Who was the Chairman of joint meeting of Shimla Hill States Rulers and Praja Mandal representatives held in January 1948 at Solan?
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (D)
Explanation:
The joint meeting, often referred to as the Solan Conference or Solan Constituent Assembly, was held on 26th January 1948. It was chaired by Raja Durga Singh of Baghat (Solan). It was in this meeting that the name “Himachal Pradesh” was formally proposed and adopted for the new hill state.
📚 Additional Info: Formation of Himachal Pradesh
1. The Solan Conference (Jan 1948)
- Objective: To counter the All India States Peoples’ Conference (Praja Mandal) demand for a democratic setup, the rulers tried to form their own union called the “Shimla Hill States Union.”
- Key Outcome: Despite the rulers’ initial intentions to maintain power, this meeting was pivotal because the representatives agreed on the integration of 26 Shimla Hill States and 4 Punjab Hill States into a single unit named Himachal Pradesh.
2. Key Personalities
- Raja Durga Singh (Baghat): He was the driving force among the rulers. He advocated for a separate hill state rather than merging with Punjab or creating a larger union with PEPSU.
- Dr. Y.S. Parmar: The leader of the Praja Mandal movement. He strongly opposed the “Solan Assembly” of rulers, arguing that power must be transferred to the people, not retained by princes. His efforts eventually led to the formation of the Chief Commissioner’s Province on April 15, 1948.
3. Other Options
- (A) Hira Singh Pal: A prominent freedom fighter from Dhami. He was the General Secretary of the Himalayan Prant Provisional Government formed in 1948.
- (C) Satya Dev Bushahri: A fiery leader of the Praja Mandal from Bushahr, known for his agitation against the ruler of Bushahr.