over the years, there were further demands for the reorganization of states, particularly in the northern and eastern regions of India. The second State Reorganization Commission was appointed in 1983 to examine these demands.
- Members:
- The commission was headed by Justice R.S. Sarkaria, and its other members were S.L. Shakdher and B. Sivaraman.
- Recommendations:
- The Sarkaria Commission submitted its report in 1987. It recommended the reorganization of certain states and the creation of new states based on administrative efficiency, economic viability, and regional imbalances.
- Major Outcomes:
- The recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission led to the creation of three new states – Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand – from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, respectively.
- Other Recommendations:
- The commission also made recommendations regarding the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which were considered in subsequent years.
- Background:
The State Reorganization Commissions played a significant role in addressing the linguistic and regional aspirations of various communities in India. The reorganization of states based on linguistic lines was a crucial step in fostering a sense of linguistic and cultural identity among the diverse population of the country.
