Coorg State

Coorg State
(previously Coorg Province)
State of India
←
1950–1956 →
Map of Southern India before the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 with Coorg State in dark green
Capital Mercara (Madikeri)
Chief Minister
 - 6 years C. M. Poonacha
History
 - Coorg State formed from Coorg Province 26 January 1950
 - Merged into Mysore State 1 November 1956
States of India since 1947

Coorg State was a Part-C state in the Union of India which existed from 1950 to 1956.[1]When the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, most of the existing provinces were reconstituted into states. Thus, Coorg Province became Coorg State. Coorg State was ruled by a Chief Commissioner with Mercara as its capital. The head of the government was the Chief Minister. Coorg State was abolished on 1 November 1956 as per the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 and its territory merged with Mysore State (later renamed as Karnataka). Presently, Coorg forms a district of Karnataka state.

History

Kingdom of Kodagu

Kodagu (Coorg) was earlier a small independent kingdom which existed from circa 1600 until 1834. It which was annexed by the British East India Company after the Coorg War and the last Raja of Coorg (Chikka Vira Rajendra) was deposed.[2][3]

British Raj

See also: Coorg War

Coorg as such became a separate province of British India in 1834. In 1857 British India was passed by the Company to the Government of Britain.

Indian Union

Upon the Independence of India (on 15th August 1947) Coorg became a province of the Indian Union. In 1950 when the constituent assembly was dissolved and the constitution was passed and India was declared a Republic, Coorg became a federal State in the Indian Union. The Coorg State was formed out of the territory of former Coorg Province. It was a Class "C" State (all states came under three categories: A, B and C), named Coorg State, on 26 January 1950 within the Republic of India. Class "C" States were under the direct rule of the Central Government.[1]

Members of the Coorg Legislative Assembly

(Source: Election Commission of India - State Election, 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of Coorg)

The main concerned parties were INC (Indian National Congress) and IND (Independent). Most of the Independent candidates were supporters of freedom fighter P (Pandyanda). I. Belliappa who were also members of the informal Takdi (Separatist) Party, called so because of the use of the scales of justice (called 'Takdi' in Kodava and Kannada) as their symbol. They were formerly members of the INC. Among the successful candidates were a few representatives of the SC/ ST community as well.

CONSTITUENCY - WINNER (PARTY)

1. SANIVARASANTHE I- P. K. CHENNAYYA (INC)

2. SANIVARASANTHE II - K. MALLAPPA (INC)

3. SOMWARPET NORTH - C. K. KALAPPA (INC)

4. SOMWAR PET SOUTH - H. T. MUTHANNA (IND)

5. FRASERPET - G. LINGARAJAYYA (INC)

6. SUNTICOPPA I - G. M. MANJUNATHAYYA (INC)

7. SUNTICOPPA II - P. LAKHA (INC)

6. MERCARA TOWN - B. S. KUSHALAPPA (INC)

7. MURNAD - C. A. MANDANA (INC)

8. MERCARA NAD - P. D. SUBBIAH (INC)

9. SRIMANGALA NAD I - K. P. KARUMBAYYA (IND)

10. SRIMANGALA NAD II - G. SUBBIAH (IND)

11. HUDIKERI - K. K. GANAPATHY (IND)

12. BETTIATH NAD - C. M. POONACHA (INC)

13. PONNAMPET NAD I - YERAVARA BELLI (INC)

14. PONNAMPET NAD II - P. NANAMAYA (INC)

15. VIRAJPET TOWN - N. G. AHAMAD (IND)

16. VIRAJPET NAD - P. C. UTHAYYA (IND)

17. VIRAJPET NAD - HARIJAN NANJA (IND)

18. AMMATHI NAD - P. I. BELLIAPPA (IND)

19. SIDDAPUR I - BETTAKURABARA KALA (INC)

20. SIDDAPUR II - MURUVANDAMACHAIAH (INC)

21. NAPOKLU NAD - A. C. THIMMAIAH (IND)

22. BHAGAMANDALA NAD - KONANA DEVIAH (INC)[4][5][6]

Commissioners of Coorg State

(1) Dewan Bahadur Ketolira Chengappa, became its first Chief Commissioner from 1947–1949

(2) C.T. Mudaliar became Chief Commissioner from 1949 - 1950[1]

(3) Kanwar Daya Singh Bedi, Chief Commissioner from 1950 - 1956[1]

Chief Minister

Cheppudira Muthana Poonacha was the first and last Chief Minister of Coorg State from 1950 till 1956.[1]

Dissolution

As a result of the States Reorganisation Act of 1 November 1956, when India's state boundaries were reorganized, Coorg State became a district of the then Mysore State[1][7][8] Mysore State was later renamed as Karnataka and part of the historical region of Coorg now forms the Kodagu district of Karnataka.[9][10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Coorg State : Chief Commissioners
  2. ↑ Phythian-Adams, Lt Col EG. (1943). Madras Infantry 1748-1943. Madras: The Government Press. p. 64-5.
  3. ↑ Ahmad, Maj RN, and Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin. (2006). Unfaded Glory: The 8th Punjab Regiment 1798-1956. Abbottabad: The Baloch Regimental Centre. pp. 47-8.
  4. ↑ Bopanna, P. T. The Rise and Fall of the Coorg State, 2009.
  5. ↑ Kushalappa, M. Long Ago in Coorg, 2013.
  6. ↑ Muthanna, I. M. Coorg Memoirs, 1971.
  7. ↑ Development of Mysore state, 1940-56 by M. B. Gayathri
  8. ↑ Karnataka government and politics By Harish Ramaswamy, S. S. Patagundi, Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda Patil
  9. ↑ Kushalappa, M (2013). Long Ago in Coorg.
  10. ↑ Bopanna, P T. Rise and Fall of the Coorg State.
  11. ↑ Muthanna, I M. Coorg Memoirs (The story of the Kodavas).

External links

Coordinates: 12°25′15″N 75°44′23″E / 12.4208°N 75.7397°E