Jharkhand

Originally part of Bihar, Jharkhand became a state in November 2000 after decades of political struggle. This blog examines the pivotal events that contributed to the formation of Jharkhand and how its districts have evolved.

Early Administrative History

On 22 March 1912, the British established Bihar and Orissa Province, one of India’s earliest modern administrative units. This province was divided into Orissa (now Odisha) and Bihar the same year, and the latter was officially renamed Bihar State following India’s independence (Alam, 2004). 

The boundaries remained largely unchanged, with the only notable exception being the 1948 inclusion of the princely states of Kharsawan and Seraikela (previously part of Orissa) due to linguistic considerations (Sharma, 1988). Additionally, twelve non-salute princely states affiliated with the Bihar States Agency—Mohrampur, Darbhanga, Ramgarh, Ranka, Jagdishpur, Dumraon, Dinghwara, Tajpur, Banaili, Kahra, Bhour, and Chanour—were also integrated into Bihar. However, as these princely states were relatively small, their inclusion did not significantly alter the state's boundaries (White paper, 1950).

The Genesis of the Jharkhand Movement

The movement for a separate Jharkhand was rooted in the region's tribal identity. The Adivasi Mahasabha, established in 1938, laid the movement’s foundation by emphasizing the distinct socio-cultural fabric of the tribal Chotanagpur and Santhal Parganas regions (Rana, 1992).

Jaipal Singh Munda, a prominent Munda Adivasi leader and former captain of the Indian hockey team, played a pivotal role. Under his leadership, the Adivasi Mahasabha transformed into the Jharkhand Party in 1949, broadening its base to include non-tribal supporters and focusing on the demand for a separate state. The party gained traction in the 1950s, evident from the 32 seats it scored in the 1952 Bihar Legislative Assembly. However, internal divisions as well as the party’s merger with the Indian National Congress in 1963 hurt its influence (Kumar, 2010).

States Reorganisation Commission and Its Aftermath

In 1953, Bihar and its neighboring states presented several claims before the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), seeking the bifurcation of Bihar into a separate state of Jharkhand, as well as resolving some border conflicts with West Bengal. The SRC dismissed most claims, including that of a separate Jharkhand, as they were prioritizing linguistic divisions (SRC, 1955).

However, the movement persisted, adapting its strategies and broadening its base to include various political and social groups.

Revival and Intensification of the Movement

The movement resurged in the 1970s with the formation of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in 1972 by Shibu Soren, Binod Bihari Mahato, and A. K. Roy. The JMM worked on mobilising tribal communities and addressing issues like land alienation, industrialisation, and tribal preservation. (Corbridge, 2010; Kumar & Rai, 2009).

In the late 1980s and 1990s, the movement gained further momentum. The All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) was particularly popular, especially amongst the youth (Khan, 2024).

At Long Last, Statehood for Jharkhand

The campaign for Jharkhand’s statehood culminated when the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with support from the Indian National Congress (INC) and JMM, pushed for the Bihar Reorganisation Bill and successfully got it signed in April 2000 (Khan, 2024). The bill included an amendment that officially named the new state ‘Jharkhand’ (rejecting the earlier proposal of ‘Vananchal’). On 15 November 2000, the state of Jharkhand was born, comprising eighteen districts from the southern region of Bihar (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2000).

Conclusion

The demand for Jharkhand’s statehood spanned more than six decades, from the establishment of the Adivasi Mahasabha in 1938 to the realisation of the state in 2000. When Jharkhand was formed, it had 18 districts. Since then, six new districts have been created, and four existing districts have undergone name changes. Check out maps of Jharkhand from 2001, 2011, and 2021 for a detailed look at this evolution.

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References

• Alam, J. (2004). Government and Politics in Colonial Bihar, 1921-37. Mittal Publications.

  
  

• Corbridge, S. (2010). The continuing struggle for India’s Jharkhand: democracy, decentralisation and the politics of names and numbers. Commonwealth & Comparative Politics, 40–3, 55–71.

  
  

• Ministry of Home Affairs, (2000). The Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2001. Government of India.

  
  

• Khan, M. (2024). Jharkhand. IN The Territories and States of India 2024 (pp. 155-163). Routledge. 

  
  

• Kumar, B. (2010). Ethnic Demands and the Jharkhand Movement. Rajagiri Journal of Social Development, 1(2), 4-18. 

  
  

• Kumar, S., & Rai, P. (2009). Shrinking political space for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Economic & Political Weekly (Vol. xliv, Issue 33, pp. 24–25). 

  
  

• Rana, L. N. (1992, January). The Adivasi Mahasabha (1938-1949): Launching Pad Of The Jharkhand Movement. IN Proceedings of the Indian History Congress (Vol. 53, pp. 397-405). Indian History Congress.  

  
  

• Sharma, A. P. (1988). The Jharkhand movement: A critique. Social Change, 18(2), 59-82. 

  
  

• States Reorganisation Commission (1955). Report of the States Reorganisation Commission. Ministry of Home Affairs. 

  
  

• White Paper on Indian States. (1950). Ministry of States, Government of India.