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Vindhya Pradesh

Coordinates: 24°32′N 81°18′E / 24.53°N 81.3°E / 24.53; 81.3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Union of Baghelkhand and
Bundelkhand States
(1948–1950)
Vindhya Pradesh
(1950–1956)
State of India
1948–1956
Coat of arms of Vindhya Pradesh
Coat of arms

1951 map of India. Vindhya Pradesh is shown in the centre.
CapitalRewa
Area 
• 
61,131.5 km2 (23,603.0 sq mi)
Population 
• 
3,600,000
History 
• Creation of Vindhya Pradesh State
1948
1956
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Central India Agency
Madhya Pradesh
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya (1977). Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 54–5.

Vindhya Pradesh was a former state of India. It was created in 1948 as Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States from the territories of the princely states in the eastern portion of the former Central India Agency. It was named as Vindhya Pradesh on 25 January 1950 after the Vindhya Range, which runs through the centre of the province. The capital of the state was the former princely state of 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 Reorganisation Act.[1]

It occupied an area of 61,131.5 km2 (23,603 sq. miles).[2]

History

[edit]

Vindhya Pradesh state was formed on 12 March 1948 and inaugurated on 4 April 1948. 36 princely states were merged to form Vindhya Pradesh state:

# Rewa (princely state)Rewa
  1. Panna
  2. Datia
  3. Orchha
  4. Ajaigarh
  5. Shahdol
  6. Baraundha
  7. Bijawar
  8. Chhatarpur
  9. Charkhari
  10. Maihar
  11. Nagod
  12. Samthar
  13. Alipura
  14. Rampur Naikin
  15. Beri
  16. Sidhi
  17. Bihat
  18. Bijna
  19. Dhurwai
  20. Garrauli
  21. Gaurihar
  22. Singrauli
  23. Jigni
  24. Khaniadhana
  25. Kamta Rajaula (Chaube Jagir)
  26. Kothi
  27. Kirur (Kubje Jagir)
  28. Lugasi
  29. Naigawan Rebai
  30. Pahra (Chaube Jagir)
  31. (Bevhari)
  32. Sarila
  33. Sihawal
  34. Satna Jagir)

On 25 January 1950, 11 erstwhile princely states, namely, Bihat, Banka Paharee, Baoni, Beri, Bijna, Charkhari, Jigni, Samthar, Sarila, Tori-Fatehpur and parts of Kirur Kubje 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 1 November 1956.

Divisions

[edit]
A map of Vindhya Pradesh

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. Panna district
  2. Chhatarpur district
  3. Tikamgarh district
  4. Datia district

Baghelkhand Division with its headquarters at Singrauli and then Rewa comprised the following 4 districts:[2]

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

Politics

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Part B state (1948-1949)

[edit]

In 1948, the eastern regions of Central India Agency, became the Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States, and was admitted into the Dominion of India as a Part B state, headed by a Rajpramukh, deputised by a Uparajpramukh, under the advice of a Prime Minister. Martand Singh, the ruler of the princely state of Rewa became the Rajpramukh and Yadvendra Singh, the ruler of the princely state of Panna became the Uparajpramukh.Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the first Chief Minister of the Baghelkhand Division and Kamta Prasad Saxena was appointed as the Chief Minister of the Bundelkhand Division. Later Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the Chief Minister of the Vindhya Pradesh state.

Rajpramukhs of Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States (UBBS)

[edit]
# Name Tenure
1 Martand Singh 4 April 1948 31 December 1949 1 year, 271 days

Uparajpramukhs of Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States (UBBS)

[edit]
# Name Tenure
1 Yadvendra Singh 4 April 1948 31 December 1949 1 year, 271 days

Chief Ministers of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States

[edit]

Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the first Chief Minister of the Baghelkhand Division and Kamta Prasad Saxena was appointed as the Chief Minister of the Bundelkhand Division.

# Name State Appointed by Party
1 Awadhesh Pratap Singh Baghelkhand State Martand Singh

(Rajpramukh)

Indian National Congress
1 Kamta Prasad Saxena Bundelkhand State Martand Singh

(Rajpramukh)

Indian National Congress

Prime Ministers of Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States (UBBS)

[edit]
# Name Tenure Appointed by Party
1 Awadhesh Pratap Singh 28 May 1948 14 April 1949 322 days Martand Singh

(Rajpramukh)

Indian National Congress
2 Neil Bruniat Bonerji 15 April 1949 30 April 1949 15 days Martand Singh

(Rajpramukh)

Independent
3 Shreenath Mehta 1 May 1949 31 December 1949 244 days Martand Singh

(Rajpramukh)

Independent

Part C state (1950-1952)

[edit]

It was renamed Vindhya Pradesh and converted to a Part C state, headed by a Chief Commissioner, on 1 January 1950.

Chief Commissioners of Vindhya Pradesh

[edit]
# Name Tenure Appointed by
1 Shreenath Mehta 1 January 1950 20 January 1950 19 days Rajendra Prasad

(President of India)

2 V. K. Balakrishna Pillai 21 January 1950 30 March 1952 2 years, 69 days Rajendra Prasad

(President of India)

Part A state (1952-1956)

[edit]

In 1952, it became a Part A state, and the post of Chief Commissioner was replaced by the Lieutenant Governor. A legislative assembly comprising 60 members elected from 48 constituencies (36 single-member and 12 double-member)[3] was created and the state was allotted 4 Lok Sabha constituencies (2 single-member and 2 double-member).[4]

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 opposition of the house.

The state was dissolved on 31 October 1956 and merged with Madhya Pradesh.

Lieutenant Governors of Vindhya Pradesh

[edit]
# Name Tenure Appointed by
1 Kasturirangan Santhanam 31 March 1952 1 January 1956 3 years, 276 days Rajendra Prasad

(President of India)

2 Mosalikanti Thirumala Rao 2 January 1956 31 October 1956 303 days Rajendra Prasad

(President of India)

Chief Ministers of Vindhya Pradesh

[edit]
# Name Tenure Assembly Appointed by Party
1 Sambhu Nath Shukla 31 March 1952 31 October 1956 4 years, 214 days 1st

(1952 elections)

Kasturirangan Santhanam Indian National Congress

Post merger with Madhya Pradesh

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Sriniwas Tiwari was a prominent politician in the region who campaigned for the re-establishment of Vindhya Pradesh over the years post its dissolution and merger with Madhya Pradesh. Other advocates of the cause include Narayan Tripathi, 4-time MLA from Maihar, and social worker Kuldeep Agnihotri, associated with the Agni Shakti Education Foundation in Rewa.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b Bhattacharyya, P. K. (1977). Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 54–5. ISBN 0-8426-909-13.
  3. ^ a b "Statistical Report on General Election, 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of Vindhya Pradesh" (PDF). Election Commission of India website.
  4. ^ "Statistical Report on General Elections, 1951 to the First Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2008.


24°32′N 81°18′E / 24.53°N 81.3°E / 24.53; 81.3

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