A New India
Chapter 264 - 264: State Reorganization Commission Report

State Reorganization Commission Report

Presented to the Government of India

July 1955

Prime Minister, Honorable Members of the Cabinet,

The State Reorganization Commission, established in 1952 under the leadership of Justice Fazal Ali, along with K.M. Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru, submits this comprehensive report after three years of rigorous research, consultations, and deliberations.

The aim of this commission has been to restructure India's states based on linguistic, cultural, and administrative factors, thereby ensuring greater unity, administrative efficiency, and representation.

The additional task of integrating newly merged territories, such as Nepal and Gilgit-Baltistan, has been handled with utmost sensitivity and pragmatism to maintain India's sovereignty and inclusivity.

Guiding Principles

The following principles guided the commission's work:

1. Linguistic Unity: Recognizing linguistic groups to preserve their cultural identity.

2. Administrative Efficiency: Ensuring each state is governable, viable, and economically sustainable.

3. Cultural Integrity: Respecting the traditions and unique histories of regions while fostering national unity.

4. Geopolitical Stability: Managing borders and sensitive regions like Jammu, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Northeast India.

5. Economic Feasibility: Evaluating each state's resources to maintain fiscal self-reliance.

Proposed States of India

1. Jammu

Capital: Jammu

Languages: Dogri, Hindi

Geographical Location: Northern India, bordering Punjab and Kashmir.

2. Kashmir

Capital: Srinagar

Languages: Kashmiri, Urdu

Geographical Location: Northernmost India, surrounded by mountains.

3. Ladakh

Capital: Leh

Languages: Ladakhi, Tibetan

Geographical Location: High-altitude region in the northern Himalayas, near Tibet and China.

4. Gilgit

Capital: Gilgit

Languages: Shina, Balti

Geographical Location: Northern India, bordering Afghanistan and China.

5. Baltistan

Capital: Skardu

Languages: Balti, Urdu

Geographical Location: High-altitude region in the Himalayas, near Ladakh.

6. Himachal Pradesh

Capital: Shimla

Languages: Hindi, Pahari

Geographical Location: Northwestern India, known for its hill stations.

7. Punjab

Capital: Chandigarh

Languages: Punjabi, Hindi

Geographical Location: Northwestern India, near the Pakistan border.

8. Haryana

Capital: Chandigarh (shared with Punjab)

Languages: Hindi, Haryanvi

Geographical Location: North India, surrounding Delhi.

9. Uttarakhand

Capital: Dehradun

Languages: Hindi, Garhwali

Geographical Location: Northern India, nestled in the Himalayan foothills.

10. Braj Pradesh (proposed division of Uttar Pradesh)

Capital: Agra

Languages: Hindi, Braj Bhasha

Geographical Location: Western Uttar Pradesh, encompassing regions like Agra, Mathura, and Aligarh.

11. Awadh (proposed division of Uttar Pradesh)

Capital: Lucknow

Languages: Hindi, Awadhi

Geographical Location: Central Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Kanpur, and Faizabad.

12. Purvanchal (proposed division of Uttar Pradesh)

Capital: Varanasi

Languages: Hindi, Bhojpuri

Geographical Location: Eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Ballia.

13. Rajasthan

Capital: Jaipur

Languages: Rajasthani, Hindi

Geographical Location: Northwestern India, home to the Thar Desert.

14. Gujarat

Capital: Ahmedabad

Languages: Gujarati

Geographical Location: Western India, along the Arabian Sea.

15. Saurashtra

Capital: Rajkot

Languages: Gujarati

Geographical Location: Western coastal region of Gujarat.

16. Maharashtra

Capital: Bombay (Mumbai)

Languages: Marathi

Geographical Location: Western India, home to financial and entertainment hubs.

17. Vidarbha

Capital: Nagpur

Languages: Marathi, Hindi

Geographical Location: Central India, carved out of Maharashtra.

18. Goa

Capital: Panaji

Languages: Konkani, Portuguese

Geographical Location: Western coastal India, known for its beaches and unique culture.

19. Madhya Pradesh

Capital: Bhopal

Languages: Hindi

Geographical Location: Central India, the heart of the country.

20. Chhattisgarh

Capital: Raipur

Languages: Chhattisgarhi, Hindi

Geographical Location: Central India, rich in minerals and forests.

21. Bihar

Capital: Patna

Languages: Hindi, Maithili

Geographical Location: Eastern India, along the Ganges River.

22. Jharkhand

Capital: Ranchi

Languages: Hindi, Santali

Geographical Location: Eastern India, known for its tribal population.

23. West Bengal

Capital: Calcutta (Kolkata)

Languages: Bengali

Geographical Location: Eastern India, near the Bay of Bengal.

24. Odisha

Capital: Bhubaneswar

Languages: Odia

Geographical Location: Eastern coastal India, famous for its temples.

25. Sikkim

Capital: Gangtok

Languages: Nepali, Bhutia

Geographical Location: Northeastern India, nestled in the Himalayas.

26. Assam

Capital: Dispur

Languages: Assamese, Bodo

Geographical Location: Northeastern India, rich in tea gardens.

27. Nagaland

Capital: Kohima

Languages: English, Naga languages

Geographical Location: Northeastern India, near Myanmar.

28. Manipur

Capital: Imphal

Languages: Manipuri

Geographical Location: Northeastern India, known for its diverse culture.

29. Meghalaya

Capital: Shillong

Languages: Khasi, English

Geographical Location: Northeastern India, known for its hills and rainfall.

30. Tripura

Capital: Agartala

Languages: Bengali, Kokborok

Geographical Location: Northeastern India, bordering Bangladesh.

31. Arunachal Pradesh

Capital: Itanagar

Languages: English, Indigenous languages

Geographical Location: Northeastern India, near China and Myanmar.

32. Eastern Nepal

Capital: Biratnagar

Languages: Nepali, Maithili

Geographical Location: Eastern region of Nepal, near Bihar.

33. Western Nepal

Capital: Kathmandu

Languages: Nepali

Geographical Location: Central Nepal, with a historical significance.

34. Far-Western Nepal

Capital: Dhangadhi

Languages: Nepali, Tharu

Geographical Location: Western Nepal, near Uttarakhand.

35. Tamil Nadu

Capital: Madras (Chennai)

Languages: Tamil

Geographical Location: Southern India, along the Coromandel Coast.

36. Kerala

Capital: Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)

Languages: Malayalam

Geographical Location: Southern coastal India.

37. Karnataka

Capital: Bangalore

Languages: Kannada

Geographical Location: Southwestern India, a technology hub.

38. Andhra Pradesh

Capital: Kurnool

Languages: Telugu

Geographical Location: Southeastern India, known for its agriculture.

39. Telangana

Capital: Hyderabad

Languages: Telugu

Geographical Location: Central Southern India.

40. Delhi

Capital: Delhi

Languages: Hindi, Punjabi

Geographical Location: Northern India, the national capital region.

41. Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Capital: Port Blair

Languages: Hindi, English

Geographical Location: Bay of Bengal.

42. Lakshadweep

Capital: Kavaratti

Languages: Malayalam

Geographical Location: Arabian Sea.

---

As the members of the State Reorganization Commission laid their detialed report on the table.

Justice Fazal Ali, K.M. Panikkar, and H.N. Kunzru looked visibly relieved yet apprehensive.

It had been three grueling years since the commission was formed to tackle the monumental task of redrawing India's map.

Rohan glanced at the thick file before him and then at the members of the commission.

"Gentlemen," he began, his voice steady, "you've had three years to prepare this. I trust it's comprehensive and will address the aspirations of our people?"

Justice Fazal Ali nodded. "Prime Minister, this report represents the most challenging and exhaustive work of our careers. Balancing linguistic, cultural, and administrative needs was no small feat, especially with the inclusion of Nepal and Gilgit-Baltistan."

Rohan leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on the commission. "Let me be clear. This is not just an administrative exercise. This report will define India's unity for decades, if not centuries. We cannot afford any oversight. So, let's go through it."

H.N. Kunzru cleared his throat. "Prime Minister, before we dive into the specifics, I'd like to highlight the guiding principles we adhered to. Linguistic harmony, cultural respect, economic viability, and administrative efficiency were at the forefront of our considerations. But none of this was easy."

K.M. Panikkar interjected, "In many regions, particularly in the Northeast and the newly merged territories, the challenges were immense. There were linguistic overlaps, historical rivalries, and even economic disparities to contend with. Every decision was a balancing act."

Rohan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I don't doubt that. But I need to know does this report address the concerns of the people? Does it lay the groundwork for a united India?"

Justice Fazal Ali leaned forward. "Prime Minister, I believe it does. We've proposed 42 states and Union Territories, each carefully delineated based on linguistic and cultural lines. This structure ensures representation while maintaining administrative efficiency."

Neeraj, Rohan's close aide, chimed in. "Justice Ali, I've gone through the preliminary drafts. The integration of Nepal and Gilgit-Baltistan must have been particularly complex."

Justice Ali sighed. "It was. Nepal, with its distinct cultural and linguistic diversity, required division into three states: Eastern Nepal, Western Nepal, and Far-Western Nepal. This approach respects their identities while aligning them with India's administrative framework."

"And Gilgit-Baltistan?" Rohan asked.

Kunzru answered, "We divided it into two states Gilgit and Baltistan. These regions will have their unique identities but will be integrated administratively under the broader framework of Jammu and Kashmir. Special cultural autonomy has also been recommended."

Rohan leaned forward, his voice firm. "Good. That region is geopolitically sensitive. Autonomy is fine, but integration must be complete. We cannot afford to have loose ends there."

Harish Patel, the Finance Minister, who had been quietly flipping through the report, finally spoke. "Sir, while this is thorough, the costs will be astronomical. Creating 42 states means more bureaucracies, more infrastructure, and more funds."

Rohan shot him a sharp look. "Harish, cost is always a concern, but the price of disunity is far greater. Do you want future generations to inherit a fragmented nation? This reorganization will ensure stability."

Harish raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough, but don't blame me when the treasury is stretched thin."

The room chuckled lightly, breaking some of the tension.

Neeraj turned to the commission members. "What about resistance? Some regions are bound to oppose these divisions, especially where cultural overlaps exist."

Panikkar replied, "We've anticipated that. In regions like Bihar and Jharkhand or Maharashtra and Vidarbha, there might be opposition. But the divisions are logical and have been backed by data."

Justice Ali added, "We've also prioritized economic viability. For instance, splitting Maharashtra into Maharashtra and Vidarbha ensures better governance in these regions. The same goes for Gujarat and Saurashtra."

Rohan tapped his fingers on the table. "I see the logic, but this will require careful handling. Communication will be key. We need to make the people understand why this is being done."

Kunzru nodded. "Prime Minister, that's why we've detailed the rationale for each state in the report. Transparency will be critical."

Rohan stood up and began pacing. "This report is a testament to three years of hard work, and I appreciate that. But presenting it to Parliament and the people will be a different challenge altogether. The opposition will look for faults, and the public will scrutinize every detail."

Justice Ali spoke earnestly. "Prime Minister, this report is as thorough as humanly possible. But we acknowledge that no plan is perfect. We are prepared to defend our recommendations."

Rohan stopped pacing and faced the room. "Good. Because this report will face resistance, not just from politicians but from vested interests in various regions. However, I believe in this. I've always believed in the power of unity through diversity."

Neeraj smiled. "If anyone can get this through Parliament, it's you, sir."

Rohan chuckled. "I'll hold you to that, Neeraj. Now, let's finalize this. Justice Ali, you and your team have done remarkable work. But I need your assurance are you confident in this proposal?"

Justice Ali looked directly at Rohan. "Prime Minister, we are. This report isn't just a recommendation; it's a vision for a united India."

Rohan nodded, his expression resolute. "Then let's prepare to present it to the Cabinet. This will be the foundation of a stronger, united India."

Harish, ever the pragmatist, added with a smirk, "And when this is done, can we get a year without monumental reforms? I think we've earned a break."

The room erupted in laughter.