This is a proposed state in the state of Uttar Pradesh for which people of this area have been fighting for quite some time.
Since late 20th century, there has been a demand for a
separate state Purvanchal state, carved out of the state of
Uttar Pradesh. The region remains one of the most underdeveloped in India in terms of
human development index and
economic prosperity. Due to general lack of well-developed industries and employment opportunities, the region suffers significant
brain drain.
Demand for separate state
People from the
Bhojpuri region have demanded separate statehood for Purvanchal, with
Varanasi or
Gorakhpur as its capital[1] and
Bhojpuri as the official language of Purvanchal state.
1947: In 1947, a convention on Bhojpuri language and literature was held in
Siwan, Bihar. The demand for a separate Bhojpuri state was first made by
Rahul Sankrityayan.[2] Later, the issue of constitutional recognition of Bhojpuri came up when the constitution came into force. Rahul demanded for a separate Bhojpuri state by joining the Bhojpuri speaking regions of
Bihar,
United Provinces (now
Uttar Pradesh) and
Madhya Pradesh.[3]
1968: The demand for a separate Bhojpuri state resurfaced in the late 1960s when the rightist organization of eastern India, Anand Marg took up the issue. The Anand Margis organized a conference at the largest cattle fair of Asia,
Sonepur Mela in 1968 and raised the demand for a separate Bhojpuri province.[4]
5 November 2006: Hundreds of Bhojpuri speaking people gathered in Bihar's
Sasaram to demand creation of a separate state for those who speak the language. Meeting under the aegis of the 21st All India Bhojpuri Sahitya Sammelan they demanded the creation of a separate state and protection of the interests of the people speaking Bhojpuri.[5]
1 June 2008: A separate state can ensure the security of borders as well as overall development in which the region is lagging far behind in comparison to western and central
Uttar Pradesh, said
Yogi Adityanath (then a
BJP Member of Parliament from
Gorakhpur; he became Chief Minister of
Uttar Pradesh in 2017).[6]
16 July 2013: Members of Bhojpuriya Jila Yuva Morcha took out a procession in Bihar's
Arrah demanding formation of a separate state for Bhojpuri speaking people and constitutional rights for
Bhojpuri language and had taken to rail blockade near Purbi Gumti.[7]
7 December 2013: People associated with the Bhojpuri Andolan held a two-day convention at Taraiya in
Saran district under the banner of Saran Pramandal Bhojpuri Sahitya Sammelan and demanded a separate state for Bhojpuriyas consisting of the Bhojpuri-speaking districts of
Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh,
Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh.[8]
2015: Thousands of people gathered at Shastri Ghat near
Varuna river in
Varanasi to demand the establishment of Purvanchal state with Varanasi as its capital. In this, Suhaldev Bharatiya Samaj Party's national president Om Prakash Rajbhar said that the central and state government should stop giving false assurances. The movement has started from the revolutionary land of Varanasi, now it is not going to stop. The wheel of development has completely stopped in Purvanchal since independence.[9]
30 March 2017: BJP MP from
Sasaram,
Bihar,
Chhedi Paswan evoked the demand of separate Purvanchal state to boost development in the
Bhojpuri areas. He said that the formation of Purvanchal state is mandatory by joining the Bhojpuri speaking areas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and
Varanasi as its capital.[10]
16 May 2017: Members of Purvanchal Rajya Jan Andolan Sanstha staged a train stop demonstration in Banaras demanding the creation of a new Purvanchal state. The agitators kept shouting slogans in support of Purvanchal state while stopping the train.[11]
19 September 2018: the Purvanchal State Movement got national exposure when Vandana Raghuwanshi, an activist of "
Purvanchal Rajya Janandolan", set a state-run Volvo bus on fire as it was about to depart for
Lucknow from Roadways Bus Station of
Varanasi, in response to the central government's indifference to
Anuj Rahi Hindustani's hunger strike, which was on its 35th day.[14]
11 March 2019: Rajkumar Ojha, convenor of the Purvanchal Rajya Gathan Morcha, started a three-day fast in the Collectorate premises of
Jaunpur, demanding the creation of a separate Purvanchal state and formation of the State Reorganization Commission.[15]
5 August 2021: Purvanchal Rajya Morcha officials raised the demand for separate Purvanchal state in
Jaunpur,
Uttar Pradesh.[16]
18 December 2021: Twenty one thousand lamps were lit at
Assi Ghat in
Varanasi demanding a separate Purvanchal state.[17]
26 June 2023: Under the banner of 'Purbiha Log Party', people have called for uniting the people and intensifying the demand for creating a separate Purvanchal state. Under this sequence, the first meeting of the District Working Committee of Purbiha Log Party was held in Padrauna of
Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh.[18]
16 September 2023: Members of Nagrik Vikas Party took out a strong procession for the formation of Purvanchal state in
Ballia, Uttar Pradesh and handed over their 13-point demand letter to the SDM for the formation of a separate Purvanchal state.[19]
Culture
It is a predominantly
Bhojpuri-speaking region.[20]