THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY October 29, 1955

Views on States Reorganisation - IV Andhra and Telengana States

( Contributed ) WHILE reactions to the States Andhra separation, has been found One major issue with regard to Reorganisation Commission's by experience to be wholly unwar­ Southern , which has not at­ report from West, North-Western, ranted and baseless. tracted much attention, but about Northern and to some extent from There are two or three points which considerable discussion and South-Eastern India, have received touching the States Commission's debate is on, relates to the creation and are receiving considerable pub­ recommendations respecting South­ of a second Telugu-speaking State licity, those from have ern India, and in particular Andhra out of the eight Telugu-speaking gone more or less unnoticed. Maybe and , which deserve care­ districts of the , this is due to the consideration that ful consideration. Initially, refer­ with Hyderabad as the capital. the picture drawn by the Commis­ ence may be made to the issue of Ever since dismemberment of Hy­ sion of the reorganisation of State Madras City, which not long ago derabad State came to be regarded as boundaries in southern India has a was a serious bone of contention be­ an inevitable preliminary to the crea­ wide measure of approval from the tween the Andhras and Tamils, but tion of a united State, the people concerned. Maybe also that about which hardly any controversy issue of the Telugu-speaking dis­ the pattern of reorganisation pro­ exists at present. The Andhras have tricts has assumed significance. The posed for that area represents a now reconciled themselves, it may creation of a Vishal Andhra State closer approximation to linguistic be hoped finally, to the fact that with Hyderabad as capital has come divisions and, therefore, is more ac­ they cannot sustain any valid claim to be considered as a solution to ceptable to them. Though the Com­ to the city of Madras or a part of a number of problems that have mission does not recognise language it. though even before the States been troubling the Andhra State, as the sole or even the main con­ Commission, they did put up a claim particularly the problem of its per­ sideration in the creation of new to it. It is good that this is so, manent capital. States or in the readjustment of and that the Commission has put The Commission has marshalled existing State boundaries, it is evi­ its seal of approval on the fait ac­ an impressive array of arguments dent that, in fact, it accorded to compli of Madras being not only a in support of the formation of a that factor primacy of place in some Tamil city, but also the city from Vishal Andhra State. At the same of its major recommendations. which the new Tamil State will de­ time, it has tried to marshall an Those pertaining to Southern India rive its name. equally impressive set of arguments fall essentially in this category. The second issue relates to the in favour of the creation of a It is on the whole appropriate that allocation of three taluks of the separate State, little real­ this should be so. Whatever be the Bellary district, including Bellary ising that in the face of the former, other considerations and arguments town, to the Andhra state. This the latter sounds unconvincing. It advanced by the Commission in sup­ amounts to the righting of a wrong appears, in short, like some kind port of its proposals for redrawing hastily done to Andhra and to the of special pleading for those inter­ the map of India, it is indisputable people of the three taluks, when at ests in Telangana which have been that the linguistic Factor looms large the time of Andhra separation, the opposing a composite Andhra State. behind them. At the same time, area was assigned to Southern India is so constituted that If the Commission's view is sound, under the terms of the Misra Award it conveniently lends itself to a sur­ it would amount to branding the Administrative convenience, particu­ gical operation in which more or coastal Andhras as being prone to larly in relation to the efficient super­ less clean cuts can be made on its 'exploit' and 'submerge' the Andhras vision of the further stages of the territorial map on the basis of lan­ in Telangana for their own benefit. Tungabhadra project, long-establish­ guage. To the Commission, this Fortunately, a similar argument, ed trade connections between Rayala­ must have been on the whole a source which was widely canvassed before seema and the Bellary district and of relief, because without much pre­ the establishment of the present finally the linguistic composition of judice to other principles evolved by Andhra State that the coastal And­ these taluks—have induced the It in connection with reorganisation, hras would dominate and exploit the Commission to suggest a re-trans­ It could accord to the linguistic backward area for fer of the area, which is also in demi-god the homage due so far as their own benefit, has turned out conformity with the desires of the Southern India was concerned. fo be unfounded by the actual course people themselves. It would be ap­ of events in the last two years. On Linguistic homogeneity could be propriate and dignified for the the other hand, it is indisputable harmonised in this area with factors Mysore State and the Kannadigas that the establishment of the Andhra of financial viability and administra­ generally to accept this transfer in State has strengthened unity between tive convenience and prospects of good grace. Rayalaseema and the coastal dis­ budgetary equilibrium and economic tricts and has promoted a closer progress. This attitude, whether ex­ The Andhra-Madras border issue, identity of interests and feelings be­ pressed or implied, of the Commis- which has been pending, is a com­ tween the two areas. If the Telan­ sion is perfectly justified also by paratively minor issue, susceptible gana districts form a part of And­ the relevant consideration that ap­ of adjustment through mutual con­ hra, there is little doubt that a prehension of linguistic separatism sultations and agreement. Such ad­ similar identity of interests between posing a threat to national unity justment seems possible if aggres­ them and the Andhra State would and security, which was canvassed sive agitation by extremist elements emerge. by some parties at the time of the on either side is avoided.

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The Commission's own view of Telangana had to deal with it by future. It is generally agreed that the advantages of a Vishal Andhra itself. the initiative for the modification State convincingly proves the case In any event, the Congress as a of the Commission's recommendation for such unification right from the party cannot remain a complacent regarding Telangana should come very beginning. It will automatic­ witness to the predominance of from that area itself. That is neces­ ally resolve a number of administra­ casteism and its manifestations, not sary. But the leaders of Andhra tive and economic problems that only because it is committed to the can set the ball rolling by consulting confront the present Andhra State eradication of caste influences, but the Telangana leaders on this issue, and that are likely to confront the also because casteism is not con­ particularly as the latter may like separate Telangana or Hyderabad ducive to the development of the to be 'wooed' a little before accept­ State. Administrative efficiency, spirit of national unity or a national ing the advances. economic progress and budgetary outlook. In a large state wherein stability, apart from linguistic affi­ There may be nothing inherently there are greater opportunities for wrong in two States existing side nity, will all be ensured in the two the inter-play of a. diversity of in­ areas if such unification takes place- by side in which the same language terests and viewpoints, the narrow Apprehensions of the exploitation is spoken. But where it is desirable outlook that casteism and sectional­ and submersion of Telangana inter­ and possible to have a single State ism are prone to foster will have ests in a composite Andhra State of manageable proportions, which less chance to grow. In the ultimate have no validity, because when a also answers the criterion of lingu­ analysis, it is the will of the com­ somewhat backward area is joined istic homogeneity and other consider­ mon people that should prevail in to a comparatively advanced one ations, that need not be ruled out. a democratic set-up, and there is with which it has affinity in other more than a possibility—indeed a respects, it will naturally lead to strong probability that the com­ the advancement of both, parti­ mon people of the Telangana area cularly in view of the possibility of will plump for a merger with the the advanced area being anxious to carry the less advanced one along present Andhra State. with it. The Commission has provided for the unification of the residuary state The States Commission has either of Hyderabad or Telangana with missed the real point behind the Andhra after the general elections apprehensions of the mure vocal sec­ to be held in 1961. "if by a two tions among the Telangana Andhras thirds majority the legislature of or it has not been able to appre­ the Hyderabad State expresses itself ciate it in the correct perspective. in favour of such unification". This, Opposition to the creation of a single however, is a suggestion without Andhra State from these sections much practical relevance or validity, proceeds mainly from caste and for the simple reason that the forces sectional motivations, from the fear which at present are opposed to a that in a composite Andhra State, single Andhra State, because it one particular caste in the coastal would affect their caste or personal districts would attempt to dominate interests, will have acquired greater the rest of the territory. It is also strength in the intervening period true that this particular caste in and stabilised their position in the the coastal districts itself fears the new State. Almost insuperable ob­ domination of another caste if stacles can be envisaged in the real­ Telangana is part of a single Andhra isation of a Vishal Andhra State five State. years hence. If the State does not These fears and suspicions are materialise now it has little chance mutual and actually cancel them­ of materialising in 1961. selves out. On the periphery is an­ It is gratifying that the agitation other apprehension that if Vishal in favour of Vishal Andhra is pitched Andhra is not established now, that m a subdued and dignified key. fact would be exploited by the Com­ There is expression of disappoint­ munists for their political advant­ ment that the Commission did not age. It is not also unlikely that favour a Vishal Andhra State after while the Communists vociferate in acknowledging its advantages but support of a Vishal Andhra State, there is simultaneously an expression they actually would prefer a sepa­ of hope that the position will be rate Telangana, which can still righted by the Government of India offer them a happy ideological hunt­ and the Congress High Command. ing ground. It is a clinching argu­ ment in support of Vishal Andhra. If the long-term and larger inter which the Commission did not or ests of the two areas, Andhra and could not take cognisance of, that Telangana, are to be served, as, it such a State with its larger resources is agreed, they will be by their be- and more efficient administrative ing constituted into a single State, set-up would be able to deal with it is preferable, in fact imperative, prospective Communist revivalism in that this consummation should be that area more effectively than if brought about in the immediate 1284