Vindhya Pradesh was a former state of India. It was created in 1948 as Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States from the territories of the princely states in the eastern portion of the former Central India Agency. It was named as Vindhya Pradesh on 25 January 1950 after the Vindhya Range, which runs through the centre of the province. The capital of the state was the former princely state of 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.
It occupied an area of 61,131.5 km2 (23,603 sq. miles).
History Vindhya Pradesh state was formed on 12 March 1948 and inaugurated on 4 April 1948. 36 princely states were merged to form Vindhya Pradesh state:
Rewa Panna Datia Orchha Ajaigarh Shahdol Baraundha Bijawar Chhatarpur Charkhari Maihar Nagod Samthar Alipura Rampur Naikin Beri Sidhi Bihat Bijna Dhurwai Garrauli Gaurihar Singrauli Jigni Khaniadhana Kamta Rajaula (Chaube Jagir) Kothi State Kirur (Kubje Jagir) Lugasi Naigawan Rebai Pahra (Chaube Jagir) (Bevhari) Sarila Sihawal Satna Jagir)
On 25 January 1950, 11 erstwhile princely states, namely, Bihat, Banka Paharee, Baoni, Beri, Bijna, Charkhari, Jigni, Samthar, Sarila, Tori-Fatehpur and parts of Kirur Kubje 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 1 November 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 4 districts:
Panna district Chhatarpur district Tikamgarh district Datia district
Baghelkhand Division with its headquarters at Singrauli and then Rewa comprised the following 4 districts: Rewa district Satna district Sidhi district Shahdol district
Politics
Part B state (1948–1949) In 1948, the eastern regions of Central India Agency became the Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States, and was admitted into the Dominion of India as a Part B state, headed by a Rajpramukh, deputised by a Uparajpramukh, under the advice of a Prime Minister. Martand Singh, the Maharaja of the princely state of Rewa, became the Rajpramukh and Yadvendra Singh, the ruler of the princely state of Panna, became the Uparajpramukh. Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the first Chief Minister of the Baghelkhand Division and Kamta Prasad Saxena was appointed as the Chief Minister of the Bundelkhand Division. Later Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the Chief Minister of the Vindhya Pradesh state.
Rajpramukhs of Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States (UBBS) NameTenure1Martand Singh4 April 194831 December 1949
Uparajpramukhs of Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States (UBBS) NameTenure1Yadvendra Singh4 April 194831 December 1949
Chief Ministers of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States
Awadhesh Pratap Singh became the first Chief Minister of the Baghelkhand Division and Kamta Prasad Saxena was appointed as the Chief Minister of the Bundelkhand Division.
NameStateAppointed byParty1Awadhesh Pratap SinghBaghelkhand StateMartand Singh (Rajpramukh)Indian National Congress1Kamta Prasad SaxenaBundelkhand State
Prime Ministers of Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States (UBBS) NameTenureAppointed byParty1Awadhesh Pratap Singh28 May 194814 April 1949Martand Singh (Rajpramukh)Indian National Congress2 Neil Bruniat Bonerji15 April 194930 April 1949Independent3Shreenath Mehta1 May 194931 December 1949
Part C state (1950–1952) It was renamed Vindhya Pradesh and converted to a Part C state, headed by a Chief Commissioner, on 1 January 1950.
Chief Commissioners of Vindhya Pradesh NameTenureAppointed by1Shreenath Mehta1 January 195020 January 1950Rajendra Prasad (President of India)2V. K. Balakrishna Pillai21 January 195030 March 1952
Part A state (1952–1956) In 1952, it became a Part A state, and the post of Chief Commissioner was replaced by the Lieutenant Governor. A legislative assembly comprising 60 members elected from 48 constituencies (36 single-member and 12 double-member) was created and the state was allotted 4 Lok Sabha constituencies (2 single-member and 2 double-member).
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 state was dissolved on 31 October 1956 and merged with Madhya Pradesh.
Lieutenant Governors of Vindhya Pradesh NameTenureAppointed by1Kasturirangan Santhanam31 March 19521 January 1956Rajendra Prasad (President of India)2Mosalikanti Thirumala Rao2 January 195631 October 1956
Chief Ministers of Vindhya Pradesh NameTenureAssemblyAppointed byParty1Sambhu Nath Shukla31 March 195231 October 19561st (1952 elections) Kasturirangan Santhanam Indian National Congress
Post merger with Madhya Pradesh Sriniwas Tiwari was a prominent politician in the region who campaigned for the re-establishment of Vindhya Pradesh over the years post its dissolution and merger with Madhya Pradesh. Other advocates of the cause include Narayan Tripathi, 4-time MLA from Maihar, and social worker Kuldeep Agnihotri, associated with the Agni Shakti Education Foundation in Rewa.
See also List of proposed states and territories of India
References