14. Formation of State of Maharashtra

(1) Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti came to be established.

• The demand of the Marathi-speaking people for a unified state was becoming increasingly complicated, and discontent had spread throughout the state.
• A grand march led by Senapati Bapat was taken to the Vidhan Sabha, where the police resorted to lathi charge and tear gas, causing further public agitation.
• To effectively organize this widespread discontent and accelerate the struggle for a unified state, a meeting was held on 6 February 1956 under the chairmanship of Keshavrao Jedhe in Pune.
• It was during this meeting that the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was established to spearhead the movement.

(2) The role of newspapers was important in Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.

• Newspapers acted as a powerful medium for mass communication, spreading the ideas of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement even to the rural parts of the state.
• Publications like Prabodhan, Kesari, Sakal, Navakal, Navyug, and Prabhat worked tirelessly for the awakening of the people.
• Acharya Atre started the 'Maratha' newspaper, which played a crucial role in voicing the sentiments of the masses.
• Balasaheb Thackeray, under the pen name 'Mavla', drew impactful caricatures that made the movement more comprehensive and resonated deeply with the common people.

(1) Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad

• The Maharashtra Ekikaran Parishad (Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad) was convened in Mumbai on 28 July 1946.
• Shankarrao Dev served as the president of this Parishad.
• During this meeting, an important resolution was passed stating that all Marathi-speaking regions should be united into a single state.
• The resolution explicitly demanded the inclusion of Marathi-speaking regions of Mumbai, the Central Provinces, Marathwada, and Gomantak into this unified state.

(2) Contribution of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti.

• The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was the driving force that successfully channeled public discontent into a massive, organized agitation.
• Under leaders like S.M. Joshi, S.A. Dange, and others, the Samiti organized widespread strikes and demonstrations to demand a unified state with Mumbai.
• When Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited Pratapgad in 1957, the Samiti held severe demonstrations to make him acutely aware of the strong sentiments of the Marathi-speaking populace.
• Their relentless and unified struggle ultimately forced the Central Government to yield, culminating in the passing of the Mumbai Reorganisation Act and the formation of Maharashtra on 1 May 1960.