MAHARASHTRA AS A LINGUISTIC PROVINCE 109
- Comparison of Maharashtra with the existing and prospective Linguistic Provinces of India may also be useful. Their position in point of area, population and revenue is as follows : Province Area in Population Annual sq. miles Revenue
Rs.
Existing Linguistic Province —
United Provinces .. 106,247 5,50,20,617 32,65,08,000
Bihar .. .. 69,745 3,63,40,151 16,26,78,000
Orissa .. .. 32,198 82,28,544 4,60,62,000
New Linguistic Provinces —
Andhra .. .. 70,000 1,90,00,000 ….
Karnatak .. .. 25,000 45,00,000 ….
Kerala .. .. 6,000 35,00,000 ….
These figures when compared with the figures for Maharashtra leave no doubt that Maharashtra will not merely be a viable Province but a strong Province in point of area, population and revenue.
PART III
SHOULD THE MAHARASHTRA PROVINCE BE FEDERAL OR UNITARY ?
- I will now turn to what are known to be points on which there is controversy. There is no controversy regarding the unification of Maharashtra into one Province. The controversy relates to the way it should be brought about. One view is that the new Maharashtra Province should be a unitary Province, with a single legislature and a single executive. The other view is that Maharashtra should be a Federation of two sub-Provinces, one sub-Province to consist of the Marathi-speaking districts of the Bombay Presidency and the other of the Marathi-speaking districts of the present Province of the Central Provinces and Berar. The idea of creating subProvinces has originated from the spokesmen of the Marathi-speaking districts of Central Provinces and Berar. I am satisfied that it is only the wish of a few high-caste politicians who feel that in a unified Maharashtra their political careers will come to an end. It has no backing from the people of Central Provinces and Berar. I would not have referred to this point but for the fact that it gives me an opportunity to enunciate what I regard as a very vital principal. When it is decided to create a Linguistic Province, I am definitely of opinion that all areas which are contiguous and which speak the same language should be forced to come into it. There should be no room for choice nor for self-determination. Every attempt must be