Linguistic States Helped Strengthen Indian Unity
The Report of the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) which was implemented on November 1, 1956, has helped transform the political and institutional life of the nation. The background to the SRC is as follows. In the 1920s, the Indian National Congress was reconstituted on linguistic lines. Its provincial units now followed the logic of language – one for Marathi speakers, another for Oriya speakers, etc. At the same time, Gandhi and other leaders promised their followers that when freedom came, the new nation would be based on a new set of provinces based on the principle of language. However, when India was finally freed in 1947, it was also divided. Now, when the proponents of linguistic states asked for this promise to be redeemed, the Congress hesitated. Partition was the consequence of intense attachment to one’s faith; how many more partitions would that other intense loyalty, language, lead to? So ran the thinking of the top Congress bosses including Nehru, Patel and Rajaji. However, the most militant protests ensued from the very large community of Telugu speakers. In October 1953, Potti Sriramulu, a former Gandhian, died seven weeks after beginning a fast unto death. Potti Sriramulu’s martyrdom provoked violent protests and led to the creation of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It also led to the formation of the SRC, which in 1956 put the formal, final seal of approval on the principle of linguistic states.
What was a major reason for reorganising Congress units along linguistic lines in the 1920s?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → To align political organisations with linguistic identities.
Option (1) To align political organisations with linguistic identities. — Correct. The Congress’s provincial units followed the logic of language – one for Marathi speakers, another for Oriya speakers – so each unit matched a linguistic community, and its leaders promised provinces based on the principle of language.
Option (2) To reduce voter turnout. — Incorrect. Reaching people through units of their own language widens a party’s support; it does not keep people away.
Option (3) To improve administrative efficiency. — Incorrect. The passage explains the change by the logic of language and people’s attachment to it, not by running the party more efficiently.
Option (4) To weaken regional leaders. — Incorrect. Giving each language group its own provincial unit strengthened the regional base of the party rather than weakening it.
NCERT: Indian Society — Chapter 6: The Challenges of Cultural Diversity (2025-26)
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