Welcome to the land of Maharashtra, a realm steeped in history and valor, where the legacies of great leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Jyotirao Phule continue to inspire generations. This vibrant state, often celebrated as the cradle of Maratha pride, has been shaped by the struggles and triumphs of its visionaries.
From the rugged hills of the Western Ghats that sheltered Shivaji's forts to the progressive ideals championed by Ambedkar and Phule, Maharashtra has been a beacon of resistance and reform. Shivaji Maharaj, known for his indomitable spirit and strategic prowess, laid the foundation of a sovereign Maratha empire that celebrated equality and justice. Similarly, Shahu Maharaj's commitment to social justice and education paved the way for upliftment in a caste-ridden society. Join us as we uncover the significant milestones in Maharashtra's evolution—a journey marked by cultural pride, unity, and the relentless pursuit of justice for all.
Bombay Province was one of India's three major administrative regions during colonial times, geographically spanning from the south where it bordered the Mysore State to the north-west, including the Portuguese colony of Goa. Following India’s independence, the boundaries of Bombay Province were redrawn, and it merged with Baroda State in 1950, resulting in the formation of Bombay State. Bombay City (now Mumbai) was designated as the capital of this newly formed state, becoming a key center of commerce and culture in post-independence India.
The movement to unify Marathi-speaking communities into a single administrative unit dates back to 1918. While Bombay State was largely coastal, Marathi-speaking populations extended deep into the hinterland. This movement gained momentum with the formation of the Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad in 1946. The contention for a unified Maharashtra involved four major regions:
Bombay State: A broad administrative region that included significant Marathi-speaking areas.
Greater Bombay City: A major urban center with a large Marathi-speaking population.
Vidarbha: The southwestern districts of the Central Provinces and Berar, which later became part of Madhya Pradesh after 1950.
Marathwada: The northwestern districts of Hyderabad State, later incorporated into Maharashtra.
The Nagpur Pact (1953) proposed integrating the three regions of Vidarbha, Bombay State, and Marathwada to form a unified Marathi-speaking state, aiming to better represent the interests of the Marathi-speaking population.
There was a tug-of-war between Marathis and Gujaratis over the future of Greater Bombay. Acknowledging Bombay’s special position, the State Reorganization Committee (SRC) recommended the creation of a large bilingual Bombay State, extending from Kutch and Saurashtra to Marathwada with Bombay City as its capital. The new bilingual Bombay State was formed on November 1, 1956. However, the recommendation to separate Vidarbha was not followed. Instead, Vidarbha was merged into the bilingual Bombay State, becoming its eastern part. Marathwada was also included, forming the southeastern section of the state. Meanwhile, the four southern districts of Bombay State, predominantly Kannada-speaking, were transferred to Mysore State, effectively limiting Bombay State's boundary at the Goa border. There were some districts excluded from Bombay (went to Karnataka), few talukas of Belgaum and Bidar (now Karnataka) were integrated into Bilingual Bombay.
Unified Maharashtra for Marathi Speakers
The creation of the bilingual Bombay State in 1950 failed to satisfy the linguistic aspirations of both Marathi and Gujarati speakers. This led to widespread protests and demands for unilingual states, championed by movements like the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti (for Marathi speakers) and the Mahagujarat Andolan (for Gujarati speakers).
Following the 1957 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Y.B. Chavan urged the Union government to consider dividing Bombay State into two separate entities to address these linguistic demands. As a result, on 1 May 1960, the bilingual Bombay State was officially split into two unilingual states: Maharashtra and Gujarat. Yashwantrao B. Chavan became the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra, marking the beginning of the state's new chapter as a distinct political and cultural entity.
1961-
Ever since its formation, several districts have been renamed and split (bifurcated). Here is a snapshot of the changes, the state has seen from 1961-2011. Maharashtra districts
Various districts have also been split over the years, supposedly for administrative reasons. Here is a snapshot of the splits.
Here is a map of all new districts and their creation date. The second chart gives a summary of changes from 1951 to 2021.
Sources:
Administrative Atlas of India (2011),
Report Of The States Reorganisation Commission-1955;
The States Reorganisation Act, 1956; Origin Story of India’s States -Venkata Raghavan
Subha Srinivasan (2021). Mapping Place Names of India (2019)-Anu Kapur
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