Vindhya Pradesh

Vindhya Pradesh
विंध्य प्रदेश
State of India
←
1948–1956 →
1951 map of India. Vindhya Pradesh is shown in the center.
History
 - Creation of Vindhya Pradesh State 1948
 - States Reorganization Act 1956
Area 61,131.5 km2 (23,603 sq mi)
Population
 -  3,600,000 
Density 58.9 /km2  (152.5 /sq mi)
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya (1977). Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 54–5. ISBN 084269091.

Vindhya Pradesh was a former state of India. It occupied an area of 23,603 sq. miles.[1] It was created in 1948, shortly after Indian independence, from the territories of the princely states in the eastern portion of the former Central India Agency. It was named for the Vindhya Range, which runs through the center of the province. The capital of the state was Rewa. It lay between Uttar Pradesh to the north and Madhya Pradesh to the south, and the enclave of Datia, which lay a short distance to the west, was surrounded by the state of Madhya Bharat.

Vindhya Pradesh was merged into Madhya Pradesh in 1956, following the States Reorganization Act.[2]

History

Vindhya Pradesh state was formed on 12 March 1948 and the newly formed state was inaugurated on 4 April 1948. Following its formation 35 princely states were merged to form Vindhya Pradesh state:

  1. Rewa
  2. Panna
  3. Datia
  4. Orchha
  5. Ajaigarh
  6. Baoni
  7. Baraundha
  8. Bijawar
  9. Chhatarpur
  10. Charkhari
  11. Maihar
  12. Nagod
  13. Samthar
  14. Alipura
  15. Banka-Pahari
  16. Beri
  17. Bhaisunda (Chaube Jagir)
  18. Bihat
  19. Bijna
  20. Dhurwai
  21. Garrauli
  22. Gaurihar
  23. Jaso
  24. Jigni
  25. Khaniadhana
  26. Kamta Rajaula (Chaube Jagir)
  27. Kothi
  28. Lugasi
  29. Naigawan Rebai
  30. Pahra (Chaube Jagir)
  31. Paldeo (Chaube Jagir)
  32. Sarila
  33. Sohawal
  34. Taraon (Chaube Jagir)
  35. Tori-Fatehpur (Hasht-Bhaiya Jagir)

On 25 January 1950, 10 erstwhile princely states, namely, Bihat, Banka Paharee, Baoni, Beri, Bijna, Charkhari, Jigni, Samthar, Sarila and Tori-Fatehpur were transferred to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Bharat. Vindhya Pradesh, together with the states of Madhya Bharat and Bhopal State, was merged into Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 1956.

Divisions

After formation, the state was divided into two divisions, which were further divided into 8 districts.

Bundelkhand Division with its headquarters at Nowgaon comprised the following 4 districts:[1]

  1. Sagar district
  2. Damoh district
  3. Panna district
  4. Chhatarpur district
  5. Tikamgarh district
  6. Datia district

Baghelkhand Division with its headquarters at Rewa comprised the following 4 districts:[1]

  1. Rewa district
  2. Satna district
  3. Sidhi district
  4. Singrauli district

Politics

Map of Vindhya Pradesh

The nominal heads of the state were the Rajpramukh from 1948–49, the Chief Commissioner from 1949-March, 1952 and the Lieutenant Governor from March, 1952-31 October 1956. The state had a Vidhan Sabha comprising 60 members elected from 48 constituencies (36 single-member and 12 double-member).[3] There were 4 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state (2 single-member and 2 double-member).[4]

Following the formation of the state in 1948, Martand Singh, the last ruler of the princely state of Rewa became the Rajpramukh and Yadvendra Singh, the last ruler of the princely state of Panna became the Uparajpramukh. Initially Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the Chief Minister of the Baghelkhand Division and Kamta Prasad Saxena became the Chief Minister of the Bundelkhand Division but soon Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the Chief Minister of the whole state. After he resigned on 14 April 1949, N.B. Bonerji, then Chief Commissioner took over on 15 April 1949. He was succeeded by S. N. Mehta. In the first general election in 1951, the Indian National Congress won 40 seats and the Socialist Party won 11 seats.[3] S.N.Shukla of Indian National Congress became the Chief Minister of the state on 13 March 1952, Shivanand became the Speaker and Ram Kishore Shukla of Socialist Party the leader of the oppsition of the house. The house dissolved on 31 October 1956.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bhattacharyya, P. K. (1977). Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 54–5. ISBN 0 8426 909 13.
  2. ↑ "States Reorganisation Act, 1956". India Code Updated Acts. Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. 31 August 1956. pp. section 9. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Statistical Report on General Election, 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of Vindhya Pradesh". Election Commission of India website.
  4. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Elections, 1951 to the First Lok Sabha". Election Commission of India website.

Coordinates: 24°32′N 81°18′E / 24.53°N 81.3°E