Some Time strange political developments take place in India. Bihar, Bengal , Orrisa were part and parcels after Buxar battle in 1764 and the British's East India Company had created Presidency of Bengal , merging these three regions in one part. Thereafter , during British Raj, the Raj separated Bengal and created Bihar and Orrisa a separate state in 1912. Again in 1935, after creation of India Act, enacted by British Parliament, Orrisa was separated from Bihar and Bihar became new state! Orrisa was also born separately.Subsequently many developments had taken place and India got independence in 1947 and we got a New Constitution of Independent India.
Notably, some portion of Bihar like Purulia areas of Bihar was transferred to West Bengal under. the recommendations of the State Reorganisation Commission. Much hue and cry were raised over the transfer of parts and districts of Bihar to West Bengal..Matter took serious turn with animosity between the people of Bihar and West Bengal. Amid sentimental atmosphere, the Indian National Congress had approved a resolution merging Bihar and West Bengal in its Anmritsar session. The then chief Ministers Dr Sri Krishna Singh (Bihar) and Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy had signed on an agreement for merger of Bihar and West Bengal on January 23, 1956 and for carrying the resolutions of merger in their respective Legislatures.Remarkably, Dr Sri Krishna Sinha held a press conference in Delhi and announced to utter surprise of the people that by May 1956, a bill will be introduced in the Parliament to formalise the merger of Bihar and West Bengal. Later on Orrisa will also be merged with the merged state of West Bengal and Bihar!
Amid politically surcharged atmosphere during those days. the then Governor of Bihar Dr R R Diwakar, while addressing the joint session of Bihar Legislature on January 31, 1956, informed the legislators the desire of the SKSinha government to bring a resolution in both the houses of the Legislature for merging both Bihar and West Bengal into single state.While narrating the sequences of events in the wake of bifurcating some areas including Purulia from Bihar and merge with West Bengal, Dr Diwakar had told the joint session" lack of far sightedness, gravity of political situation, such resolution of merger of two states would have rarely come out in this Legislature:.He cautioned the Legislature about far reaching political developments in the wake of coming up such resolution of merger of these two states: the merger could not be easy; it should be very cautiously think over and opinion of people should also be sought over such ticklish issue.--------such decision must not be taken in casual manner----------approach for such discussion must not be hatred and competitiveness but harmony and cooperation of the people of both the states."
Both the houses of Bihar Legislature discussed in detail on the Thanks Motion to Joint address of the Governor over the issue from February 01 , 1956 to February 06, 1956 intensively and passed the motion of Thanks.
Even after, such subtle approach of Dr Diwakar and members of both the houses of the Bihar Legislature over merger of Bihar and West Bengal, both the chief ministers Dr S K sinha (Bihar) and Bidhanchandra Roy (West Bengal) brought the merger resolution in their respective Legislature. Dr S K SInha put formal resolution to merge Bihar with West Bengal on February 24, 1956 in the Bihar Legislature. After intensive discussions over merger issue for two days, Bihar Legislature passed the resolution for merger of Bihar-Bengal in single state on February 25, 1956 by 156 votes in favour and 25, opposing the motion! One of the strangest aspects of the Bihar Legislature was that had it approved the resolution in the interest of people of Bihar? And history wants reply of this question! Such resolution was passed in West Bengal Legislature also between the same time. But Bidhan Chandra Roy withdrew the resolution of merger on March 13, 1956. But clash of interest over territory of Bihar did not end there!
According to detailed compilation of records of the Legislature proceedings of those days , anchored from the Legislative achieves , the then Chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council Prof Jabir Hussain;, who edited the proceedings of the houses and other reports,kept in gathering dust in the Legislative council secretariat, has quoted at least two vital quotable quotes. on September 15, 1998; Prof Hussain, known for his scholarship, had quoted the then Pioneer (now defunct),over the issue kept in the secretariat having gathering dust ! The Pioneer, which had written this topics when movement of separating Bihar from Bengal was at its zenith, had said,"Behar has always been Behar., Bengal Bengal. The people and the nobles of Behar are justly proud of their country and will doubtless rejoice to see it severed from a common rule with Bengal, with which in climate, in crops, in manners and morals, it has nothing in common."
Before I continue on another such quotable quotes, edited by Prof Hussain of Jonh Malchom, based on Max Muller, I strongly feel to refer most important aspects of merger resolution of Bihar and West Bengal and subsequent developments. Amid all these fast changing political developments over the issue, there was a great political personality. His name was Jay Prakash Narayan, who strongly protested the merger of Bihar and West Bengal. In Delhi Jay Prakash Narayan met the them Prime Minister Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru and spoke to him expressing his strong protest and anguish and dismay of the people of Bihar over merger of Bihar with West Bengal
In another records in the Legislative Council, according to Prof Hussain, Sir John Malchom, who had based his statement to Max Muller on Bihar, had said, "-------but from the moment you enter the districts of Behar, the inhabitants are a race of men, generally speaking, not more distinguished by their lofty stature and noble frame than they are for some of the finest qualities of the mind. They are brave, generous, humane and their truth is as remarkable as their courage."
It will be proper to refer at least as passing references of debate on Motion of Thanks on Governor address to the joint session and also on the resolution of Dr S K Snha to merge Bihar with West Bengal .the Debate was hotly discussed in the Legislature. To begin with, a legislator, Shree Nayan Jee had moved amendment over the references of merger of Bihar and West Bengal in the governor's address and said, " --------but deeply regret the reference to the proposal of merger of the two states of Bihar and West Bengal as the proposal if given effect to is bound to affect adversely both the states and unity of the country." Another interesting speech of another legislator in the council Shri Abdul Hayat Chand, who while expressing his dismay over the issue, had said "na tarapne ki ijajajt hai na fariyad ki hai; ghut kar mar jaun yah marji mere saiyad ki hai." Chand , while criticising Dr S K Sinha had said, "-----and lastly regret that Governor's address fails to bring in its true light the highly authoritarian and partisan and manner in which the chief minister has sought to wipe out the very existence of Bihar from the political map of the country."Similar interesting views had been expressed in the proceedings over merger of Bihar and West Bengal.
Noted legislators of those period like Ram Charitra Sinha, Jamuna Prasad Sinha, Ignesh Kujur, Rana Shivlakhpati Singh, Yogendra Ghosh, Basawan Sinha, Binodanand Jha etc had raised many aspects over mereger of both the states, by points of order, amendments and other legislative modes for stalling the resolution.However the resolution was okayed by majority votes.
Now when I reminiscence the past, I find the quality of leadership in India was not so perfect as we used to think about statures of political leaders of during during those days. With the withdrawal of the resolution by Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the matter ended and merger plan of the then Congress party did not succeed!
Notably, some portion of Bihar like Purulia areas of Bihar was transferred to West Bengal under. the recommendations of the State Reorganisation Commission. Much hue and cry were raised over the transfer of parts and districts of Bihar to West Bengal..Matter took serious turn with animosity between the people of Bihar and West Bengal. Amid sentimental atmosphere, the Indian National Congress had approved a resolution merging Bihar and West Bengal in its Anmritsar session. The then chief Ministers Dr Sri Krishna Singh (Bihar) and Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy had signed on an agreement for merger of Bihar and West Bengal on January 23, 1956 and for carrying the resolutions of merger in their respective Legislatures.Remarkably, Dr Sri Krishna Sinha held a press conference in Delhi and announced to utter surprise of the people that by May 1956, a bill will be introduced in the Parliament to formalise the merger of Bihar and West Bengal. Later on Orrisa will also be merged with the merged state of West Bengal and Bihar!
Amid politically surcharged atmosphere during those days. the then Governor of Bihar Dr R R Diwakar, while addressing the joint session of Bihar Legislature on January 31, 1956, informed the legislators the desire of the SKSinha government to bring a resolution in both the houses of the Legislature for merging both Bihar and West Bengal into single state.While narrating the sequences of events in the wake of bifurcating some areas including Purulia from Bihar and merge with West Bengal, Dr Diwakar had told the joint session" lack of far sightedness, gravity of political situation, such resolution of merger of two states would have rarely come out in this Legislature:.He cautioned the Legislature about far reaching political developments in the wake of coming up such resolution of merger of these two states: the merger could not be easy; it should be very cautiously think over and opinion of people should also be sought over such ticklish issue.--------such decision must not be taken in casual manner----------approach for such discussion must not be hatred and competitiveness but harmony and cooperation of the people of both the states."
Both the houses of Bihar Legislature discussed in detail on the Thanks Motion to Joint address of the Governor over the issue from February 01 , 1956 to February 06, 1956 intensively and passed the motion of Thanks.
Even after, such subtle approach of Dr Diwakar and members of both the houses of the Bihar Legislature over merger of Bihar and West Bengal, both the chief ministers Dr S K sinha (Bihar) and Bidhanchandra Roy (West Bengal) brought the merger resolution in their respective Legislature. Dr S K SInha put formal resolution to merge Bihar with West Bengal on February 24, 1956 in the Bihar Legislature. After intensive discussions over merger issue for two days, Bihar Legislature passed the resolution for merger of Bihar-Bengal in single state on February 25, 1956 by 156 votes in favour and 25, opposing the motion! One of the strangest aspects of the Bihar Legislature was that had it approved the resolution in the interest of people of Bihar? And history wants reply of this question! Such resolution was passed in West Bengal Legislature also between the same time. But Bidhan Chandra Roy withdrew the resolution of merger on March 13, 1956. But clash of interest over territory of Bihar did not end there!
According to detailed compilation of records of the Legislature proceedings of those days , anchored from the Legislative achieves , the then Chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council Prof Jabir Hussain;, who edited the proceedings of the houses and other reports,kept in gathering dust in the Legislative council secretariat, has quoted at least two vital quotable quotes. on September 15, 1998; Prof Hussain, known for his scholarship, had quoted the then Pioneer (now defunct),over the issue kept in the secretariat having gathering dust ! The Pioneer, which had written this topics when movement of separating Bihar from Bengal was at its zenith, had said,"Behar has always been Behar., Bengal Bengal. The people and the nobles of Behar are justly proud of their country and will doubtless rejoice to see it severed from a common rule with Bengal, with which in climate, in crops, in manners and morals, it has nothing in common."
Before I continue on another such quotable quotes, edited by Prof Hussain of Jonh Malchom, based on Max Muller, I strongly feel to refer most important aspects of merger resolution of Bihar and West Bengal and subsequent developments. Amid all these fast changing political developments over the issue, there was a great political personality. His name was Jay Prakash Narayan, who strongly protested the merger of Bihar and West Bengal. In Delhi Jay Prakash Narayan met the them Prime Minister Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru and spoke to him expressing his strong protest and anguish and dismay of the people of Bihar over merger of Bihar with West Bengal
In another records in the Legislative Council, according to Prof Hussain, Sir John Malchom, who had based his statement to Max Muller on Bihar, had said, "-------but from the moment you enter the districts of Behar, the inhabitants are a race of men, generally speaking, not more distinguished by their lofty stature and noble frame than they are for some of the finest qualities of the mind. They are brave, generous, humane and their truth is as remarkable as their courage."
It will be proper to refer at least as passing references of debate on Motion of Thanks on Governor address to the joint session and also on the resolution of Dr S K Snha to merge Bihar with West Bengal .the Debate was hotly discussed in the Legislature. To begin with, a legislator, Shree Nayan Jee had moved amendment over the references of merger of Bihar and West Bengal in the governor's address and said, " --------but deeply regret the reference to the proposal of merger of the two states of Bihar and West Bengal as the proposal if given effect to is bound to affect adversely both the states and unity of the country." Another interesting speech of another legislator in the council Shri Abdul Hayat Chand, who while expressing his dismay over the issue, had said "na tarapne ki ijajajt hai na fariyad ki hai; ghut kar mar jaun yah marji mere saiyad ki hai." Chand , while criticising Dr S K Sinha had said, "-----and lastly regret that Governor's address fails to bring in its true light the highly authoritarian and partisan and manner in which the chief minister has sought to wipe out the very existence of Bihar from the political map of the country."Similar interesting views had been expressed in the proceedings over merger of Bihar and West Bengal.
Noted legislators of those period like Ram Charitra Sinha, Jamuna Prasad Sinha, Ignesh Kujur, Rana Shivlakhpati Singh, Yogendra Ghosh, Basawan Sinha, Binodanand Jha etc had raised many aspects over mereger of both the states, by points of order, amendments and other legislative modes for stalling the resolution.However the resolution was okayed by majority votes.
Now when I reminiscence the past, I find the quality of leadership in India was not so perfect as we used to think about statures of political leaders of during during those days. With the withdrawal of the resolution by Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the matter ended and merger plan of the then Congress party did not succeed!
No comments:
Post a Comment