The Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960
The Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960
Background:
Before 1960, the state of Bombay was a large and linguistically diverse state in western India. It included regions where people primarily spoke Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, and Konkani. Due to linguistic and cultural differences, there was increasing demand for the creation of separate states for Marathi-speaking and Gujarati-speaking populations to better address their administrative, cultural, and linguistic needs.
Purpose of the Act:
The Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 was enacted by the Indian Parliament to reorganize the state of Bombay on linguistic lines. The main aim was to create two separate states:
Maharashtra for Marathi-speaking people.
Gujarat for Gujarati-speaking people.
Key Provisions:
Division of the State of Bombay:
The Act formally bifurcated the state of Bombay into Maharashtra and Gujarat, effective from May 1, 1960.
Creation of Maharashtra and Gujarat:
Maharashtra consisted predominantly of Marathi-speaking areas.
Gujarat consisted predominantly of Gujarati-speaking areas.
Allocation of Assets and Liabilities:
The Act provided for the division of assets, liabilities, government properties, and financial resources between the two new states.
Capital Cities:
Bombay (now Mumbai) became the capital of Maharashtra.
Gandhinagar was later developed as the capital of Gujarat (initially, Ahmedabad served as the temporary capital).
Transitional Provisions:
The Act included provisions for the transfer of government employees, administration, and other logistical arrangements necessary to ensure smooth functioning after reorganization.
Legislative and Administrative Matters:
The Act provided the framework for the establishment of separate legislative assemblies and governments in the two states.
Minority Rights:
It included provisions to protect the rights of linguistic minorities in both states.
Importance:
Marked a major milestone in India’s linguistic state reorganization process.
Helped reduce linguistic tensions and promote regional identities.
Enabled more efficient governance tailored to linguistic and cultural needs.
Aftermath:
The reorganization inspired the creation of other linguistic states in India.
The Bombay Reorganisation Act set a precedent for future state formations based on language.
The division resolved many regional conflicts but also created some disputes over resources and territories.
Summary Table: The Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Year Enacted | 1960 |
| Effective Date | May 1, 1960 |
| Purpose | To reorganize Bombay State into Maharashtra and Gujarat on linguistic lines. |
| New States Created | Maharashtra (Marathi-speaking), Gujarat (Gujarati-speaking) |
| Capital of Maharashtra | Bombay (Mumbai) |
| Capital of Gujarat | Initially Ahmedabad; later Gandhinagar |
| Asset Division | Allocation of assets, liabilities, and government properties specified. |
| Administrative Setup | Separate legislative assemblies and governments established. |
| Minority Protections | Rights of linguistic minorities protected in both states. |
| Significance | Reduced linguistic tensions, promoted regional governance efficiency. |
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