Tamil Nadu turns 60 on November 1
Posted on: 01/Nov/2016 11:42:16 AM
On this day, 60 years back the states were formed on linguistic basis. There was request for separate linguistic states even during the British regime. Madhusudan Das with his strong leadership and wisdom gave shape to Odisha as a separate state in 1936.
There was constant demand to bifurcate Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala on linguistic basis. All these states were under Madras Rajdhani. Potti Sreeramulu went on hunger strike demanding a separate state for Andhra Pradesh. His death sparked public rioting, and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared a separate state for Andhra Pradesh in the year 1953.
In December 1953, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed the States Reorganisation Commission to reorganise the Indian states. It was headed by the retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Fazal Ali. The other two members of the commission were H. N. Kunzru and K. M. Panikkar. The commission submitted a report on September 30, 1955, recommending the reorganisation of India`s states. The parliament debated the report. A bill making changes to the constitution and reorganising the states was passed on 31 August 1956.
As per the report, Madras state, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala was bifurcated on linguistic basis on 1st November 1956. Now 60 years has been completed. It was Annadurai`s government that renamed the Madras State to Tamil Nadu.
Thanthai Periyar, Arignar Anna, Perunthalaivar Kamarajar, Thozhar Jeeva, Silambu Selvar, Sankaralinganar and Marshal Nesamony have protested for separate linguistic states.
