At 67, UP celebrates its birthday for the first time!

(24/01/2018) Noida

New Delhi: India’s biggest state, Uttar Pradesh is going to celebrate its first formation day at the age of 67 on January 24, 2018, as ‘Uttar Pradesh Diwas’ since its existence in 1950.

The decision has been taken by the State Government during the previous Assembly session held on May 03, 2017. The cabinet has also decided to organise mega event to mark UP Day, which would showcase the social, political and cultural journey of the state since January 24, 1950, when the state came into existence in the present form. The cabinet has decided to illustrate the achievements, journey and contribution of state and its citizens in nation building on the lines of Maharashtra Day.

Demands for celebrating the ‘UP Diwas’ had been pending for long. During the previous regime, Governor of the State Ram Naik had proposed the idea to the then Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav which left unanswered.

When the Yogi Adityanath Government came to power, the governor again pushed the idea which approved by the cabinet during the previous Assembly session.

“The day will bring pride among the citizens of UP and People would know the history and culture of their state,” said state cabinet minister Siddharth Nath Singh after cabinet’s approval.

“The celebrations would be no less than the Republic Day function and multiple projects will be inaugurated throughout the state during the celebrations,” he added.

History

UP was born on January 24, 1950. The then governor-general of India passed the United Provinces (alteration of the name) Order 1950 renaming the then United Provinces as Uttar Pradesh. It was published in the Uttar Pradesh Gazette (extraordinary) dated 24 January 1950.

According to books on UP and documents at the archives, the state was under Bengal Presidency till 1834. But then the need to form a fourth presidency was felt—the three being Bengal, Bombay and Madras. The fourth presidency was known as the Agra Presidency that was headed by a governor.

In January 1858, Lord Canning proceeded to Allahabad and formed the North Western Province excluding Delhi division. The seat of power was thus shifted from Agra to Allahabad. This was followed by the transfer of the high court from Agra to Allahabad in 1868.

In 1856, Awadh was placed under the chief commissioner. The districts were later merged with the North Western Province and began to be known as ‘North-Western Provinces and Oudh’ in 1877. The entire province came to be known as the ‘United Provinces of Agra and Oudh’ in 1902.

The first election for the legislative council was held in 1920 and the council was constituted in Lucknow in 1921. Since the governor, ministers and secretaries to governor had to be in Lucknow, the then governor Sir Harcourt Butler changed his headquarters from Allahabad to Lucknow. By 1935, the entire office was shifted to Lucknow.

Lucknow became the capital of the province, the name of which was further changed to United Provinces in April 1937. The name was again changed to Uttar Pradesh in January 1950 under the Constitution of India.