Kannada Rajyotsava: Tracing The Journey Of Karnataka On Formation Day

The 'Rajyotsava' or Formation Day is a government holiday in Karnataka and is celebrated by Kannadigas across the world. 

Karnataka came into existence as the state of Mysore on November 1, 1956, and was later renamed Karnataka on November 1, 1973. ( Image Source :ABP Live )

New Delhi: The merger of Kannada speaking regions of South India saw the birth of Karnataka state on November 1, 1956. November 1 is thus observed as Karnataka Formation Day or 'Rajyotsava' day every year. The 'Rajyotsava' or Formation Day is a government holiday in Karnataka and is celebrated by Kannadigas across the world. 

From Mysore State To Karnataka: Tracing The Journey Of The Southern State

Before Karnataka was formed, it was divided into various princely states such as Mysuru and regions like the Bombay and Madras Presidencies.

Soon after India gained independence, there was a growing demand for the reorganisation of states based on linguistic and cultural identities. People wanted states to be created or restructured to align with the predominant languages spoken in those regions.

The 1950s period saw protests, demonstrations, and literary movements demanding the unification of all Kannada-speaking regions into a single state. 

The States Reorganization Act was enacted in 1956 to address these demands. As a result of this act, 'Mysore State' was formed on November 1, 1956. It was later renamed Karnataka on November 1, 1973, to better reflect its linguistic and cultural identity.

This name change was part of an effort to emphasise the Kannada linguistic and cultural identity of the state.

On this day, the government announces winners of the Rajyotsava Awards -- individuals who have made major contributions to Kannada culture and the welfare of the state.

Politics 

Karnataka's political environment is marked by a complex mix of regional, linguistic, and socio-economic factors, and it has experienced several changes in government since its formation.

The three major political parties in the southern state are — the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress, and the Janata Dal (Secular).

 

Karnataka has seen a rotation of leadership with Chief Ministers from various political parties over the years. Prominent leaders include B S Yediyurappa, H D Kumaraswamy, Basavraj Bommai, Siddaramaiah, and others.

 

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has 224 seats out of which Congress has 135 seats, while the BJP and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) holds 66 and 19 seats respectively.

Education

Karnataka is home to country's some of the most prestigious institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) in Bangalore, the Indian Institute Of Management (IIM) in the state's capital, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Dharwad.

 

Besides these premier institutions, the southern state also hosts the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Bangalore, the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Bangalore, the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Surathkal, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR).

 

University of Mysore and Bangalore University are some of the important universities in the state. 

Films 

Karnataka has produced several talented movie stars who have made a name for themselves in the Indian film industry such as Puneeth Rajkumar, Yash, Rakshit Shetty, Sudeep, Upendra Rao, and Shivarajkumar.

Business And Industries

The state capital, Bangalore, is often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of India." It is a major IT and technology hub with numerous IT parks, software companies, and startups. The presence of tech giants like Infosys, Wipro, and many others has fueled the growth of the IT sector.

It also has industrial and manufacturing hubs in cities like Belagavi, Hubballi, and Mangaluru, which contribute to economic growth.

The state is also home to various aerospace and defense research and manufacturing facilities, including the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and several aerospace parks.

In 2022, Karnataka bagged the ‘Top Achiever' rank in ease of doing business (EoDB) across the country, along with six other states.

Sports 

Karnataka has produced several notable sportspersons who have achieved recognition and success in various sports at the national and international levels. Famous cricketers like KL Rahul, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, and Javagal Srinath are from Karnataka.

Renowned badminton players such as Prakash Padukone, Ashwini Ponnappa, and Aparna Popat are also from the southern state.

World-renowned billiards and snooker player Pankaj Advani is another prominent figure from Karnataka.