Formation of Himachal Pradesh (15 April 1948)

• Event:
  Himachal Pradesh was constituted as a separate administrative unit — a Chief Commissioner’s Province under the Government of India.
• Merged States:
  • 26 Shimla Hill States (except Nalagarh), and
  • 3 Punjab Hill States — Sirmaur, Chamba, and Suket.
  • Total merged: 29 on 15 April 1948.
  • Mandi joined later, on 1 May 1948.
• Crowning Events:
  • The merger was the culmination of:
    • The Solan Conference (26 Jan 1948), and
    • The Suket Satyagraha (18 Feb 1948).

Major States Involved:

• Chamba, Mandi, Suket, Sirmaur
• Bushahr (and its tributaries Khaneti, Delath)
• Keonthal (and tributaries Koti, Theog, Madhan, Ghund, Ratesh)
• Baghal, Baghat, Jubbal, Rawin, Dhadi
• Kumharsain, Bhajji, Mahlog, Balsan, Dhami
• Kuthar, Kunihar, Mangal, Beja, Darkoti, Tharoch, Sangri

Total: 30 princely states merged into Himachal Pradesh.

Four Districts Formed:

At Formation Stats:

• Total Area: 27,018 sq. km
• Population: 9,35,000

• System: Chief Commissioner Province
• Public Sentiment:
  • The people were dissatisfied with the bureaucratic setup.
  • Called it the “Mehta–Moon misrule.”

First Administration:

• Chief Commissioner: Mr. N.C. Mehta
• Deputy Commissioner: Mr. Penderel Moon

Advisory Council (30 September 1948):

• Purpose: To advise on policy, development, and legislation.
• Composition:
  • 3 rulers
  • 6 people’s representatives

Public Representatives (The Council Members):

1. Leela Vati (C is Lila Devi)
2. Dr. Y.S. Parmar
3. Avtar Chand Mehta (B is Mehta Avtar Chand)
4. Swami Purna Nand (A is Swami Purnanand)
5. Sh. Padam Dev
6. L. Shiv Charan

Rulers: Three former rulers from Mandi, Chamba, and Baghat.