‘Andhra’s birth had sown seeds of separate states’

The states were eventually reorganised on grounds of language by the end of the 1950s.

The book says that though the Congress had accepted language as the basis for formation of states since 1921,the experience of partition “urged it to give top priority to unity”.

The Jaipur session of the Congress reiterated the acceptance of linguistic divisions in principle,the book says adding that a Committee comprising Nehru,Sardar Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya was set up to examine the issue.

“The Committee report was not in favour of further linguistic divisions. It felt that any effort at re-drawing the boundaries of the states might harm unity,by dislodging the administration,disrupting economic development and accentuating linguistic rivalries”,the book says.

However,the success of the struggle for a separate state in Andhra in 1953 changed matters.

The book was released by Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi at last week’s plenary as part of the 125-year celebrations.

It is the fifth of a series planned during the 1985 centenary celebrations under Rajiv’s leadership.

Rajiv is said to have instructed that the five-volume history should be written by “professionals” and the “facts” be presented in a manner that future generations can judge the Congress for themselves.

So,the party commissioned historians to write it. Pranab Mukherjee is the chief editor.