Andhra Pradesh marked the 10th anniversary of its bifurcation into two states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.This significant political shift offers a compelling opportunity to explore its wide-ranging implications on the political, economic, and historical landscape of the Telugu people.
How Andhra Pradesh has been Divided on Linguistic Basis
- At the Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress in December 1920, it was decided to reorganize the Provincial Congress Committees on a linguistic basis.
- This move was aimed at promoting the interests of various linguistic groups. This leads to demand for linguistic state.
- The roots of the agitation can be traced back to the linguistic reorganization movements that gained momentum in post-independence India.
- The demand for a separate state for Telugu-speaking individuals was driven by a desire to preserve and promote their linguistic and cultural identity.
Agitation for Linguistic State
- One of the most pivotal figures in this movement was Potti Sreeramulu, a Gandhian and social activist.
- He undertook a hunger strike on 19th October, 1952, demanding the creation of a separate state of Andhra Pradesh for Telugu speaking people.
- His martyrdom after 56 days of fasting, intensified the agitation and forced the Indian government to reconsider their stance on linguistic reorganisation.
- Commission for Linguistic Reorganisation of States: The Central Government of India established several commission from time to time to examine and give recommendations regarding the reorganization of state on linguistic basis.
Few related commissions are
Dar Commission (1948)
- Purpose: To examine the feasibility of reorganization of states on linguistic lines.
- Outcome: The Dar Commission, headed by S.K. Dar, did not support the idea of reorganisation solely based on language. It emphasized administrative efficiency over linguistic homogeneity.
JVP Committee (1948-1949)
- Members: Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
- Purpose: To reassess the demands for linguistic states after the recommendations of the Dar Commission.
- Outcome: The JVP Committee also recommended against the reorganization of states purely on linguistic lines, suggesting that such reorganisation could lead to administrative difficulties and national disintegration.
Fazal Ali Commission (States Reorganisation Commission) (1953-1955)
- Members: Fazal Ali (Chairman), K.M. Panikkar, and H.N. Kunzru.
- Purpose: To examine the entire question of the reorganisation of states on linguistic and other bases.
- Outcome: It recommended the creation of linguistic states but with certain reservations to ensure national integration and administrative convenience. Its recommendations led to the formation of several states based on linguistic lines.
States Reorganisation Act (1956)
- It was based on the recommendations of the Fazal Ali Commission.
- The act led to the reorganization of state boundaries across India, significantly altering the political map of the country.
- The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 merged the Telugu-speaking areas of Hyderabad state with the Andhra state to create the enlarged Andhra Pradesh.
The Formation of Andhra State
- The death of Potti Sreeramulu led to violent protests and a significant public outcry and following the recommendations of several committees the Indian government, decided to form a separate state on linguistic basis.
- The first linguistic state of India, known as the state of Andhra, by taking out the Telugu speaking areas from the State of Madras was created.
- On 2nd June, 2014 the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh was separated and 29th state Telangana was created through the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
- The issue of granting Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh has been a significant and contentious topic since the bifurcation of the state in 2014.
Special Category Status (SCS)
- SCS is a classification granted to some States by the Centre to assist development, based on geographical and socio-economic disadvantages.
- The scheme was introduced in 1969 on the recommendation of the Fifth Finance Commission.
Factors considered for granting SCS to a State
- Hilly and difficult terrain
- Low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal population
- Strategic location along international borders
- Economic and infrastructural backwardness
- Non-viable nature of State finances
The 14th Finance Commission has done away with the ‘special category status’ for states, except for the Northeastern and three hill states.States with Special Status: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Uttarakhand .