Originally part of Bihar, Jharkhand has a rich cultural and historical background, with deep roots in tribal traditions and natural resources. Its people campaigned for a separate state that would reflect their unique heritage and meet their development needs for decades. After years of political struggle, Jharkhand finally became a state in November 2000. This marked a significant moment in India's history, as the long-standing demands for recognition were realized. In this blog, we explore the key events that led to the creation of Jharkhand and how the state's districts have evolved.
On 22 March, 1912, British India established what is likely one of the earliest modern states in India: the Bihar and Orissa Province. In 1936, the province was divided, giving rise to the separate state of Orissa (now Odisha), leaving Bihar with borders that closely resemble its present-day structure.
Following India’s Independence on 15 August, 1947, Bihar Province was officially renamed Bihar State, maintaining the same boundaries, except for the inclusion of the princely states of Kharsawan and Sereikela (previously part of Orissa Tributary States) in 1948. This integration was based on linguistic differences, as these regions were largely non-Oriya speaking.
Additionally, twelve non-salute princely states affiliated with the Bihar States Agency—Mohrampur, Darbhanga, Ramgarh, Ranka, Jagdishpur, Dumraon, Dinghwara, Tajpur, Banaili, Kahra, Bhour, and Chanour—were also integrated into Bihar. However, as these princely states were relatively small, their inclusion did not significantly alter the state's boundaries.
In 1953, Bihar and its neighboring states presented several claims before the States Reorganization Commission (SRC), seeking the bifurcation of Bihar into a separate state of Jharkhand, as well as resolving some border conflicts with West Bengal. The SRC dismissed most of the claims but accepted one—the transfer of Purulia district from Bihar to West Bengal. This decision was based on linguistic and developmental considerations, as Purulia had the largest concentration of Bengali-speaking people outside of West Bengal.
In the decades that followed, multiple political parties advocated for the creation of a separate Jharkhand state. Initially, the Jharkhand Party (formerly the Adivasi Mahasabha) spearheaded the movement. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) led the push for statehood. In the late 1980s, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also took up the cause but proposed a different name, Vananchal, derived from the 'van' (forests) and their dwellers in the region.
Meanwhile, Bihar saw district reorganization in 1972, along with some district name changes. This period marked the creation of new districts within Bihar, between 1951 and 2021, in what is now considered the modern-day boundaries of the state. The campaign for Jharkhand’s statehood culminated when the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with support from the Indian National Congress (INC) and JMM, pushed for the Bihar Reorganisation Bill, which was signed in April 2000. The bill included an amendment that officially named the new state ‘Jharkhand,’ rejecting the earlier proposal of ‘Vananchal.’ On 15 November 2000, the state of Jharkhand was born, comprising eighteen districts from the southern region of Bihar.
The demand for Jharkhand’s statehood spanned more than six decades, from the establishment of the Adivasi Mahasabha in 1938 to the realization of the state in 2000. When Jharkhand was formed, it had 18 districts. Since then, six new districts have been created, and four existing districts have undergone name changes. The original 18 districts were the result of multiple divisions in the districts of the erstwhile Bihar State. A comprehensive look at the district divisions over the years offers insight into how Jharkhand’s present-day boundaries evolved.
Finally, an overview of Jharkhand’s districts as they stand today highlights how the state has evolved since its formation. Check out maps of Jharkhand from 2001, 2011, and 2021 for a detailed look at this evolution.
Sources:
Administrative Atlas of India (2011); Origin Story of India’s States by Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan (2020); We the People of the States of Bharat by Sanjeev Chopra (2022); Bihar Government District Websites; Jharkhand Government District Websites
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