Bhopal State (1949-1956)
Encyclopedia
Bhopal was the name of state of India
, which existed from 1949 to 1956. The state evolved out of the princely state of Bhopal, and was merged with neighboring states to form Madhya Pradesh
in 1956. Shankar Dayal Sharma
served as chief minister of Bhopal state from 1952 to 1956.
. As a result of the Indian Independence Act 1947
, the princely states were released from their treaty obligations to the British and were left to decide whether to join one of the new dominion
s of India and Pakistan. In March 1948, the last Nawab expressed his wish to rule Bhopal as an independent state. However, agitations against his rule broke out in December 1948, leading to the arrest of prominent leaders including Shankar Dayal Sharma. On 23 January 1949, Sharma was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment for violating restrictions on public meetings; some other satyagrahis
were also arrested. Later, the political detainees were released and on 30 April 1949 the Nawab signed an Instrument of Accession
to the Dominion of India
. The state of Bhopal was taken over by the Union Government of India on 1 June 1949 and was declared a "Part C" state, to be governed by a Chief Commissioner
appointed by the President of India
.
, Raisen
, and Sehore
.
won the first elections for Legislative Assembly and Parliament, held in 1952. The composition of the 30-member Bhopal State Assembly was:
Shankar Dayal Sharma
was sworn in as the first (and the last) Chief Minister of the state on 20 March 1952. He was the youngest Chief Minister in India at the time.
of 1956, Bhopal state was integrated into the state of Madhya Pradesh
, and Bhopal was declared as the capital of the newly formed state.
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
, which existed from 1949 to 1956. The state evolved out of the princely state of Bhopal, and was merged with neighboring states to form Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
in 1956. Shankar Dayal Sharma
Shankar Dayal Sharma
Shankar Dayal Sharma was the ninth President of India serving from 1992 to 1997. Prior to his presidency, Dr Sharma had been the eighth Vice President of India, serving under President Ramaswamy Venkataraman...
served as chief minister of Bhopal state from 1952 to 1956.
History
Before the independence of India the princely state of Bhopal was ruled by the hereditary NawabsNawab of Bhopal
The Nawabs of Bhopal were the Muslim rulers of the princely state of Bhopal, now part of the modern state of Madhya Pradesh, in India. The last Nawab was Hamidullah Khan, who acceded his state to India in 1947....
. As a result of the Indian Independence Act 1947
Indian Independence Act 1947
The Indian Independence Act 1947 was as an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan...
, the princely states were released from their treaty obligations to the British and were left to decide whether to join one of the new dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
s of India and Pakistan. In March 1948, the last Nawab expressed his wish to rule Bhopal as an independent state. However, agitations against his rule broke out in December 1948, leading to the arrest of prominent leaders including Shankar Dayal Sharma. On 23 January 1949, Sharma was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment for violating restrictions on public meetings; some other satyagrahis
Satyagraha
Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...
were also arrested. Later, the political detainees were released and on 30 April 1949 the Nawab signed an Instrument of Accession
Instrument of Accession
The Instrument of Accession was a legal document created in 1947 to enable each of the rulers of the princely states under British suzerainty to join one of the new dominions of India or Pakistan created by the Partition of British India.-Background:...
to the Dominion of India
Dominion of India
The Dominion of India, also known as the Union of India or the Indian Union , was a predecessor to modern-day India and an independent state that existed between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950...
. The state of Bhopal was taken over by the Union Government of India on 1 June 1949 and was declared a "Part C" state, to be governed by a Chief Commissioner
Chief Commissioner
A Chief Commissioner is a commissioner of a high rank, usually in chief of several Commissioners or similarly styled officers.-Colonial:In British India the gubernatorial style was Chief Commissioner in various provinces , the style being applied especially where an elected assembly did not exist,...
appointed by the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
.
Geography
The Bhopal state included the present-day districts of BhopalBhopal District
Bhopal District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The city of Bhopal serves as its administrative headquarters. The district is part of Bhopal Division.-Demographics:...
, Raisen
Raisen District
Raisen District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state of India. The town of Raisen is the district headquarters. The district is part of Bhopal Division.-Etymology:...
, and Sehore
Sehore District
Sehore District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The town of Sehore is the district headquarters. The district is part of Bhopal Division.-Demographics:...
.
Governor
The Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
won the first elections for Legislative Assembly and Parliament, held in 1952. The composition of the 30-member Bhopal State Assembly was:
- 28 - Indian National Congress
- 01 - Hindu Mahasabha
- 01 - Independent
Shankar Dayal Sharma
Shankar Dayal Sharma
Shankar Dayal Sharma was the ninth President of India serving from 1992 to 1997. Prior to his presidency, Dr Sharma had been the eighth Vice President of India, serving under President Ramaswamy Venkataraman...
was sworn in as the first (and the last) Chief Minister of the state on 20 March 1952. He was the youngest Chief Minister in India at the time.
Disestablishment
According to the States Reorganisation ActStates Reorganisation Act
The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries and governance of India's states and territories. The act reorganised the boundaries of India's states along linguistic lines, and amended the Indian Constitution to replace the three types of states, known as Parts A, B,...
of 1956, Bhopal state was integrated into the state of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, and Bhopal was declared as the capital of the newly formed state.