History is repeating itself. We
are stumbling towards cre-
ating another States Reor-
ganisation Commission
(SRC) after the one in 1955.
H
That one was formed after the death of
a Telugu speaker, Potti Sriramalu, who
fasted for the creation of Andhra Pradesh
like Chandrasekhar Rao who went on
a fast unto death demanding the for-
mation of Telangana state out of Andhra
Pradesh. Inevitably, the present denials
notwithstanding, we will get a new SRC
and, hopefully, it will have a better set of
criteria than mere common local lan-
guage to break existing large states into
smaller ones.
That first Commission wanted Bom-
bay to be a separate state. It thought that
Bombay was a very cosmopolitan city
and a major commercial centre. It de-
served separate treatment. The Samyuk-
ta Maharashtra Samiti agitated and won
Bombay for Maharashtra.
In retrospect, Bombay in Maharash-
tra has made little difference to the wel-
fare of the rest of the state. The Economic
ILLUSTRATION BY BINAY SINHA
survey shows poverty at 30.7 per cent of
There must be common bonds over the
law and order. The police are horribly
Bombay in 1955 was very marginal-
the population in Maharashtra versus
state. These could be many. The state
politicised and parochial. Other cities
ly a majority Marathi-speaking city. Be-
27.5 per cent all-India. According to
could be a common hinterland to its ma-
have attracted more bright people from
ing an island, it was not surrounded by
the Tendulkar committees calculations,
jor cities. It could have common water
around the country.
Marathi-speaking districts. Bombay is now
Maharashtra is home to the largest num-
linkages that do not cross into other states.
Mumbai on pain of violent repercussions,
ber of urban poor in the country. While
It must have adequate present or po-
the legislature erupts into violence if a lan-
it is ranked second or third in the human
n 1955, the SRC was also worried
tential tax revenues so that it is not for
guage other than Marathi is used, and
development index, it has the maximum
I
about Bangalore. Bangalore was not
long dependent on central handouts. Ide-
nasty comments are made about speak-
number of urban poor. Without Bombay,
a majority Kannada-speaking city but
ally, its state domestic product must be
ers of other languages first it was about
Maharashtra is an underdeveloped state.
it was surrounded by Kannada-speak-
similar in composition to all-India. Prin-
Malayalam and Kannada
Most of its poor are outside Bombay.
ing districts. Bangalore
ciples for reorganisation need careful
speakers and now about
Has Bombay benefited by being part
was not given to Andhra
thought before being applied.
Hindi speakers from North
of Maharashtra? No objective assess-
by the SRC but became
Without Mumbai,
As states become more equal in size,
Indian states. Bombay has
ment can find benefit to Bombay; indeed,
the capital of Karnata-
Maharashtra is an
we can expect major changes in the way
lost its Indian nature.
being in Maharashtra has been a dis-
ka. It is today what Bom-
our political system works. The domi-
Punjab and Haryana
advantage. It attracts much less invest-
bay was in 1955, a cos-
under-developed
nance of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will
were also given a solution
ment than it did. Other cities have out-
mopolitan city with the
state, home to the
weaken. Smaller states have performed
that prevented the parochial-
stripped it. Language politics is deeply
best brains from all over
better for their people than have large
ism that has developed in
embedded in the city as Marathi speak-
India flocking to Banga-
largest number of
ones. They have also fomented large-
Bombay. Chandigarh as a
ers envy that it is the prosperous home
lore to study and work
urban poor in the
scale corruption, but perhaps not more
common capital for both
to many non-Marathi speakers. Demands
in its knowledge-based
than their larger counterparts. Jharkhand
states has worked well and
for job reservation for the Marathi
companies, research and
country
is probably no worse than Andhra. Po-
the city has prospered.
manoos, the dominance of politicians
educational institutions.
litical parties may find it more difficult
A bigger question than
from outside Bombay who see Bom-
Unlike Bombay, which be-
to gang up on the basis of community
the fate of Hyderabad (which hopeful-
bay as a cash cow for funding the rest of
came a Maharashtrian city, Bangalore
and religion. Today, regional parties
ly will become a Union Territory and cap-
the state, and more often to make their
did not change its status as a city which
are in states TDP in Andhra, DMK
ital of Telangana) is about the future of
personal fortunes, the lack of investment
even today does not have a Kannada-
in Tamil Nadu, etc. They may repre-
the present disparate sized Indian states.
to improve the citys infrastructure, its
speaking majority. There is no agitation
sent groups of smaller states. Central con-
Reorganisation is overdue. It must be
corrupt administration, have all com-
for only Kannadigas getting jobs in Ban-
trol would be stronger. The time has come
based on some rational principles. It must
bined to erode its advantage as the pre-
galore. People from other states are not
for a rational and well thought out re-
have a minimum and maximum popu-
eminent commercial centre of India. Its
made to feel unwelcome and fear for
organisation of states.
lation and administrative units (districts).
infrastructure has deteriorated as has
their lives.
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