सुंदरा मनामधि भरली

 सुंदरा मनामधि भरली...Painting by me

जल्लोष आणि थरार

बोरिवली

मुंबई जिल्हा काँग्रेस आणि खासदार संजय निरुपम यांच्यातर्फे बोरिवली येथील कोरा केंद्र मैदानात तब्बल ११ लाखांची दहीहंडी बांधण्यात आली होती. सकाळी दहा वाजल्यापासून हजारो प्रेक्षकांनी या ठिकाणी गर्दी केली होती. दुपारी बारा वाजता संजय निरुपम यांच्या उपस्थितीत कोळसा खाणकाममंत्री प्रकाश जयस्वाल यांच्या हस्ते कार्यक्रमाचे उद्घाटन करण्यात आले. उद्घाटनानंतर तासाभराच्या आतच जवळपास दहा ते बारा पथकांनी सहा-सात थरांचे मानवी मनोरे उभारून उपस्थितांची मने जिंकली. आयोजकांतर्फे सहा थर लावणाऱ्यांना दीड हजार व सात थर लावणाऱ्यांना दोन हजारांचे रोख पारितोषिक व चषक देण्यात आले. खबरदारी म्हणून कुणाला इजा झाल्यास प्रथमोपचारासाठी संपूर्ण दिवस तीन डॉक्टरांच्या साथीने एक रुग्णवाहिका तयार ठेवण्यात आली आहे. नशीब आजमावयाला विलेपार्ले, अंधेरी, जोगेश्वरी, गोरेगाव येथून दहीहांडी पथकांनी हजेरी लावली होती. उंचच उंच मानवी मनोरे रचताना जोडीला संगीताची साथ देण्यासाठी खास मुंबईचा फेमस डीजे अख्तर याला बोलाविण्यात आले होते. दीड हजारांहून अधिक गाणी वाजविणार असल्याचे त्याने सांगितले. त्यामध्ये मराठी-हिंदी चित्रपट संगीतापासून भांगडा, कोळीगीते आणि जन्माष्टमीच्या विशेष गाण्यांचा समावेश असणार होता. जोगेश्वरी येथील अष्टविनायक मित्रमंडळाच्या तीन वर्षांच्या गणेश रोकडे या चिमुकल्याने सातव्या थरावरून उपस्थितांना सलामी दिली. त्याबाबत त्याची प्रतिक्रिया विचारली असता तो म्हणाला, की मला वर चढायला अजिबात भीती वाटत नाही व ग्रुपमधील सर्व दादा माझी नीट काळजी घेतात. मालाड येथील बालगोपाल मित्रमंडळाचे राजेश धमणे म्हणाले, की आमची मुले ही सात थरांहून मोठय़ा हंडय़ाच फोडतात आणि या वर्षी कमीत कमी अशा दहा हंडय़ा फोडायचा आमचा विचार आहे.

Pots of Money or Curd?

Gokulasthami is one of the major festivals celebrated in Maharashtra and in recent times, politicians (who are widely seen as taking mileage out of the festival) have been competing with each other to attract larger crowds. “Big money tends to boost the egos of the party cadre. It has now become a prestige issue for politicians. “Politicians also cash in on media coverage given to rich mandals”. This festival is popular among the youth, who are the backbone of a political party, and this festival acts as the best platform to attract them. Politicians of all hues in Maharashtra are vying with each other to announce huge prize money for breaking the `Dahi Handis' (curd pots tied at a height to be broken by competing youngsters) here on the occasion of Gokulashtami, one of the most popular festivals.

Those organising the dahi handi festival in the city do not seem to have been affected by the global economic slowdown. The Gokulasthami is the biggest festival this year because many mandals have doubled the prize money. For politicians, the festival is the best opportunity to display their clout, which they do through the Dahi Handi mandals they run.

This year NCP MLA Jitendra Avhad, MNS legislator Ram Kadam, Minister and NCP leader Sachin Ahir, Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik, Minority welfare minister Naseem Khan, Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam, NCP leader Pratap Surve were in top list to organise Dahi Handi competitions, offering generous amounts of prize money to the govindas.

Govinda mandals need to form nine or ten-tier pyramids to break most of the pots and walk away with the prizes. Apart from the big ones there are hundreds of other smaller `Dahi Handis' which are organised across the metropolis.

A year's hiatus due to the outbreak of swine flu last year seems to have added vigour to the Dahi Handi festival this year. With the stakes getting higher, the levels of pyramids are inching further upwards and the political fanfare is going overboard. Almost every political party has two-three leaders organising Dahi Handi competitions, offering generous amounts of prize money to the govindas.

This year Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe's nearly 80-year-old handi at Tembi Naka has a golden rim worth Rs 3 lakh. On the other hand, Awhad's NGO Sangharsh has three gold-plated handis up for grabs.

Politicians have also roped in film stars to add to the glamour quotient. While Awhad has roped in Akshay Kumar, Sarnaik has invited Prachi Desai and Aftab Shivdasani to break the handis.

Organisers are also ensuring the safety of govindas by keeping ambulances on standby. Some of them are also providing free insurance policies to govindas and top of that Shiv Sena leader has promised to provide employment opportunities to the govindas.

Govinda mandals, however, are not impressed with the increase in prize money, because they hardly get a fraction of the prize money. Most of the mandal’s say organisers announce grand prizes for eight, nine and ten-tier human pyramids, which are impossible to achieve for most Govindas [those who form human pyramids to reach the pot]. “Many mandals tend to subtract the expenses of the band or music system and refreshments and they hardly get half. Also there are many incidences where cheques often bounce and after the festival organisers make them run around for the prize money.

Jaagte Raho! club...It's your turn to become an active citizen

In September 2008, Janaagraha in partnership with Tata Tea, launched Jaago Re! One Billion Votes as a non-partisan initiative to awaken and enable the youth of India to register to vote. Covering 37 of India’s largest cities, the movement enabled more than 6 lakh online voter registrations ahead of 2009 General Elections, making it the most successful online registration drive in Indian history. In the run-up to General Elections ’09, there arose a need for an active platform that enabled registered voters to participate in electoral issues. After having polling on 30^th May everybody was asking what after this? How you are goanna move on from here? The reason behind that, the voter turnout was so poor. It’s a history, around any election many organisations come forward and run the campaigns to spread the word about voter registration and better voter turnout, but once the elections get over they all disappear. Here we (Janaagraha) are different from others. We understand the need behind putting continues effort to resolve electoral & civic issues. So we launched our new campaign Jaagte Raho! on 15^th December, 2009 which inspire value of active citizenship in urban India by bringing out the vote for union, state and local elections and by promoting participation in neighbourhood areas.

As a campaign the entire focus on major cities and youth. One of fundamental aims of a university education is to prepare better citizens for the nation. While the ideal is an extremely noble one, most colleges tend to focus on academic excellence as a means to achieve it. And it’s a same case with corporate too. Most corporates today have a sustained CSR program, and firmly believe in playing a pro-active role in ensuring the well being of their employees and society at large. However, CSR programs very often look at opportunities outside the organization and not within. This results in unfortunate scenarios where voter registration and turnout rates in the best Indian universities and corpotares are way below the national average. There is a dearth of systems that nurture and promote the ‘Citizenship’ potential within the employee and student base.

To some extent, this is also due to the difficulties faced by institutions in promoting civic engagement internally – be it voter registration, regular volunteering with nonprofits, spreading awareness on civic issues etc. Experiences during the Jaago Re! One Billion Votes campaign last year, where voter awareness talks and registration drives were conducted in 180+ institutions nationally; show that there is tremendous enthusiasm amongst colleges & young employees to support electoral and civic engagement activities. What is needed is a permanent setup (a Club) within each institution that catalyzes and manages all internal electoral and civic engagement activities in an informed manner.

In response to this need, Janaagraha has introduced the concept of Jaagte Raho! club – an internal group within each Institution that will work in a sustained manner to catalyze active citizenship amongst all students/employees. Any institution with more than 500 students can setup a formal Jaagte Raho! club, in partnership with Janaagraha or they can also run the activities under an existing club. Besides being the key platform within institutions to contribute towards nation building, Jaagte Raho! clubs will play a key role in developing the leadership qualities among youth.

What India needs today is engaged active citizens and youth are part of a large section of this citizenry. This does not mean we need to become part of a political party to make a difference. The simple act of being aware of our governance structure, keeping track of the Acts and laws passed by the government, monitoring the policies being made and to voice out your opinion at public forums can make a big difference. By holding our government accountable we would bring a greater sense of responsibility to the leaders we elect.

Many of us don't take interest in nor participate actively in the formation of our government and administration of our country, because most of us view politics as quicksand, once in it there's no way out. During the election a lot of political figures come into the limelight, but how much do we know about their contribution to the development of our country? Some politicians take advantage of the fact that most people don't really understand how the government functions and neither do they try to find out! Reasons for the citizen’s apathy towards politics are many, like rampant corruption, criminalisation of politics, indifference towards people's needs; lack of accountability and the list goes on. Here your simple acts of participation can make a BIG difference to your neighbourhood and country. By engaging in electoral and civic activities you will deepen the democracy in our country and soon see results of a better quality of life.

Jaagte Raho! club is an answer to most of your questions. The permanent platform within institution which gives you an opportunity to sharpen your leadership quality and which will also gives the space to experiment your new ideas. Everyone has their own limitations & this journey will be difficult. The road will be long. But with limitless faith in the capacity of the young people nothing is impossible. If we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then it absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to work toward the longer vision, which we have achieved today.

JRC is a platform where people meet regularly to discuss issues they are passionate about. This should ideally be a public space which enable opening of the platform to the greater audience, hence creating the platform for free speech and public discussion. This could even be a place on your institution campus which is thrown open to all. Every young person associated with JRC has a deep desire to learn and we recognize this. Janaagraha will be providing training to core team & Advisory group members to understand the need of participation, what the club activities are & how to do that. As Core team members, you must lead institution and get others interested.

Jaagte Raho! Club also works to build skills and mentor youth enabling them to take initiatives. To give youth grassroots experience of participating in local issues, we encourage students to work on NGO’s projects to nurture the spirit of volunteerism. Over the past few years large numbers of students have engaged with different NGO’s in various projects. Some involve interacting with communities, investigating city problems, surveying, campaigning and interviewing. These experiences have given students a chance to consciously look at urban problems. Having been on projects students go back with a better understanding of challenges of city governance and most importantly with a positive will to engage in local community issues.

In India, political discussions and debates exist only in the informal space of our social circles, mostly limited to our friends and family. The youth today are displaying an increased interest in discussing politics and passionately debate issues which don’t just concern them directly but also affect the country as a whole. The youth is willing to engage and understand these issues, but lack a platform that facilitates this. Given our strong belief in participatory democracy, we see Jaagte Raho! Club gives you chance to become an active citizen.

Less voter turnout, nothing wrong in it…

India will vote, we are angry, we don’t want criminals, these are some tag lines everybody was hearing after 26 November terrorist attack on Taj hotel in Mumbai. Enough is enough, now we will take the charge. People were reacting like entire political scenario will change in 15th Lok Sabha Election and will give the very vibrant message to the world. But Indian people are ready for that? 40-45% people have voted in first 4 fazes and 62% in last faze of voting. What does it means? After all drama, this is an impact which we are looking for? After 26 November without any notice more than lack people come down on road and protested against the government and politicians. Everybody was angry. Finally they decided to teach lesson to corrupt politicians. Will show the peoples power and what we call DEMOCRACY is! We will VOTE.

Then thousands of organisations came forward and started local and nationwide campaigns for voting awareness in country. All these campaigns were highly appreciated by media, common man of the country and the scenario like in first time the voting percentage will high like never before in Indian election history. But finally all the equation went wrong, people didn’t came out for voting. Some were busy in enjoying 4 days continues holidays on hill stations, some were enjoying there fish and chicken at home.
But here question is still remains why people have not voted this time? Are they still looking for an example or still not aware about the system? I think yes; these are two major reasons which we need to think upon it. First many people are not aware about what exactly MP, MLA and Corporator do. What are there responsibilities? Common man judging all of them on same platform. If my drainage system is not working I am suppose to complain to Municipal Corporator, but I complain to MLA and MP. We are really not aware about which subject comes under which list. So we need to aware, enable the people.
Second thing; we should not come to final conclusion now, that is people don’t have faith in the system. Because they need some time and some are looking for an example. After all the bomb blast, attacks and protest against corrupt politicians not a single political parties refuse to give them a ticket. All the political party have given the tickets to corrupt and criminal background candidates. Then why people should come out and vote this time. They feel there is no right candidate to represent me on national level. I will vote next time when political party will give me the right candidate for my constituency. So this is the red signal to all Political Parties to seriously think upon it. People are really thinking lets see, those who have voted and after that whosever will elect this time what change they will bring in to the system. This is totally fine. We need to understand system will not change in one day or 5 years. It will take time and we have to wait for that. But the people who have took an initiative now and voluntarily come forward to work they are not goanna stop here. It will defiantly take time but whatever change they will bring that will be sustainable and at this stage we are looking for the same.
Finally it depends upon the VOTER RAJA, who elects his representative in Lok Sabha to lead him for largest democracy in the world. If this time they have not voted, nothing wrong in it. They will defiantly vote next time.

Indo-US Nuclear Deal

The anxieties concerning Indo-US nuclear deal began on July 18th, 2005 with the joint declaration of our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George Bush. The treaty is known as 123 deal because of the changes that were made in the 123 section of the American atomic energy deal of 1954 which allows US to enter to treaties with India which has not signed NPT. There are 17 sections in 22 pages in the deal which is relevant for 40 years. Hyde act is another amendment made to this deal that will allow US to sell nuclear technology and equipments to India. Hyde act is known after the name of Henry Joseph Hyde the senator who proposed the act.
The PM insists that nuclear energy is the only source for the energy crisis of our country. But one needs to look at the energy production of this country and compare the nuclear energy that India will get from the nuclear deal before signing the deal. Thermal and hydro electric projects contribute 55 % and 22 % of the total production of the power in the country respectively. The 4120 megawatts that come from nuclear power projects contribute only 2 %. The govt. claims that if the nuclear deal is signed, by 2040 the nuclear power production will touch 40,000 megawatts. The planning commission places it at 29000 by the year 2021. The wind generated power units and the recently improved power generating source jointly produce 10715 megawatts (7.5%) whereas nuclear power which with its history of more than fifty years has been able only to produce only 4120 megawatts.
The cost of nuclear generated electricity is appalling. Coal/ Thermal power is priced at 3.73 crore/megawatt as against the 7.4 Crore/megawatt. Natural Gas and hydroelectric power can be generated at 2crore per megawatt. The imported reactors that are part of the nuclear deal will take the cost to something like 11.1 crore (inclusive of the interests of the production capital). The statistics shows that the cost of nuclear power is five times that of hydroelectric power and three and half times that of thermal/coal power. It might be relevant to recall the financial burden that Enron, with its mere 2000 megawatt capacity brought to bear on the Government of Maharashtra. The burden of 40000 megawatts will be staggering.
A study conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology reveals that US spends 4.2 cents for coal generated power and 7.6. for nuclear power. The disposal of nuclear waste which poses serious threats to all forms of life is still a daunting problem. The cost of decommissioning of nuclear reactors exceeds that of commissioning. The carelessness of man, the internal unrest, civil wars natural disasters raise serious challenges to nuclear safety. The cases of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island are hard to forget. Einstein's observation that research on nuclear safety should be given priority over nuclear energy is worth recalling here.
India, a fast developing country is in urgent need of nuclear safety. What is of paramount importance is whom should and how should India depend for nuclear energy. It is not wise to engage in a frantic rush for nuclear energy which causes serious social crisis when there are other more productive and less harmful ways of producing power using modern technology and natural resources. Those who argue that we will need nuclear energy when the coal and thermal source of power are exhausted should remember that uranium which is essential for nuclear power will not available as a long term source.
We need to depend on alternative sources and systems of generating power that will not destroy the balance of nature or the existence of humanity. Solar power is the fastest growing option that is receiving widespread attention and acceptance. The scientists have come to conclusion that from Rajastan desert alone one lakh megawatt of solar power is possible. On a long term basis, we need to develop solar, hydro electric, wind and biomass and for short term dependence we can look to thermal and coal. In Nepal alone, there is the possibility of producing 8000 megawatts of hydro electric power and our national hydroelectric corporation points out that we can make around 50000 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Many mini hydro electric projects and alternative systems and sources are possible. This being the situation, we need to think whether we should lead ourselves to a Gordian knot (Nuclear Deal) that America insists.
Another objection raised by those who support nuclear power is that coal/ thermal power generating stations will worsen global warming. There is no doubt that use of fossil energy will augment the green house effect. Just because India stops using such energy is not going to help. If India coal reactors emit 500kilos waste US reactors emit 5 tonnes. The statistics show that the major culprit of global warming is the US. The US has always resisted everything that is against their interests. The US had no qualms about walking out of the KYOTO agreement. Only selfish interest governs US in this nuclear deal. The Section 104(d) 5 (b) is ample proof that country's selfish concerns in this deal.
The above data proves without doubt that for power safety and environment protection we need coal based power generating stations and not nuclear power reactors. We need to rely on clean coal technology to reduce environmental pollution. A major chunk of the domestic power use is the electric bulb invented by Edison more than one hundred years ago. Such bulbs convert 90 % of electricity to light. The use of such bulbs in India is estimated at 100 crores. Replacing them with CFL bulbs will reduce energy consumption by more than fifty percent. You can save the environment from thousands of tons of carbon waste, and reduce electricity bill in households. The greater life of the CFL bulbs will also reduce E wastes. The total cost will be somewhere between 7000-10000 crores. Such being the case, to argue that nuclear power is the only solution is fooling oneself.
This deal which is supposed to be for power safety refers only to electric energy. Electricity forms only a portion of our energy consumption. Oil, natural gas and petrochemical products are not even discussed. The demand for oil and natural gas are on the rise day by day. 72 % of the petroleum consumption of our country is imported. According to the integrated energy policy report of the planning commission, by 2032, the demand for petroleum will rise from 33400 lakh tons to 4620 lakh tons and that of natural gas from 990 to 1840. These figures show that the Indo American nuclear deal will meet only a small portion of our energy demand. Before one enters into this deal, one needs to take into consideration some facts. India's share in world energy consumption is only a mere 2 percent. India stands first globally as the importer of oil. Nuclear energy meets only 3-5 % of the demands for energy as compared to 30 and10 % of oil and natural gas. In the future 40 % of the energy demand will be from oil and natural gas.
The pipeline project from Iran through Pakistan will be a partial solution to our demands. The project with an output of 250 lakh tons of natural gas would be a significant step towards saving millions of rupees. The figures furnished by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Resources are significant. The cost of one Billion Terminal Unit of Natural Gas (Iran Pipeline Project) is a mere 4 dollars as against the international market price of 14 dollar. The possibility of a very cost effective means of acquiring natural gas will be nullified by the Indo American Nuclear Deal.
American Business concerns give much importance to 123 deal. US Chamber of Commerce, the largest business federation in the world expects around 60 lakh crores from India as part of the Indo American deal. The business houses in India also expect crores of rupees from this deal. The big shots in the government also expect monetary gains from this deal. How can one claim that they are the followers of Gandhiji who insisted that all plans for development should be implemented without losing sight of the poorest sections of our country? That smiling toothless reverend old man sitting on the wall of ManMohan Singh's should be saying no to Indo American nuclear deal. Quit Nuclear Deal that is what that the great old man who passed away would be exhorting us to do.
The intention of the Indian Government is to amend the nuclear deal and open up the production of nuclear energy to private corporations. This will destroy the nuclear safety of our country. The possibility of uranium and plutonium falling into the hands of terrorists cannot be ruled out. It would be worthwhile to remember Einstein's words- it is dangerous to give greater powers to private agencies and corporations that do not have equally greater responsibilities"
The meager energy that we get through 123 deal is achieved at the expense of sacrificing India's sovereignty and integrity. It will be the end of our self reliance in the field of nuclear energy and it will offer shackles in the sphere of foreign policies. The question whether India should keep aloof from nuclear energy when China, Korea and France even with their energy resources from coal are favourable towards nuclear energy has also come up. It is not by quoting the example of France or China that India should take a decision, rather it should be based on the assessment of technological advances that India has achieved in the field of nuclear energy. Indian scientists have pointed out that the nuclear deal will destroy the second stage fast breeder technology that our country alone possesses.
India's voting against Iran can be seen only as a move to appease America. This is ironic since those who voted against Iran are the followers of Nehru who once reiterated to America that we are not international beggars. Such actions cause a blemish on the sense of justice that this country has always upheld. What is more essential for the power security and self sufficiency of the country is to use the energy that is available from oil and natural gas. It does not lie in buying reactors from GE or Westing House. To make it possible we need peace in the Asian region. The intention of the American Imperialist forces is to cause unrest. Do we need this deal that will sacrifice the sovereignty and international policies of our country?

Samyukta Maharashtra Movement

Summary

A study of Samyukta Maharashtra movement reveals this familiar general pattern. The rise and growth of the Samyukta Maharshtra movement must be studied not merely in the general context of the countrywide agitation for linguistic States but also in the particular context of the society and politics in Maharashtra.

Introduction

The problem of recognizing the states and demarcating their boundaries after setting conflicting claims considerable anxiety to the government of India and the congress party after the achievement of independence. It was a legacy of the pre-independence period during which the congress committed itself to the idea of redrawing the map of India mainly on the linguistic basis. After the achievement of freedom, various linguistic groups demanded the redemption of the old pledge.

Historical Background

At no time in the history of India, all the regions, which now constitute the state of Maharashtra, were politically one. They were ruled for centuries by different dynasties till shivaji succeeded in out an independent kingdom for the Marathas in 1674. Despite Aurangazeb’s did to destroy then after Shivsji death in 1680, the Marathas continued to dominate politics in India.

Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti

Samyukta Maharashtra samiti was on organization that spearheaded the demand, in the 1950s, for the creation of a separate Marathi-speaking state out of the (then bilingual) state of Bombay in western India. The organization was founded on February 6, 1956, under the leadership of Keshavrav jedhe in Pune. Prominent activist if Samyukta mahatashtra samiti were Acharya Atre, Prabodhankar thakeray, Senapati Bapat and Shahir AmarShaikh among others.

The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was achieving his goal on May 1, 1960 when the state of Bombay was partitioned into the Marathi-speaking State of Maharashtra and the Gujarati-speaking State of Gujarat.

In early 1960, demonstrators were fired upon by the police at Flora Fountain in the capital city of Mumbai (Bombay). Flora Fountain was subsequently renamed Hutatma chowk or “Marty’s Crossroads” in their memory. It is estimated that in all, 105 people met their death in violence related to the movement.

Details of Samyukta Maharashtra Movement

The socio-economic conditions have also considerably influenced the course of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. Barring the industrially advanced Bombay-Poona region, the rest of Maharashtra is even now industrially as underdeveloped as several other states in India. Nearly 70 per cent of its people living in rural areas depend on agriculture for their livelihood. As the percentage of net irrigated areas to the cultivated areas is extremely low and the rainfall irregular, scanty and undependable, agriculture in Maharashtra has invariably been affected by the vagaries of the monsoon. During British rule, major irrigation schemes were undertaken only in the Deccan. As the storage sites for construction of dams on the rivers in Gujarat were to be located in the former princely states, which were not eager to co-operate, Gujarat had to wait till independence for the implementation of major and minor irrigation schemes (Patel, cultivated by their tenants. It was not, therefore, surprising that the twin targets of the anti-Brahmin movement, which gathered strength in the twenties and the thirties, were the non-Marathi-speaking Shetaji (a rich person) and the Marathi-speaking Bhataji (a Brahmin priest).

Another important feature of Maharashtra’s economy is its pathetic dependence on the Bombay Metropolitan region. It accounts for 75 per cent the industrial activity in Maharashtra and nearly 65 percent of factory workers in the state. It is because of Greater Bombay that Maharashatra appears to be India’s most urbanished and industrially advanced state. But excluding Greater Bombay, even now, it is not merely as backward as less industrialized parts of the country.

A separate State of the Marathi-speaking Brahmins was possible. By raising the spectre of the Maratha caste-cluster’s hegemony, the Gujarati-speaking leaders who opposed Samyukta Maharashtra often urged the Marathi speaking Brahmins to give up their demand. Though a majority of the letter refused to be frightened by this nightmare not a negligible section of Brahmins did feel assured by the presence of the Gujarati-speaking.

None of the Maharashtra contingent was ever regarded as a member of congress high command in the Nehru era. The absence of the Marathi-speaking leaders in the decision –making group of the congress led to the belief that Maharashtra was lagging behind and had a secondary position in an Indian politics. Not only congressmen but also by non-congress leader demanded the fact that Maharashtra congress leader were occupying back seats. What was even more significant that several leaders and leading intellectuals of Maharashtra often gave vent to this feeling during the post-independence period when the congress high command persisted in refusing to concede the demand for Samyukta Maharashtra.

Unlike the powerful movements for the creation of separate provinces of Bihar, Orisa, Andhra and Karnataka, the campaign for the Samyukta Maharashtra was relatively of recent origin. Congress leaders from Maharashtra did not evince any interest in the early attempts made by the Samyukta Maharashtra. Sabha in 1940 to mobilize public opinion for the unification of Maharashtra. They believed that the creation of linguistic provinces was a secondary question, which could be tackled after independence.

Battle for Bombay

The battle for Bombay had four distinct phases. During the first phase (1946 to 17 November 1955) under the leadership of the Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad.the supporters of Samyukta Maharashtra tried to bargain with their opponents by giving certain guarantees and by agreeing to provide safe-guard to protect their legitimate interest (Dec. 1954; letter to Thakurdas) but the Bombay citizens’ committee led by Purshottamdas Thakurdas was quit adamant and reiterated its demand for a separate city-state of Bombay.