Haryana Day, 2024 | 05 Nov 2024

Why in News?

Haryana Day, celebrated on 1st November each year, commemorates the state's establishment in 1966, when it was carved from Punjab.

Key Points

  • Background:
    • Linguistic and Cultural Identity: Haryana, culturally and linguistically distinct, sought autonomy from Punjab post-independence.
    • Demand for Statehood: Key leaders advocated for a Hindi-speaking state, emphasizing Haryana's cultural and linguistic uniqueness.
    • Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966: Enacted by the Indian Parliament, this was crucial in creating the states of Haryana and Punjab, as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
    • Shah Commission (1966): Formed under Justice JC Shah, it recommended specific boundaries based on linguistic demographics.
    • Recommendation: Allocated regions to Haryana, including districts like Hisar and Gurgaon, aligning with the Hindi-speaking population.
  • Important Personalities:
    • Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma: Haryana's first Chief Minister, he was a prominent advocate for statehood.
    • Justice JC Shah: Chaired the Shah Commission, crucial in delineating Haryana’s boundaries.

Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

  • The Punjab Reorganisation Act,1966 separated parts of the state of Punjab to form new states and a union territory.
  • Haryana a new state was formed from the Hindi-speaking areas of the state, including the districts of Hissar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Karnal, and Mahendragarh.
  • Himachal Pradesh the mountainous regions of Punjab were merged with Himachal Pradesh, which was then a union territory. Himachal Pradesh became a state in 1971.
  • Chandigarh the capital of Punjab, Chandigarh, was made a union territory to serve as the provisional capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
  • The Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 was passed by the Indian Parliament on 18th September, 1966. It was the result of the Punjabi Suba movement, which sought to create a Punjabi-speaking state.