Tripura
- indiastatestories
- Jan 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 25
Prior to Independence, Tripura was a thirteen gun-salute state under the Governor of Bengal. The state enjoyed a great degree of autonomy, but its geopolitical situation was complicated by its proximity to what would soon become East Pakistan. Following the partition of India, large parts of Tripura's territory were ceded to East Pakistan, effectively isolating Tripura from Assam due to the lack of rail and road connections.
The Maharaja Bir Bikram of Tripura faced a critical decision regarding the state's future. While he preferred to join Hindu-majority India, Chakla Roshanabad, a neighboring zamindari under Tripura’s administration, had a Muslim majority. Under the partition, Chakla Roshanabad was slated to be part of East Pakistan. The situation was further complicated by the fact that virtually every road in Tripura passed through Chakla Roshanabad, and the revenue from this area was crucial for the Maharaja’s administration. If a border were to be drawn between the hills and the plains, the economy of Tripura would have been devastated, as its entire administrative structure relied on the income from these regions.
However, Maharaja Bir Bikram passed away just months before Independence without making a final decision. His son, Prince Kirit, a minor, was instated as a nominal ruler, while his widow, Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi, became the Regent, taking charge of the administration and decision-making processes through the unprecedented circumstances.
At the same time, Tripura was also fraught with internal political struggles. The Tripura Rajya Gana Mukti Parishad (TRGMP) began to push for a more democratic system in place of the existing monarchy, while the Sengkrak organization initiated a movement opposing the merging of Tripura with India. Sengkrak also advocated for the removal of Bengalis from the state, reflecting tensions related to the demographic changes and the inflow of Bengali refugees post-partition.
In 1949, after much political turmoil and negotiation, Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi signed the Merger Agreement, formally merging Tripura into India. As a part of the agreement, the hilly, Hindu-majority region of Tripura transitioned into a Central Commissioner's province, coming under direct administration by the Union government. This move was essential for integrating Tripura more closely with the Indian Union and ensuring the state’s security and stability, particularly in the context of the refugee influx and the loss of territory to East Pakistan.
The Merger Agreement marked a significant moment in Tripura’s history, establishing it as an integral part of the Indian Union and setting the stage for its political and administrative evolution under the central administration. The integration, however, also left lasting scars and tensions within the state's political and social landscape, as the tussle between monarchy, democracy, and regional autonomy continued to shape the state’s future.
On January 26, 1950, Tripura came to be classified as a Part C state under India’s Constitution, continuing its existing status as a state directly controlled via central administration. This classification reflected its unique administrative status during the early post-independence period.
When the State Reorganization Commission (SRC) was formed, it initially proposed integrating Tripura into Assam. However, when the SRC report came out in 1956, Tripura's separate status was retained and it was designated as a union territory.
Parliament's response to demands for autonomy came in 1956 in the form of the Territorial Councils Act, which empowered local governance in Tripura. Territorial councils were established to oversee various aspects of local administration. To address further demands for greater autonomy, a committee was formed in 1961, led by Union Law Minister Ashoke Kumar Sen. This marked a significant step toward addressing Tripura's aspirations for self-governance as the committee recommended introduction of panchayati raj as well as the transfer of more subjects to the territorial councils.
Due to the influx of Bengalis in the Tripura region from pre-independence, the tribal population had become a minority by 1951. In 1967, the Tripura Upjati Juba Samiti (TUJS) was established by educated tribal youth, demanding the use of Kokborok in the Roman script for education and state affairs.
Reorganization of North-East India
The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act of December 30, 1971, reshaped Tripura's destiny. Alongside Meghalaya and Manipur, Tripura was granted statehood, paving the way for a new era in its governance and development.
January 21, 1972, marked a historic milestone as Tripura emerged as a full-fledged state. This transition signified a significant moment in Tripura's journey from a princely state to an integral part of India's federal structure.
Post statehood, more Bengali refugees took shelter in Tripura, causing concerns among tribal minority. In response, the Tripura Assembly passed the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Bill in 1979, which was added to the Sixth Schedule in 1984. This significant move, allocated over 68% of Tripura's land to the council, which now operates from Khumulwng, near Agartala.
Initially, the state of Tripura comprised of the three districts of - North Tripura, South Tripura and West Tripura. Subsequently, each of these districts came to be split creating the new districts of Dhalai, Gowati, Khowai, Sipahijala and Unakoti.
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