Explain the significance of the Philip-Duff Committee (1924) and the Attlee Committee in the process of Odisha’s formation.

Significance of Philip-Duff and Attlee Committees in Odisha's Formation

Introduction

The movement for a separate Odisha province gained momentum through a series of administrative inquiries initiated by the British. Among these, the Philip-Duff Committee (1924) and the Attlee Committee (part of the Simon Commission, 1928-30) played transformative roles. These committees provided the empirical evidence and political justification needed to validate the demand for linguistic unification, moving it from a regional desire to a constitutional necessity.

The Philip-Duff Committee (1924)

This committee was appointed to investigate the grievances of Odia-speaking people in the Madras Presidency, specifically the Ganjam district.

  • The Inquiry: Led by C.L. Philip and A.C. Duff, the committee conducted extensive field visits to ascertain if the Odia people in Ganjam desired amalgamation with the Odisha division.
  • Findings: They reported an overwhelming desire for merger. According to their data, nearly 90% of the population in Ganjam and the Jeypore Agency expressed a wish to be united with their linguistic kin.
  • Significance: It was the first time a British inquiry officially recommended the merger of Ganjam with Odisha, shattering the Madras Government's claim that the people were satisfied under their rule.

The Attlee Committee (1928-1930)

As part of the Simon Commission, a sub-committee headed by Clement Attlee was formed to look specifically into the Odisha question.

  • Linguistic Basis: The committee recognized that language was a vital bond of union. Madhusudan Das and other leaders provided the committee with the historical and cultural context of the Odia nation.
  • Recommendations: Attlee's report was groundbreaking as it explicitly stated that the union of Odisha and Bihar was "artificial." It recommended the creation of a separate Odisha province as a solution to the administrative difficulties.
  • Significance: Since Clement Attlee later became the Prime Minister of the UK, his early sympathetic view provided the high-level political backing that eventually led to the Round Table Conferences and the 1936 declaration.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Philip-Duff Committee provided the ground-level data for territorial integration, while the Attlee Committee provided the constitutional impetus for provincial status. Together, they neutralized the opposition from neighboring presidencies and paved the way for the Government of India Act, 1935. Their recommendations ensured that the Odia-speaking tracts were finally consolidated, leading to the birth of Modern Odisha.