States Reorganisation
The Struggle for Linguistic Identity
PART I — INITIAL RESISTANCE (1948)
DHAR COMMISSION
Administrative Convenience
- June 1948. S.K. Dhar.
- Rejected linguistic basis.
- Favored administrative logic.
- Caused massive resentment.
JVP COMMITTEE
The Political Rejection
- Dec 1948. Nehru, Patel, Sitaramayya.
- Formally rejected language basis.
- Prioritized national unity.
- Delayed reorganisation.
PART II — THE BREAKING POINT (1953)
THE CATALYST
Creation of Andhra
- 1953. Potti Sriramulu's 56-day fast.
- Resulted in his death & riots.
- Govt forced to carve out Andhra.
- First linguistic state created.
PART III — THE FINAL BLUEPRINT (1956)
FAZL ALI COMMISSION (SRC)
The States Reorganisation Act
- Appointed 1953. Fazl Ali, Panikkar, Kunzru.
- **Accepted:** Language as *a* basis for reorganisation.
- **Rejected:** "One language, one state" theory (unity first).
- Led to the **States Reorganisation Act, 1956**.
- Abolished the 4-fold classification of states (Part A, B, C, D).
- Created a clean map: **14 States and 6 Union Territories**.
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