We, the People of the States of Bharat : The Making and Remaking of India's Internal Boundaries

by Sanjeev Chopra

Given that the nine provinces of British India as well as the 562 princely states that existed in August 1947 are not reflected on the map of India in the seventy-fifth year of its independence speaks volumes about the nation's ability to negotiate its political and administrative boundaries with its citizens. While the process of reimagining India through its constituent units - the states - has, on occasion, been due to administrative requirements, most restructuring in the internal boundaries is marked by the aspirations, assertions and adjustments of linguistic and/or ethnic groups seeking their place in the state and federal polity. For Dr Sanjeev Chopra, what started as research into land measurement instruments for revenue records and land settlements eventually became a narrative on mapping state boundaries and a record of the contemporary political history of India through its geography. The book includes captivating material from the reports of the States Reorganization Commission and Linguistic Reorganization Commission, records from state papers as well the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A fascinating read about the multiple boundary adjustments for every state and union territory in India - from 1947 to the seventy-fifth year of independence - We, the People of the States of Bharat is the quintessential story of how India continues to redefine itself.

Genres: History

350 pages, Hardcover

Published October 30, 2022

Reviews

[Sohail Nijas · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book that I've read after listening to the author explaining what it is about lucidly, also the first one that I got signed.

Has a lot of interesting tidbits that will provide the history buffs and map nerds something to ingratiate themselves with, though it might seem like too much of an effort at times if you're not one or both.

[Aditya Ganjoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive story of the development of the internal boundaries of India state-by-state. Shri Sanjeev has gone in depth to understand the nuances of politics, peoples' aspirations, history, economics etc. to come out with a satisfactorily exhaustive narrarive. It shows that the process of formation of state boundaries has the flavour of century-old traditions and events and is never ending; even the independence of India was just an event in it, not the initiator.
The book is complicated, somewhat dry, but an excellent resource to understand India. Connecting this with 1857 revolution and American Civil War gives me a wide new perspective about what freedom actually means!

[Jeet Arindam Shriyasht · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a matter of pride to see India through its states, studying their aspirations, claims and adjustments with utmost intelligence.
Former IAS officer Sanjiv Chopra has reflected on how the map changed from 1947 to 2019,
princely states, linguistic chauvinism, ethnic and tribal pride, Sikkim merger and foreign territory. The author has extracted many interesting information from the archives - analytical in-depth study, which he has shared with all of us with his outstanding talent.
This is a wonderful contribution, highly commendable.

[Mayank Dixit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive book on details as to how states were created and organised since independence. A brief of linguistic and cultural movements that shaped the boundaries of the states is noteworthy.