Integration of Princely States in India

The Indian Independence Act of 1947 allowed the Princely states either to join India or Pakistan or to remain independent. The process of integration of Princely states in India was a difficult one as some of the Princely states refused to join India and the Kashmir issue remained unsolved even today. The merger of Princely states involved negotiations with princes, plebiscites by people, military actions by government, etc. The Princely states were allowed to join India through a legal document called the Instrument of Accession.

Home Minister, Vallabhbhai Patel created a States Department, with V.P.Menon as its Secretary, to bring about the required political consolidation by integratiing the Princely states in India. Out of the 565 Princely states, 136 Princely states had joined India by 15th August, 1947 and the remaining states merged with India and Pakistan unconditionally over a period except a few. In India, opposition for merger came from 3 major States, namely Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir.

Background of Integration of Princely States

• The British maintained a special relationship with about 565 Princely states in undivided India. In spite of not being a part of the British India, these states were actually under the total control of the British Crown. Though they had some local autonomy, the British extended authority over their armies and external affairs.
  
  
• These states were acting as buffer states for the British, so that there won't be any advance in Indian nationalism and prevent other colonial powers rising in India. The British asserted that the Princely states would no longer be under their control once they transfer the power to India.
  
  
• As the Indian Independence Act of 1947 gave Princely states an option to join either India or Pakistan or to remain independent, it became very difficult to convince the Princely states to join India. Here, the role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel along with V.P. Menon, became very crucial in developing an integration formula.
  
  
• Patel tried to invoke a sense of patriotism in the Princes by warning them that anarchy may break out in event of their not joining in India. He also proposed the concept of "privy purses", which is nothing but a payment given to the royal families in exchange for their agreement to merge with India. A Standstill Agreement was also introduced that assured that the customs and agreements that were in force between the Princely states and the British would also be continued by independent India.
  
  

Integration of Major States

During the period of independence in India, some of the Princely states thought this could be the opportune time to remain independent, while some other states inclined towards joining Pakistan. Among the 552 Princely states that fell under India's geography, three major states namely, Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir hesitated to join India initially. Later, they were integrated into India through a plebiscite in Junagadh, through the police action in Hyderabad and through the Instrument of Accession in Kashmir.

Integration of Junagadh

• Located in Gujarat's southwestern part, the Princely state of Junagadh had large Hindu population and was ruled by a Muslim nawab, Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III.
  
  
• Against the wishes of Lord Mountbatten, the Nawab decided to join Pakistan saying that Junagadh has sea border with Pakistan though there was no land border with it.
  
  
• But two principalities, Mangrol and Babariawad that were under the suzerainty of Junagadh, declared their independence from Junagadh and acceded to India. As a result, the two principalities were militarily attacked and taken over by the Nawab of Junagadh. With this, the rulers of the neighboring principalities requested for help from the Indian government and sent troops to the frontiers of Junagadh.
  
  
• India cut off the access to the air and land routes to Junagadh and sent troops to Junagadh. With the entry of Indian troops, the Nawab fled to Pakistan by emptying the state treasury.
  
  
• Junagadh's court, sensing a failure in the administration of the state, invited India to take control over its administration. Meanwhile, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, the Dewan of Junagadh, sent a letter to Mr. Nilkanthrai Mohanlal Buch, the Indian government's regional commissioner for Saurashtra, inviting the Indian government to get involved.
  
  
• The invitation was accepted by the Indian government. In February 1948, a plebiscite was held and the people voted in favour of joining India and Junagadh became a part of the Indian Union.

Integration of Hyderabad

• Hyderabad state was the richest and largest among all the Princely states in India, having largely Hindu population.
  
  
• Hydarabad Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was under the complete control of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), a religious organization, which was founded in 1927 by Nawab Mahmood Nawaz Khan. This organization has got well trained activists, called Razakars. They used to create chaos in the Hyderabad state.
  
  
• Though the Nizam wanted to remain independent and was against joining India, the public pushed hard to join India. The Nizam went down heavily on the agitators by following a repressive policy.
  
  
• The Nizam continued expanding his army by importing weapons from Europe. Threats and Requests from Vallabhbhai Patel and others to join India were unheard by the Nizam.
  
  
• During September 13-17, 1948, "Operation Polo" was launched and the Indian army gained full control of the state and the Nizam gave his consent for Hyderabad to join India. The Nizam was later appointed the Rajpramukh (governor) of the state of Hyderabad in order to reward him for his submission.

Integration of Kashmir

• The Princely state of Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu king, Maharaja Hari Singh. It had a majority Muslim population. The king wanted Kashmir to remain as a sovereign state and refused to join either India or Pakistan.
  
  
• From 24th October, 1947, Pakistan forces started occupying Kashmir. Almost 50% of the State was occupied.
  
  
• Maharaja Hari Singh, by sending his representative Sheikh Abdullah to Delhi, requested Jawaharlal Nehru to fight against the Pakistani forces. But Nehru rejected the request.
  
  
• After fleeing Srinagar, Maharaja Hari Singh arrived in Jammu and signed the 'Instrument of Accession' to join India. Indian army was airlifted and it stopped the Pakistan army.
  
  
• On the advice of Lord Mountbatten (first Governor General of Independent India up to 1948), Nehru declared ceasefire and the matter was referred to United Nations(UN). The UN requested that Pakistan should first withdraw all its forces that entered Kashmir and after that India should conduct a plebiscite in the region.
  
  
• Pakistan did not withdraw its forces till today from the region and hence the point of contention still continues between the two countries.
  
  
• Under Article 370 of the Indian constitution, Kashmir was granted special status and limited autonomy within the Indian Union. On 5th August, 2019, the government of India revoked the special status and limited autonomy by abrogating Article 370.