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Formation of Odisha Province 1936

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The formation of the separate province of Odisha on 1 April 1936 was a landmark event in Indian constitutional history. Odisha became the first province in British India to be created on a linguistic basis, setting a precedent for the linguistic reorganization of states after independence.

The Long Campaign

The demand for a separate Odisha province had been articulated since the late 19th century:

  • The Utkal Sammilani (1903) under Madhusudan Das made amalgamation its central demand.
  • Successive commissions — Montagu-Chelmsford (1919), Simon Commission (1928) — were petitioned by Odia leaders.
  • The Indian National Congress, at its Nagpur session (1920), adopted linguistic reorganization of provinces as a principle, lending support to the Odisha demand.

The O’Donnell Boundary Commission

In 1931, the British government appointed a Boundary Commission under Sir S. P. O’Donnell to determine the boundaries of the proposed Odisha province. The Commission:

  • Toured the Odia-speaking areas and received representations from various groups.
  • Recommended the transfer of Ganjam and parts of Koraput from the Madras Presidency to Odisha.
  • Recommended the transfer of Sambalpur, Sonepur, and adjacent areas from the Central Provinces.
  • The coastal districts of Cuttack, Puri, and Balasore were separated from the Bengal Presidency.

However, the Commission left out several Odia-speaking areas due to political and administrative considerations. The Vizagapatnam Agency tracts (now Koraput) were only partially transferred, and the Singhbhum and Midnapore regions (with significant Odia population) remained in Bihar and Bengal respectively.

The Government of India Act, 1935

The Act provided for the creation of the Province of Orissa, consisting of:

  • The six districts transferred from Bengal, Madras, and Central Provinces: Cuttack, Puri, Balasore, Ganjam, Koraput, and Sambalpur.
  • 26 princely states (feudatory states) that were placed under the political supervision of the Governor of Orissa (but not directly administered).

Inauguration — 1 April 1936

On 1 April 1936, the new province was formally inaugurated:

  • Sir John Austin Hubback became the first Governor of Orissa.
  • The first ministry was formed under Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo (Maharaja of Paralakhemundi), who served as the first Prime Minister (Premier) of Orissa.
  • The capital was at Cuttack, where the provincial administration was established.

Significance

The formation of Odisha was significant for several reasons:

  1. It was the first linguistic province in India, validating the principle that language is a legitimate basis for administrative organization.
  2. It fulfilled a decades-long aspiration for Odia national identity.
  3. It created an administrative framework for the development of Odia language, education, and culture.
  4. It served as a model for the post-independence linguistic reorganization of states (1956).

Remaining Challenges

The 1936 boundaries left many Odia-speaking tracts outside the province. The demand for their inclusion continued after independence, with some areas (like parts of Srikakulam) never being incorporated. The princely states also remained separate entities until their merger in 1948–49.

Nevertheless, 1 April 1936 remains a historic date in Odisha’s calendar, celebrated annually as Utkal Divas (Odisha Day).