there was demand on large scale for the
reconstruction of states on linguistic basis.
In Maharashtra also the demand for state
of Marathi speaking people led to
‘Samyukta Maharashtra Movement’ from
1946 onwards. Through various changing
circumstances the movement progressed
and finally on 1 May 1960 the state of
Maharashtra came to be formed.
Background : From the beginning of
20th century, many scholars had begun
to express the thoughts on unification of
Marathi speaking people. In 1911, the
British Government had to suspend the
partition of Bengal. On this background,
N.C.Kelkar wrote that ‘the entire Marathi
speaking population should be under one
dominion’. In 1915, Lokmanya Tilak had
demanded the reconstruction of a state
based on language. But during that period
the issue of independence of India was
more important, hence this issue remained
aside.
On 12 May 1946, in the Sahitya
Sammelan at Belgaon, an important
resolution regarding Samyukta
Maharashtra was passed.
Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad :
On 28 July, ‘Maharashtra Ekikaran
Parishad’ was called at Mumbai.
Shankarrao Dev was its president. It
passed a resolution that all Marathi
speaking regions should be included in
one state. This should also include
Marathi speaking regions of Mumbai,
Central provinces as well as Marathwada
and Gomantak.
Dar Commission : On 17 June
1947, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President
of Constituent Assembly established the
‘Dar Commission’ under the chairmanship
of Justice S.K.Dar, for forming linguistic
provinces. On 10 December 1948, the
report of Dar Commission was published
but the issue remained unsolved.
JVP Committee (Three Ministers
Committee) : To study the conditions of
creating linguistic provinces, the Congress
appointed a committee on 29 December
1948. It included Jawaharlal Nehru,
Vallabhbhai Patel and
Pattabhisitaramayya. It is known by the
initials of these members as ‘JVP
Committee’. The report suggested that
Congress accepts the concept of linguistic
state in principle but the time was not
proper for it. Severe response was seen
throughout Maharashtra against this report.
During that time Senapati Bapat organised
rallies for awakening of people.
Acharya Atre got passed the proposal
of Samyukta Maharashtra with Mumbai
in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. It
got passed by 50 against 35 votes. Due
to it, the desire that Mumbai should be
included in Maharashtra was proven.
Commission for Reconstruction of
States : Government of India appointed
a ‘Commission for Reconstruction of
States’ on 29 December 1953, under the
Chairmanship of Justice Fazal Ali. This
commission presented their proposal on
10 October 1955. This proposal advocated
for creation of bilingual Mumbai State.
Nagpur Pact : Marathi people of all
regions should resolve to make one state
was the purpose of signing the Nagpur
Pact in 1953. According to this pact,
Samyukta Maharashtra was formed including Western Maharashtra and
Vidarbha along with Marathwada. In
1956, as per the ammendment of the
Constitution, Article 371 (2) was included
in it. According to the Nagpur Pact
assurance was given regarding equitable
financial provision for developmental
work, ample finance for technical and
vocational education, provision of state
government services in particular regions
in accordance with the population and
Assembly Session once in a year should
be held in Nagpur etc.
The struggle of marathi speaking
people for formation of Maharashtra with
Mumbai had begun. A huge meeting was
held on Kamgar Maidan in Mumbai. At
that time Shankarrao Dev said, ‘We will
oppose the seperation of Mumbai from
Maharashtra upto our last breath’. The
emotions and demands of the people took
the form of public agitation. Women also
spontaneously started participating in it.
Sumatibai Gore, Ismat Chugtai, Durga
Bhagwat, Tara Reddi, Charusheela Gupte,
Kamalatai More, Sultana Johari and
many such women took part in the
agitation.
On 7 November 1955, there was
meeting of labours. Various Labour
Organisations, Communists, Praja
Socialists, Socialists, Peasants and workers
Party, Janasangh etc. all these political
parties participated in it. Comrade Shripad
Amrut Dange presided over it. Here
S.M.Joshi proposed a resolution that
Samyukta Maharashtra, with Mumbai
and Vidarbha, should be created.
Beginning of actual conflict :
Discontent among the Marathi speaking
people was growing. A grand march led
by Senapati Bapat was taken to Vidhan
Sabha. Morarji Desai was the Chief
Minister at that time.
The government
declared a ban. The
police started lathi
charge and used tear
gas. On that evening
an open meeting was
conducted on Kamgar
Maidan with a mob of
around 50 thousand.
Comrade Dange guided
the people. To accelerate the struggle for
the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement,
on 21 November 1955 decision of one
day token strike was taken.
Establishment of Samyukta
Maharashtra Samiti : The issue of the
demand of the Marathi speaking people
started becoming complicated. Discontent
spread throughout the state. On 6
February 1956, a meeting was conducted
under the Chairmanship of Keshavrao
Jedhe at Tilak Smarak Mandir in Pune.
The Samiti declared its Executive
Council. Comrade Shripad Amrut Dange
as the President. Dr.T.R.Naravane as
Vice President and S.M.Joshi as General
Secretary were selected. G.T.Madkholkar,
Acharya P.K.Atre, Madhu Dandavate,
Prabodhankar Keshav Thackeray, Y.K.
Souni played important role in
establishing the Samiti. At the same time
Senapati Bapat, Krantisinh Nana Patil, Lalji Pendse, Ahilyabai Rangnekar
contributed immensely to the Samyukta
Maharashtra movement. They spread the
movement to rural parts of Maharashtra.
When it was clear that Mumbai will
not be included in Maharashtra, at that
time there arouse a huge public agitation.
In this movement 106 people became
martyrs in the firing opened by the State
Government. In memory of the 106 sons
of Maharashtra who became martyr for
formation of Samyukta Maharashtra, the
‘Hutatma Smarak’ was erected in
Mumbai near Flora Fountain.
On 1 November 1956, Bilingual
Mumbai State came into existence. Later
in 1957, Loksabha, Vidhan Sabha and
Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections
were held. Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti
got grand success. These results made
it clear that the voters were against
bilingual state and in favour of Samyukta
Maharashtra.
Contribution of Marathi newspapers
and Shahirs : In this movement the role
of newspapers was important. Prabodhan,
Kesari, Sakal, Navakal, Navyug, Prabhat
many such newspapers worked for
awakening of the people. Acharya Atre
started the ‘Maratha’ newspaper which
played an important role in Samyukta
The unveiling of statue of Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj mounted on horse on
Pratapgad was to be
done at the hands of
Prime Minister
Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru on 30
November 1957. At
that time Samyukta
Maharashtra Samiti
decided to make
huge demonstration
under the leadership
of Bhai Madhavrao Bagal. Leaders like
S.M.Joshi, N.G.Gore, Jayantrao Tilak,
P.K.Atre, Uddhavrao Patil were present.
Severe demonstrations were made at
Pasarni Ghat and Poladpur. The Samiti
succeeded in making Pandit Nehru aware
of the conditions as well as of the
sentiments of the Marathi speaking
people.
The Central Governement favoured the making of Maharashtra due to the
agitation led by Samyukta Maharashtra
Samiti. At this instance, Indira Gandhi ,
President of Congress supported the
Samyukta Maharashtra movement. The
Central Government consented the two
linguistic states- Maharashtra and
Gujarat. In April 1960, the Parliament
passed the Mumbai Reorganisation Act.
According to this Act, Maharashtra State
was formed on 1 May 1960.
At the dawn of 1
May 1960, in the
special ceremony at
Raj Bhavan, on
occasion of Labour
Day, Pandit Nehru
officially announced
the formation of
Maharashtra State.
Yashwantrao Chavan
accepted the responsibility as first Chief
Minister of Maharashtra.
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