Coorg State was a Part-C
state in India which existed from 1950 to 1956.
[ When the ]Constitution of India
The Constitution of India (IAST: ) is the supreme law of India. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental ...
came into force on 26 January 1950, most of the existing provinces were reconstituted into states. Thus, Coorg Province
Coorg Province was a province of British India from 1834 to 1947 and the Dominion of India from 1947 to 1950. Mercara was the capital of the province. It was administered by a Commissioner and later, Chief Commissioner appointed by the Governm ...
became Coorg State. Coorg State was ruled by a Chief Commissioner with Mercara as its capital. The head of the government was the Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...
. Coorg State was abolished on 1 November 1956 as per the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 and its territory were merged with Mysore State
Mysore State, colloquially Old Mysore, was a state within the Dominion of India and the later Republic of India from 1947 until 1956. The state was formed by renaming the Kingdom of Mysore, and Bangalore replaced Mysore as the state's capita ...
(later renamed as Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Kar ...
in 1973). Presently, Coorg forms a district of Karnataka state.
History
The Coorg State came into being on 26 January 1950 as per the Constitution of India
The Constitution of India (IAST: ) is the supreme law of India. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental ...
. Prior to the enactment of the Constitution, Coorg had been a province of the Dominion of India.
The first legislative elections in Coorg were held in 1952. The main contenders were the Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British ...
led in the state by C. M. Poonacha
Cheppudira Muthana Poonacha was the Chief Minister of Coorg, Minister in Mysore State, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha), Union Railway Minister of India and Governor of Madhya Pradesh and Governor of Orissa.
Freedom Movement
...
and the Takkadi party led by the Gandhian Pandyanda Belliappa. While the Congress supported merger with the neighbouring Mysore State
Mysore State, colloquially Old Mysore, was a state within the Dominion of India and the later Republic of India from 1947 until 1956. The state was formed by renaming the Kingdom of Mysore, and Bangalore replaced Mysore as the state's capita ...
, the Takkadi party fought the election on an anti-merger plank. The Indian National Congress won a majority of 15 seats while the Takkadi party bagged the remaining nine seats.
Commissioners of Coorg State
(1) Dewan Bahadur Ketolira Chengappa, became its first Chief Commissioner from 1947–1949
(2) C.T. Mudaliar became Chief Commissioner from 1949 - 1950[
(3) Kanwar Baba ]Daya Singh Bedi
Ambassador Lieutenant-Colonel Baba Daya Singh Bedi (1899–1975) was an Indian diplomat, Civil Servant and a Cavalry officer in the British Indian Army with the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse) who after the partition of ...
, Chief Commissioner from 1950 - 1956
Government of Coorg
Government was formed in Coorg by Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British ...
, who won 15 of 24 seats. Cabinet was formed with two ministers (including Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...
), which lasted till States Reorganisation Act
The States Reorganisation act, 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries of India's states and territories, organising them along linguistic lines.
Although additional changes to India's state boundaries have been made since 1956, the States ...
on 1 November 1956.
Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...
Cheppudira Muthana Poonacha won from Berriathnad constituency became the first and last Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...
of Coorg State from 1950 till 1956.[
]
Cabinet
* Cheppudira Muthana Poonacha, who was the Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...
took the charge of Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a part of the government in most countries that is responsible for matters related to the finance.
Lists of current ministries of finance
Named "Ministry"
* Ministry of Finance (Afghanistan)
* Ministry of Finance and ...
for Coorg State.
* Kuttur Mallapa (elected to the assembly from the Sanivarsanthe constituency became the Home Minister
The Minister of Home Affairs (or simply, the Home Minister, short-form HM) is the head of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India. One of the senior-most officers in the Union Cabinet, the chief responsibility of the Home Minis ...
of Coorg State
Dissolution
As a result of the States Reorganisation Act
The States Reorganisation act, 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries of India's states and territories, organising them along linguistic lines.
Although additional changes to India's state boundaries have been made since 1956, the States ...
of 1 November 1956, when India's state boundaries were reorganised, Coorg State became a district of the then Mysore State
Mysore State, colloquially Old Mysore, was a state within the Dominion of India and the later Republic of India from 1947 until 1956. The state was formed by renaming the Kingdom of Mysore, and Bangalore replaced Mysore as the state's capita ...
[ Mysore State was later renamed as ]Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Kar ...
and part of the historical region of Coorg now forms the Kodagu
Kodagu (also known by its former name Coorg) is an administrative district in the Karnataka state of India. Before 1956, it was an administratively separate Coorg State, at which point it was merged into an enlarged Mysore State.
It occupie ...
district of Karnataka.
See also
* History of Kodagu
*Captivity of Coorgis at Seringapatam
The Captivity of ''Kodavas'' (Coorgis) at Seringapatam was the period of capture, deportation, and imprisonment of ''Kodava Takk'' speaking Coorgis who rebelled against Tippu Sultan, the de-facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, they were caught ...
References
Further reading
*
*
External links
Coorg State Legal Status 1956
{{States of India on 26 January 1950
Historical Indian regions
Political integration of India
States and territories disestablished in 1956
1950 establishments in India
History of Karnataka (1947–present)
Coorg
Mysore State
Gubernatorial titles