Maha gujarat andolan

During British rule in India, sections of the western coast of India were the part of the Bombay Presidency. In 1937, Bombay Presidency was included as a province of British India. After independence of India in 1947, the demand for linguistic states came up. On 17 June 1948, Rajendra Prasad set up the Linguistic Provinces Commission to recommend whether or not the states should be reorganized on a linguistic basis. The commission included S. K. Dhar (retired Judge of the Allahabad High Court), J. N. Lal (lawyer) and Panna Lall (retired Indian Civil Service officer), and so it was called Dhar Commission. In its 10 December 1948 report, the Commission recommended that “the formation of provinces on exclusively or even mainly linguistic considerations is not in the larger interests of the Indian nation”.

The Mahagujarat conference was held in 1948 to include all Gujarati speaking people under one administration which finally resulted in formation of Gujarat. According to the autobiography of Indulal Yagnik, Bombay state chief minister B. G. Kher and the then home minister Morarji Desai visited Dang in May, 1949. B. G. Kher stated that tribal people of Dang spoke Marathi and focus should be on that. Indulal Yagnik and others visited Dang to examine this. Gujarati Sabha also sent a committee for examination and agitate on negligence by government. The committee reported that Dang is more related to Gujarat.

By 1952, the demand for separate Telugu-majority Andhra State had started in Madras State. Potti Sreeramulu, one of the activists demanding Andhra State, died on 16 December 1952 after undertaking a fast-unto-death. Subsequently, Andhra State was formed in 1953. This sparked agitations all over the country demanding linguistic states. In December 1953, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) to prepare report on the creation of linguistic states. The commission was headed by Justice Fazal Ali so it was called Fazal Ali Commission. The commission reported in 1955 to reorganise states of India.

Agitation

SRC considered to form states on linguistic basis but recommended that Bombay state should stay as a bilingual state. It was further enlarged by the addition of Saurashtra State and Kutch State, the Marathi-speaking districts of Nagpur Division of Madhya Pradesh, and the Marathawada region of Hyderabad. The southernmost districts of Bombay state were included in Mysore State. So it had Gujarati-speaking Population in north and Marathi-speaking population in southern parts. Both Gujarati and Marathi people opposed the SRC’s recommendation and strongly demanded separate linguistic states. The situation became complicated because both of them wanted to include Bombay city (now Mumbai) in their own states due to its economic and cosmopolitan values. Jawaharlal Nehru also suggested to form three states; Maharashtra, Gujarat and centrally governed city-state of Bombay to solve conflict.

Protest broke out in Bombay and other Marathi-speaking districts later known as Samyukta Maharashtra Movement demanding separate Marathi state. Morarji Desai, then the Chief Minister of Bombay State, was against it. On 8 August 1956, some college students of Ahmedabad went to local Congress House near Lal Darwaza to demand separate state. Morarji Desai did not listen them and police repression resulted in death of five to eight students. It triggered massive protests across the state. Indulal Yagnik came out of his retirement from politics and founded Mahagujarat Janata Parishad to guide movement. Many protesters including Indulal Yagnik and Dinkar Mehta, Dhanvant Shroff were arrested and kept at Gaekwad Haveli in Ahmedabad for a few days and later imprisoned in Sabarmati Central Jail for three and half months. Protest also spread in other parts of the state which forced Morarji Desai to go on week-long fast. People did not turned up to support him during fast and stayed in home following self-imposed curfew, Janata Curfew. Just before the declaration of carving three states as Nehru suggested, 180 members of Parliament suggested return to bilingual Bombay state together. There was conflict over Mumbai and Dang which was solved through discussions. Gandhian activist Ghelubhai Nayak actively lobbied for accession of Dang in Gujarat. Mumbai went to Maharashtra and Dang went to Gujarat.

The Maha Gujarat Andolan, also known as the Gujarat Navnirman Andolan, was a major social movement in Gujarat, India, that took place from 1974 to 1975. The movement was led by students and other young people, and it was aimed at bringing about social and Economic Reforms in the state.

The movement began in Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat, in January 1974. The initial trigger for the movement was the death of a student, who was killed in police firing during a protest against the rising prices of essential commodities. However, the movement quickly spread to other parts of the state, and it soon became a major challenge to the government of Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel.

The main demands of the movement were for the resignation of the Chief Minister, the release of political prisoners, and the implementation of various social and economic reforms. The movement also called for the end of Corruption and Nepotism in the government.

The movement was met with a heavy-handed response from the government. Police were used to suppress the protests, and many people were arrested and detained. However, the movement continued to grow in strength, and it eventually forced the government to make some concessions.

The Chief Minister resigned in March 1975, and a number of political prisoners were released. The government also agreed to implement some of the demands of the movement, such as the introduction of a new Education system and the provision of more jobs for young people.

The Maha Gujarat Andolan was a major turning point in the history of Gujarat. It showed the power of the people to bring about change, and it led to a number of important reforms. The movement also had a significant impact on the political landscape of the state, and it helped to pave the way for the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat.

The Maha Gujarat Andolan was not without its controversies. Some people accused the movement of being led by communists and of having a hidden agenda. Others argued that the movement was violent and that it caused more harm than good.

Despite the controversies, the Maha Gujarat Andolan remains a significant event in the history of Gujarat. It was a major social movement that brought about important changes in the state. The movement also had a lasting impact on the political landscape of Gujarat, and it helped to pave the way for the rise of the BJP in the state.

The legacy of the Maha Gujarat Andolan is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, the movement can be seen as a positive force for change, as it led to a number of important reforms in Gujarat. On the other hand, the movement can also be seen as a negative force, as it was accompanied by violence and chaos. Ultimately, the legacy of the Maha Gujarat Andolan is a matter of debate.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the Gujarat riots:

What were the Gujarat riots?
The Gujarat riots were a series of religious riots that took place in the Indian state of Gujarat in February 2002. The riots began after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was burned near Godhra, killing 59 people, mostly Hindu pilgrims. In the following days, there were widespread riots and violence against Muslims, resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 people, most of them Muslims.
Who was responsible for the Gujarat riots?
The Gujarat riots were a complex event with many causes. However, the Indian Supreme Court has ruled that the Gujarat government, led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi, was responsible for failing to prevent the riots and for not taking adequate steps to stop the violence.
What were the consequences of the Gujarat riots?
The Gujarat riots had a devastating impact on the state of Gujarat. The riots left thousands of people dead, injured, or displaced. They also led to a breakdown of law and order and a Climate of fear and intimidation. The riots also had a negative impact on Gujarat’s economy and tourism Industry.
What has been done to address the Gujarat riots?
The Indian government has set up a number of commissions to investigate the Gujarat riots. The courts have also held a number of trials in connection with the riots. However, many people believe that justice has not been served and that the perpetrators of the violence have not been brought to justice.
What can be done to prevent future riots?
There are a number of things that can be done to prevent future riots. These include:
Improving law and order: The government needs to ensure that there is a strong police force that is able to maintain law and order.
Promoting communal harmony: The government needs to promote communal harmony and Tolerance among different religious groups.
Addressing the root causes of violence: The government needs to address the root causes of violence, such as POVERTY, Unemployment, and inequality.
Holding perpetrators of violence accountable: The government needs to hold perpetrators of violence accountable, regardless of their religion or political affiliation.

Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of the Gujarat riots, the 2002 Gujarat Assembly election, and the 2002 Gujarat Kutch earthquake:

Which of the following was the cause of the 2002 Gujarat riots?
(A) The Godhra train burning
(B) The 2002 Gujarat Assembly election
(C) The 2002 Gujarat Kutch earthquake
Who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time of the 2002 Gujarat riots?
(A) Narendra Modi
(B) Keshubhai Patel
(C) Chimanbhai Patel
How many people were killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots?
(A) 1,000
(B) 2,000
(C) 3,000
Which of the following is a fact about the 2002 Gujarat riots?
(A) The riots were sparked by the Godhra train burning.
(B) The riots were largely against Muslims.
(C) The riots were condemned by the international community.
Which of the following is an opinion about the 2002 Gujarat riots?
(A) The riots were a terrible tragedy.
(B) The riots were a planned attack on Muslims.
(C) The riots were a justified response to the Godhra train burning.
Who was the Prime Minister of India at the time of the 2002 Gujarat riots?
(A) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(B) Manmohan Singh
(C) Narendra Modi
Which of the following is a fact about the 2002 Gujarat Assembly election?
(A) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the election.
(B) The Congress Party won the election.
(C) The Indian National Congress (INC) won the election.
Which of the following is an opinion about the 2002 Gujarat Assembly election?
(A) The BJP’s victory was a sign of support for Narendra Modi.
(B) The BJP’s victory was a sign of Hindutva politics.
(C) The BJP’s victory was a sign of Gujarati pride.
Which of the following is a fact about the 2002 Gujarat Kutch earthquake?
(A) The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.9.
(B) The earthquake killed more than 20,000 people.
(C) The earthquake caused widespread damage in Kutch district.
Which of the following is an opinion about the 2002 Gujarat Kutch earthquake?
(A) The earthquake was a terrible tragedy.
(B) The earthquake was a wake-up call for India’s Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE.
(C) The earthquake was a sign of God’s wrath.

I hope these MCQs were helpful!