Maharashtra Board Class 8 History Chapter 14 Formation of State of Maharashtra PDF Download

Formation Of Maharashtra State

Maharashtra and Vidarbha were included along with Marathwada. In 1956, as per the amendment of the Constitution, Article 371 (2) was included in it. According to the Nagpur Pact, assurance was given regarding equitable financial provision for developmental work, ample finance for technical and vocational education, provision of state government services in particular regions in accordance with the population and Assembly Session once in a year should be held in Nagpur etc.

The struggle of Marathi speaking people for formation of Maharashtra with Mumbai had begun. A huge meeting was held on Kamgar Maidan in Mumbai. At that time Shankarrao Dev said, 'We will oppose the separation of Mumbai from Maharashtra upto our last breath'. The emotions and demands of the people took the form of public agitation. Women also spontaneously started participating in it. Sumatibai Gore, Ismat Chugtai, Durga Bhagwat, Tara Reddi, Charusheela Gupte, Kamalatai More, Sultana Johari and many such women took part in the agitation.

On 7 November 1955, there was meeting of labours. Various Labour Organisations, Communists, Praja Socialists, Socialists, Peasants and workers Party, Janasangh etc. all these political parties participated in it. Comrade Shripad Amrut Dange presided over it. Here S.M.Joshi proposed a Resolution that Samyukta Maharashtra, with Mumbai and Vidarbha, should be created.

Beginning Of Actual Conflict

Discontent among the Marathi speaking people was growing. A grand march led by Senapati Bapat was taken to Vidhan Sabha. Morarji Desai was the Chief Minister at that time. The government declared a ban. The police started lathi charge and used tear gas. On that evening an open meeting was conducted on Kamgar Maidan with a mob of around 50 thousand. Comrade Dange guided the people. To accelerate the struggle for the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, on 21 November 1955 decision of one day token strike was taken.

Teacher's Note

The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement was a big struggle by Marathi people. Just like today people protest for better schools and roads in their area, people then protested to keep their state together.

Exam Trick

Remember: 1956 is when Constitution changed for Maharashtra. 1960 is when Maharashtra was finally formed. The number 1960 comes later, so Maharashtra formation came later.

Points to Remember

Marathi people wanted one united Maharashtra state with Mumbai.

Many leaders and women joined this movement together.

On 7 November 1955, a big labour meeting was held to support Samyukta Maharashtra.

The police used lathi charge and tear gas to stop the protesters.

Establishment Of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti

The issue of the demand of the Marathi speaking people started becoming complicated. Discontent spread throughout the state. On 6 February 1956, a meeting was conducted under the Chairmanship of Keshavrao Jedhe at Tilak Smarak Mandir in Pune. The Samiti declared its Executive Council. Comrade Shripad Amrut Dange as the President. Dr.T.R.Naravane as Vice President and S.M.Joshi as General Secretary were selected. G.T.Madkholkar, Acharya P.K.Atre, Madhu Dandavate, Prabodhankar Keshav Thackeray, Y.K. Souni played important role in establishing the Samiti. At the same time Senapati Bapat, Krantisinh Nana Patil, Lalji Pendse, Ahilyabai Rangnekar contributed immensely to the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. They spread the movement to rural parts of Maharashtra.

When it was clear that Mumbai will not be included in Maharashtra, at that time there arouse a huge public agitation. In this movement 106 people became martyrs in the firing opened by the State Government. In memory of the 106 sons of Maharashtra who became martyr for formation of Samyukta Maharashtra, the 'Hutatma Smarak' was erected in Mumbai near Flora Fountain.

On 1 November 1956, Bilingual Mumbai State came into existence. Later in 1957, Loksabha, Vidhan Sabha and Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections were held. Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti got grand success. These results made it clear that the voters were against bilingual state and in favour of Samyukta Maharashtra.

Teacher's Note

The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was like a group of leaders who worked together. Just like your school has a principal and teachers working together, this group had a president and general secretary.

Exam Trick

Remember: Samiti = team of leaders. Samyukta = united. So Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti = United Maharashtra team of leaders.

Points to Remember

Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was formed on 6 February 1956 in Pune.

Shripad Amrut Dange was the President of this Samiti.

106 people became martyrs fighting for this movement.

Hutatma Smarak was built to remember these martyrs in Mumbai.

Contribution Of Marathi Newspapers And Shahirs

In this movement the role of newspapers was important. Prabodhan, Kesari, Sakal, Navakal, Navyug, Prabhat many such newspapers worked for awakening of the people. Acharya Atre started the 'Maratha' newspaper which played an important role in Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. Balasaheb Thackeray took up the pen name 'Mavla' and drew caricatures to make the movement comprehensive.

Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe, Shahir Amar Sheikh and Shahir D.N.Gavankar through their writings aroused public awakening on a large scale.

The unveiling of statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj mounted on horse on Pratapgad was to be done at the hands of Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 30 November 1957. At that time Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti decided to make huge demonstration under the leadership of Bhai Madhavrao Bagal. Leaders like S.M.Joshi, N.G.Gore, Jayantrao Tilak, P.K.Atre, Uddhavrao Patil were present. Severe demonstrations were made at Pasarni Ghat and Poladpur. The Samiti succeeded in making Pandit Nehru aware of the conditions as well as of the sentiments of the Marathi speaking people.

The Central Government favoured the making of Maharashtra due to the agitation led by Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti. At this instance, Indira Gandhi, President of Congress supported the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. The Central Government consented the two linguistic states- Maharashtra and Gujarat. In April 1960, the Parliament passed the Mumbai Reorganisation Act. According to this Act, Maharashtra State was formed on 1 May 1960.

At the dawn of 1 May 1960, in the special ceremony at Raj Bhavan, on occasion of Labour Day, Pandit Nehru officially announced the formation of Maharashtra State. Yashwantrao Chavan accepted the responsibility as first Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Teacher's Note

Newspapers and shahirs (singers) helped tell people about the movement. Just like today's TV and YouTube help spread news, newspapers and songs helped spread the message then.

Exam Trick

Remember: Shahirs = singers who wrote songs about the movement. Newspapers = printed papers that told the story. Both helped make people understand why Maharashtra needed to be united.

Points to Remember

Newspapers like Kesari and Sakal helped spread the movement message.

Acharya Atre started the Maratha newspaper for the movement.

Shahirs wrote songs and poems to awaken public interest in the movement.

On 1 May 1960, Maharashtra State was officially formed by Pandit Nehru.

Yashwantrao Chavan became the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

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