UNIT -4:Polity of Haryana

CHAPTER :FORMATION OF HARYANA STATE

Haryana is carved out from the former state of East Punjab on linguistic as well as on cultural basis. The Indian Government set up the Shah Commission to divide the existing Punjab and determine the boundaries of new state ‘Haryana’ giving consideration to the language spoken by the people.

Evidences for the formation of Haryana can be dated back to the pre-Independence era when-lot of political activities were taking place in the region.

Political Activities before Independence

With the formation of Congress in 1885, the political activities in Haryana accelerated. Shri Murlidhar from Ambala and Lala Lajpat Rai in Hisar actively participated in Swadeshi Andolan. In October, 1907, a state level conference was held by the Congress in Ambala. A large number of people from every corner of Punjab and Haryana participated in this conference. Under the leadership of Lala Lajpat Rai, the conference decided to form branches in every district.

In 1926, All India Muslim League proposed the separation of Hindi Speaking region from Punjab and merging it with Delhi. The proposal was forwarded by League President, Pirjaad Mohammad Hussain. In 1928, the All-Parties Conference at Delhi repeated this demand. On 9th September, 1932, famous nationalist Deen Bandhu Gupt proposed the separation of Haryana state. However, Arya Samaj and Hindu Mahasabha opposed the proposal.

After the start of the First World War, the Congress held a conference in Madras, where it passed a resolution to support the British in its war effort. As a result, Congress workers from Haryana also started helping the British in their war effort. In Haryana, Pandit Neki Ram Sharma was at the forefront of this agitation. Pt Neki Ram Sharma concentrated his activities particularly in the Rohtak region. The region of present-day Haryana was a part of Punjab during the British rule. Though it was deeply felt to differentiate the two regions (Punjab and Haryana) as there were many differences in language, tradition and culture.

Political Activities after Independence

Haryana was part of Punjab region when India got its freedom on 15th Augst, 1947. The demand for a separate state got a boost with the demand of Master Tara Singh for a Punjabi Suba in 1948. Moreover, there were problems between the Hindi-speaking and the Punjabi-speaking population. The question of reorganisation of states on linguistic basis was first examined by the ‘Linguistic Provinces Commission of the Constituent Assembly in 1948. It recommended that no new provinces should be formed for the time being. The JVD committee appointed by the Congress also agreed with this view.

To solve the problem of linguistic reorganisation of Punjab the then Punjab Chief Minister, Shri Bhimsen Sacchar introduced the Sacchar Formula on 1st October, 1949. According to this formula, the state was sub-divided into two parts i.e. Punjabi area and Hindi area. The Punjabi area included the areas that are located in present day Punjab i.e. Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Firozpur, Patiala, Barnala, etc. While the Hindi area included the districts of Rohtak, Hisar, Gurugram, Kangra, Karnal and the tehsils of Jagadhari and Naraingarh. A few districts of present Himachal Pradesh i.e., Shimla and Kangra were also proposed to be made a part of Hindi area. The ‘Sacchar Formula could not succeed and it became especially unpopular in the Hindi area.

Syed Fazal Ali Commission, 1953

On 29th December, 1953, the Indian Government set up a commission under the Chairmanship of Syed Fazal Ali for suggesting the reorganisation of states on linguistic and cultural basis. The proponents of Punjabi Suba and Haryana both appeared before the commission to press their case. The commission presented its report in September, 1995. But, it did not recommend the division or reorganisation of Punjab and reported that there was no real language problem in the state.

However a ‘Regional Formula was implemented in July 1956. This formula provided for internal division of Punjab into two regions, Hindi and Punjabi, with each having a separate regional council. In 1960, Master Tara Singh launched a Morcha for his demand of’Punjabi Suba. He was promptly arrested on the orders of Punjab Chief Minister, Pratap Singh Kairon. On the arrest of Master Tara Singh, Sant Fateh Singh took over the leadership of the agitation.

Fateh Singh’s Hunger Strike

Sant Fateh Singh decided to go on a fast on 10th August, 1965 to press for the demand of the ‘Punjabi Suba. He further threatened self-immolation if the demand was not accepted in 25 days. The Hindus of the Punjabi area opposed the demand for the division of the state fearing that they would be in a minority in the new state.

The local press, which was also controlled by the Hindus, too joined in and openly opposed the division. The people of Haryana region, except for RSS and Jan Sangh followers, supported the demand for the division of Punjab into Hindi-speaking and Punjabi-speaking states.

Formation of Seema Aayog Committee

In October 1965, Loksabha speaker Hukum Singh formed a Parliamentary committee to study the formation of a separate Haryana state. This committee was also known as ‘Seema Aayog. The Aayog presented its report on 31st May, 1966 to separate the regions of Hisar, Mahendragarh, Gurugram, Rohtak, Karnal, Jind, Chandigarh, Naraingarh, Ambala and Jagadhri.

As a result of this committee (Seema Aayog), Government of India founded a separate committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Justice JC Shah which was known as Punjab Border Commission. Other members of this committee were S Dutta and MM Philip.

Reorganisation of State of Punjab

As per proposal from JC Shah, Government of India approved Punjab Reorganisation Bill on 18th September, 1966. It was also decided that the two states of Haryana and Punjab would have a common High Court called the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The following are the salient features of the reorganisation:

1. Formation of a separate state within a stipulated time which will be called as Haryana. This state of Haryana will include the following places of Punjab:

• Hisar, Rohtak, Gurugram, Karnal and Mahendragarh
• Narwana and Jind from Sangrur
• Ambala, Jagadhri and Naraingarh from Ambala
• Pinjor-Kanungo region from Kharar in Ambala will be given to Punjab.
• Mani Majra-Kanungo Circle from Kharar in Ambala will be given to Punjab.

1. As per Sub-Article (B), Jind to be made a separate district.

• As per Sub-Article (1) (A) (B) (C) (D) and (E), Ambala will be made into a separate district.

1. As per Sub-Article (1) (B) and (E), the area of Naraingarh will be divided.
2. As per Sub-Article (1) (E) under the Naraingarh tehsil, Pinjore legal circle is to be included.
3. As per Reorganisation Bill part-3, Statute Law and Legislation of the two states as well as distribution of Rajya Sabha members, selection, etc has been mentioned.

Formation of Haryana

After a long struggle, Haryana was constituted on 1st November, 1966. Shri Dharamveer was the first State Governor and Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma was the first Chief Minister. Haryana thus became the 17th state of India which constitute 6 administrative circles, 22 districts, 93 tehsils and 140 blocks.

Naming of the State ‘Haryana

The word Haryana is derived from two words i.e. Hari (God) and Yana (Ghar/Home). The origin of the word Haryana can be traced to Rigveda where it was first used as Raj Haryana. In Manusmriti, another ancient book of Hindus, the land of Haryana is referred to as Brahmavart, which is said to be situated on the banks of the ancient holy rivers, Drishadvati and Saraswati. In Harshcharitra written by Banbhatta, the land of Haryana is referred as Shri Kantha Janapada.

This place was also known as Kuru Janapada which was named after its ruler Kauravas as mentioned in Mahabharata. From there, the region ruled by Kauravas was known as Kurukshetra which still exists in the form a district in Northern Haryana. In 10th century, this place was known as Haryanau as mentioned in Mahapurana written by Pushpadant. Various scholars have also given their contributions in the naming of this region. Rahul Sankrityayan called it Haridhanakya, Dr. Budh Prakash called it Abiryana, Dr. HR Gupta called it Aaryana and Yadunath Sarkar called it Hariyal.