Vindhya Pradesh

Vindhya Pradesh विंध्य प्रदेश
State of India
← 1948–1956 →
1951 map of India. Vindhya Pradesh is shown in the center.
History
•	Creation of Vindhya Pradesh State	1948
•	States Reorganisation Act	1956
Area		61,131.5 km2 (23,603 sq mi)
Population
•		3,600,000
	Density	58.9 /km2  (152.5 /sq mi)

Vindhya Pradesh was a former state of India. It occupied an area of 23,603 sq. miles. It was created in 1948, shortly after Indian independence, from the territories of the princely states in the eastern portion of the former Central India Agency. It was named for the Vindhya Range, which runs through the center of the province. The capital of the state was 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.

History

Vindhya Pradesh state was formed on 12 March 1948 and the newly formed state was inaugurated on 4 April 1948. Following its formation 35 princely states were merged to form Vindhya Pradesh state:

1. Rewa
2. Panna
3. Datia
4. Orchha
5. Ajaigarh
6. Baoni
7. Baraundha
8. Bijawar
9. Chhatarpur
10. Charkhari
11. Maihar
12. Nagod
13. Samthar
14. Alipura
15. Banka-Pahari
16. Beri
17. Bhaisunda (Chaube Jagir)
18. Bihat
19. Bijna
20. Dhurwai
21. Garrauli
22. Gaurihar
23. Jaso
24. Jigni
25. Khaniadhana
26. Kamta Rajaula (Chaube Jagir)
27. Kothi
28. Lugasi
29. Naigawan Rebai
30. Pahra (Chaube Jagir)
31. Paldeo (Chaube Jagir)
32. Sarila
33. Sohawal
34. Taraon (Chaube Jagir)
35. Tori-Fatehpur (Hasht-Bhaiya Jagir)

On 25 January 1950, 10 erstwhile princely states, namely, Bihat, Banka Paharee, Baoni, Beri, Bijna, Charkhari, Jigni, Samthar, Sarila and Tori-Fatehpur 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 November 1, 1956.

Divisions

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 6 districts:

1. Sagar district
2. Damoh district
3. Panna district
4. Chhatarpur district
5. Tikamgarh district
6. Datia district

Baghelkhand Division with its headquarters at Rewa comprised the following 4 districts:

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

Politics

Map of Vindhya Pradesh

The nominal heads of the state were the Rajpramukh from 1948–49, the Chief Commissioner from 1949-March, 1952 and the Lieutenant Governor from March, 1952-31 October 1956. The state had a Vidhan Sabha comprising 60 members elected from 48 constituencies (36 single-member and 12 double-member). There were 4 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state (2 single-member and 2 double-member).

Following the formation of the state in 1948, Martand Singh, the last ruler of the princely state of Rewa became the Rajpramukh and Yadvendra Singh, the last ruler of the princely state of Panna became the Uparajpramukh. Initially Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the Chief Minister of the Baghelkhand Division and Kamta Prasad Saxena became the Chief Minister of the Bundelkhand Division but soon Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the Chief Minister of the whole state. After he resigned on 14 April 1949, N.B. Bonerji, then Chief Commissioner took over on 15 April 1949. He was succeeded by S. N. Mehta. In the first general election in 1951, the Indian National Congress won 40 seats and the Socialist Party won 11 seats. 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 house dissolved on 31 October 1956.

See also

• List of proposed states and territories of India