From 50 Years Ago (17 September 2005)

found giving out seemingly authoritative few who can retain their balance under its FROM 50 YEARS AGO details about the shape of things to come impact. particularly in relation to their States. This rightly led the public to think that the Linguistic Fury recommendations had already reached a stage of finality and also that they had been That all this should have followed immecommunicated to a few select folk so as to diately after the earnest appeals of Pandit prepare the relevant sections of the people for Nehru, Shri Govind Vallabh Pant and other Vol VII, No 38, September 17, 1955 the announcement to come. Since then, top Congress leaders for calmness and sobrihowever, these Chief Ministers have ety in reacting to the recommendations of theShape of Things to Come received a rap on the knuckles from the Commission, strikingly indicates how neither Congress High Command which does not considerations of party discipline nor of (Weekly Notes) signify much. Governmental responsibility can be expected The moot point is whether these respon-to keep linguistic rivalry and fury under check. The country has already had some sible stewards of States had been favoured It may be pointed here that the Chief Ministers indication of what is in store for it when the with a peep into the likely recommendations who thought it fit to open their mouths and recommendations of the States Reorganisation of the Commission or they were trying stir a controversy in advance have been and Commission come to be published. Signi-on their own to work up public opinion on are Congressmen of considerable standing ficantly, the lead in creating misunderstanding lines acceptable to themselves and their and record of service. But what is so apparent and providing an impetus to agitation has States so as to force the hands of the Com-is only a part of what seems to be going on been taken by the Chief Ministers for two mission in the last and most decisive stage behind the scenes. Not only agitators and States, Andhra and Travancore-Cochin. When of its deliberation. If the latter assumption other vocal citizens, but also those in authority the country was being told that the Com-proves correct, it will only show how far are fast breaking up into hostile camps, mission was yet to meet in Delhi to finalise the linguistic mischief has already gone watching one another for likely manoeuvres its recommendations, these dignitaries were and how, when it comes to a test, there are and preparing frantically for a bitter fight.