History Quiz: Consolidation of India after Independence | 31 May, 2021

On 18 January 1968, the Official Language Resolution was passed by both Houses of Parliament.

• This Resolution was passed to build a comprehensive program to increase the use of Hindu language for official purposes by the Union of India.
• The resolution also says that an annual measure of progress achieved in this regard will be tabled on both Houses of Parliament, and the same shall be sent to all the State governments as well.
• As per the resolution, measures should be taken to advance the 14 major languages mentioned in the eighth schedule of the constitution (at present there are 22 languages in this schedule).
• The resolution advocates the implementation of the three-language formula in the country.

• As per this arrangement, full measures should be taken for the study of Hindi, English and any other modern Indian language (preferably from the southern states) in the Hindi-speaking regions, and for the study of Hindi, English and the regional language in the non-Hindi speaking states.
• As per the resolution, the knowledge of either Hindi or English shall be compulsory for the selection of candidates to the various posts in the central government; except in cases where a high standard of either of the languages or both were required in certain services.
• The resolution also states that all languages in the eighth schedule shall be allowed as an alternate media for all India central services examinations.

Source: Spectrum Modern India & The Hindu

The Congress in its 1920’s session in Nagpur had made efforts to recognize regional linguistic identities and divided India into 21 linguistic units for its organizational set up.

Many provincial Congress committees were set up on the basis of linguistic zones, which often did not coincide with the administrative divisions of British India.

Source: Spectrum Modern India.

Due to continuous demands, the Constituent Assembly, in June 1948, appointed the Linguistic Provinces Commission, and headed by Justice S.K. Dhar, to enquire into the need of linguistic provinces.

• The Dhar Commission, however, opposed such a move in the interest of national integration.
• Consequently, the Constituent Assembly decided not to include the linguistic principle in the constitution.

Source: Spectrum Modern India.

The first demand for a linguistic province was seen in the Telugu-speaking region of Andhra.

• In August 1951, Swami Sitaram, a Congressman and Gandhian leader started a fast unto death.
• While he broke his fast after thirty-five days, the movement was renewed in December 1952, by another Gandhian follower, Potti Sriramulu who died after fasting for fifty-six days.

Source: Spectrum Modern India.

The creation of Andhra encouraged other linguistic groups to intensify their movements for their own state or for rectification of their boundaries on a linguistic ground.

• Under popular pressure, Nehru government appointed the States Reorganization Commission (SRC) in August 1953.
• The commission, comprising Justice Fazl Ali, K.M. Panikkar and Hridaynath Kunzru as members, submitted its report in October 1955;
• Its recommendations were accepted with some modifications and implemented quickly.

Source: Spectrum Modern India.

In November 1956, the States Reorganization Act was passed which provided for fourteen states and six centrally administered territories, but many of these states still contained sizeable linguistic minorities and regional economic disparities.

Source: Spectrum Modern India.

In an exception to the linguistic principle, in 1956, the states of PEPSU were merged with Punjab.

Punjab remained a trilingual state having three language speakers—Punjabi, Hindi and Pahari.

Source: Spectrum Modern India.

Perhaps the first-time people exercised their right of choice for a party other than the Congress was when they voted the Communists into power in Kerala in 1957.

Source: Spectrum Modern India.

In September 1952, the CSP merged with the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP) to form a new party—Praja Socialist Party (PSP).

Source: Spectrum Modern India.

Founded in August 1959, the Swatantra Party was a non-socialist, constitutionalist and secular conservative party having distinguished leaders like C. Rajagopalachari (who resigned from the Congress), Minoo Masani, N.G. Ranga and K.M. Munshi, most of them being veteran Congress leaders.

Source: Spectrum Modern India.