Madhya Pradesh, often called the Heart of India, is located in the central region of India. It serves as a bridge between the northern and southern parts of the country.
Madhya Pradesh is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. From ancient temples in Khajuraho to the majestic forts of Gwalior, the state is home to many historical treasures. It has also played a significant role in India's freedom struggle, with leaders like Rani Durgavati and Chhatrasal leaving their mark on history. Its natural beauty is remarkable, with the Satpura and Vindhya ranges, dense forests, and wildlife sanctuaries like Kanha and Bandhavgarh, which are famous for their tigers. The state is also known for its diverse population and languages, showcasing a blend of cultures and traditions.
Apart from Madhya Pradesh, Central India also comprised the states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal. Each of these states was progressively integrated into the Indian Union. By 26 January 1950, the Central Provinces, Berar, and Chattisgarh were merged and renamed as Madhya Pradesh with Nagpur as their capital.
Creation of Madhya Bharat
Indore and Gwalior both being viable states were concerned about the loss of their identity as a consequence of integration within the union of India.
To manage the same, a union of both the states was proposed and named as the ‘United State of Gwalior, Indore and Malwa (Madhya Bharat)’ in order to retain the identities of the two states.
Creation of Vindhya Pradesh
Bhagelkhand (including Rewa) came to be merged with Bundelkhand startes to create a 35-state large union named as Vindhya Pradesh in 1948.
Due to long drawn feud between Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand the regional commissioner took over the state’s administration a year after its creation.
To provide political stability to Vindhya Pradesh, the leaders decided to split districts between the Central and the United Provinces.
Vindhya Pradesh had to be declared as a centrally administered area in 1950.
Integration of Bhopal State
The proposed merger with Madhya Bharat could not be executed in time, so on 1 June 1949, Bhopal State was taken over by the Government of India as a centrally administered area.
In 1950, it was declared a Part C state, governed by a chief commissioner appointed by the President of India, with a commitment that it would remain so for a period of five years
The creation of present-day Madhya Pradesh began with the separation of Vidarbha, in line with the State Reorganisation Committee’s proposal to separate the Marathi-speaking districts. Post-separation of Vidarbha, Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal State came to be merged into Madhya Pradesh, creating a union of Hindi-speaking states in Central India. Bhopal was made the new capital of the state.
Chhattisgarh’s statehood remained a contentious concern for a long time. Finally, in 2000, the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act was passed and the Chhattisgarh state was created with its capital at Raipur.
Fun fact: When Vidarbha split from Madhya Pradesh, the SRC recommended centrally-located Jabalpur as the capital of Madhya Pradesh. During the implementation, however, Bhopal came to be the capital of Madhya Pradesh.
Sources:
White Paper on Indian States (1950);
The Story of Integration of India - V P Menon (1956);
Administrative Atlas of India (2011).
Origin Story of India’s States -Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan (2020).
コメント