Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has its origins in four distinct regions, each with its unique history and identity. Following India's independence in 1947, Himachal Pradesh was divided into the East Punjab hill states, two segments of the East Punjab States, and the princely state of Bilaspur. The process of unifying these diverse regions into a single state was complex.

In March 1948, the East Punjab Hill States signed agreements to join India, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the region. However, this transition encountered significant challenges. Despite the merger, Himachal Pradesh remained fragmented into non-contiguous territories. The demand for unification, particularly through the Punjabi Suba movement, resonated throughout the hills, yet the States Ministry showed reluctance to act.

Bilaspur later joined the union but was not immediately integrated into Himachal Pradesh. Instead, it remained a separate centrally administered province, primarily focused on the important Bhakra Nangal Dam project. Ultimately, Himachal Pradesh achieved statehood on January 25, 1971, completing a long and intricate journey of transformation and unity.

When India gained independence in 1947, the present state of Himachal Pradesh existed in 4 parts: (i) 28 East Punjab hill states (present-day Himachal Pradesh), (ii) 2 contiguous parts of East Punjab States, and (iii) Bilaspur. Bilaspur was separate as it was under the control of the Punjab States Agency at the time of independence, despite being a princely state earlier.

In March 1948, the East Punjab Hill States signed agreements to cede authority, jurisdiction, and governance to India, resulting in the creation of Himachal Pradesh. However, Himachal Pradesh continued to exist as two non-contiguous territories, separated by East Punjab. Himachal Pradesh was designated as a chief commissioner's province. It was kept separate despite the demand for Punjabi Suba, as an immediate merger of the princely states with the province seemed impractical and mistimed to the States Ministry. They preferred not to mix the residents of the hills and plains into a common administrative system.

On 12 October 1948, the Raja of Bilaspur, Anand Chand, was appointed as chief commissioner of Bilaspur. As per the Merger Agreement, the Raja was ensured a privy purse of 70,000 rupees, a sum greater than what the other East Punjab Hill States received.

In 1950, when the Constitution of India came into force, Himachal Pradesh was redesignated as a Part C state, continuing to be centrally administered with no territorial changes. On 28 May 1954, the Union government passed the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur Act to merge the two centrally administered and contiguous Part C states, since this merger did not impact the Union government’s authority over the Bhakra-Nangal Project.

Meanwhile, the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) was constituted in 1953, and demands for Punjabi Suba resurfaced. The SRC dismissed these demands, but there was no consensus on Himachal Pradesh. On 1 November 1956, all Part C states, including Himachal Pradesh, were redesignated as union territories. The position of chief minister was abolished, and a lieutenant governor was put in charge. Parliament also enacted the Territorial Councils Act, replacing the legislative assembly in Himachal Pradesh with a territorial council.

The first step toward Himachal's statehood was the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, which established legislative assemblies and councils of ministers in five union territories—Manipur, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and Pondicherry—abolishing the territorial councils.

As a reward for Punjab’s participation in the 1965 India-Pakistan war, the government passed the Punjab Reorganisation Act in 1966, creating the states of Punjab and Haryana, along with the now contiguous UT of Himachal Pradesh and the UT of Chandigarh. This move approximately doubled Himachal's area and population. In 1966, while the Punjab Reorganisation Bill was being debated in Parliament, the matter of Himachal’s statehood was raised. In July 1967, the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly adopted a unanimous resolution calling for statehood as ‘a just demand of the Himachalis.

Finally, on 25 December 1970, Parliament passed the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, granting statehood. On 25 January 1971, Himachal Pradesh’s status was changed from union territory to state, with the position of lieutenant governor replaced by that of Governor.

Sources

• Administrative Atlas of India (2011)

• Origin Story of India’s States (2020) Venkata Raghavns;

• We the People of the States of Bharat (2022) @ChopraSanjeev.