Subject: Modern History

Answer:

The reorganization of states and territories in India has been a complex evolutionary process spanning from the British colonial period to post-independence era. This continuous process of territorial restructuring has been driven by administrative efficiency, linguistic considerations, and regional aspirations, fundamentally reshaping India's political geography.

Colonial Period Reorganization (1850s-1947)

• The Bengal Presidency was reorganized in 1854 by creating a separate Lieutenant Governorship of Bengal and appointing a Governor for the Northwestern Provinces.
• Creation of the Chief Commissionership of Assam in 1874 by separating it from Bengal to improve administrative efficiency.
• The Partition of Bengal in 1905 divided the region into East and West Bengal, though later annulled in 1911 due to intense nationalist protests.
• Formation of Delhi as a separate administrative unit in 1911 when it became the capital of British India.

Post-Independence Reorganization (1947-1956)

• Integration of Princely States: Through the efforts of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, over 560 princely states were integrated into the Indian Union.
• Formation of Andhra State in 1953 as the first linguistic state, carved out from Madras Presidency following the death of Potti Sriramulu.
• The States Reorganization Commission (1953) under Justice Fazl Ali recommended reorganization of states on linguistic basis.

Modern Period Reorganization (1956 onwards)

• The States Reorganization Act, 1956 created 14 states and 6 union territories based on linguistic principles.
• Creation of Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960 from the bilingual Bombay State.
• Formation of Nagaland in 1963 as the first state in Northeast India based on tribal identity.
• Recent reorganizations include:
  • Creation of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand in 2000.
  • Formation of Telangana in 2014 by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.
  • Reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019.

The continuous process of territorial reorganization reflects India's evolving federal structure and demonstrates the nation's ability to accommodate diverse regional aspirations. The creation of new states has helped in better administration, economic development, and preservation of cultural identities while maintaining the unity and integrity of the nation through the framework of "Unity in Diversity".