POST INDEPENDENT CONSOLIDATION

India attained independence in 1947 and it had nearly 565 princely states at the time of its independence. The country faced several issues at the time of its independence such as extreme hunger, poverty, issues regarding rehabilitation of refugees and reorganisation and consolidation of states. The case of disagreement among the Muslim League and Indian National Congress caused conflicts among the two institutions of the country. In order to establish a consensus among the parties, Britain has sent a cabinet mission  to the country. However, authorities of the Muslim League did not approve of the Cabinet Mission’s proposals. Due to these conflicts between both parties, violence has erupted in the two borders of the country such as India and Pakistan. 

Post independent consolidation

The cabinet mission plan formulated by the British administration had proposed a three-level administrative power for British India. In this contract, the British government had proposed that India will be governed by three-tier administrative system through INC (Indian National Congress), Muslim League and the British government. This administrative system was proposed to be led by a federal union at the top tier, individual parties at the end tier and groups at the middle tier of the administrative system. Due to the disagreement of this mission “Direct Action Day” was called by Jinnah on 16th August 1946. This has enforced violence within the country along the two borders and to avoid the violence and destruction of land and property, INC has accepted the plan of partition. India got divided into two domains namely India and Pakistan on 14th August 1947. 

Later on, in 1975, the “Islamic Republic of Pakistan” was divided further which gave birth to Bangladesh. Post the independent consolidation and partition of India, India decided to become a secular nation while Pakistan remained an Islamic nation. Post the consolidation of independence and partition of India into two countries, the most haphazard and abrupt transfer of people has been witnessed in history. Brutal killing and rapes in the name of religion occurred on both sides of the borders. According to estimations, more than 80 lakh people migrated forcefully across the borders to unknown places after partition. Besides, the religious violence caused due to the partition killed more than 10 lakh people on both sides of the borders. As discussed earlier, India had 562 princely states at the time of independence consolidation and integration of all the territories and their governance was one of the major objectives and challenges to the Indian government of that time (Indian National Congress). 

Princely states of Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir,Bhopal, Travancore and Manipur refused to the Union of India

Post independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country vision is

India is a land of diverse cultures and traditions and managing the vast range of diverse cultures and customs was the biggest challenge after a consolidation of independence. The country acquired independence at the cost of partition and had to divide into two parts to bring stability to the political and social systems of the nation. Famous political leader, Sardar Vallabhai Patel had been asked to be additional in charge of a newly created department of states. Jammu & Kashmir, despite having a Muslim majority was ruled by a Hindu leader named Maharaja Hari Singh. The ruler had signed an agreement with both the Indian and Pakistan governments to remain an independent government. However, this agreement has caused intrusion from Pakistan due to which Maharaja had to ask for help from the Indian government. India, however, has integrated its 562 princely states effectively and it then proceeded to settle the issues of French and Portuguese settlement. After several negotiations, states like Pondicherry and other French possessed states in India were acquired by the government of India. 

The Portuguese, however, did not agree to hand over their areas. The NATO allies of independence consolidations supported the position of Portugal in India and Indian parties supported the peaceful means of acquiring the areas. In 1961, Indian parties marched in Goa taking part in Operation Vijay to win over the Portuguese possessed areas in India as a result of which, the Portuguese parties surrendered peacefully.  

Post independence consolidation notes

• Post accession and possession of all the foreign provinces and princely states in India, various states of India were grouped based on their historical and geographical considerations and not based on linguistic and cultural considerations. However, this was just a temporary arrangement of states within free India. 
• India at that time required a permanent arrangement of states to ensure the effective arrangement of all the states and union territories within the country. 
• In 1948, a commission was appointed under the chairmanship of S K Dhar due to growing demands of the arrangement of states based on linguistics. However, this commission also enforced the reorganisation of states and capitals based on administrative powers based on historical and geographical contexts of states rather than linguistic interests. Another reorganisation committee – the JVP committee was also commissioned
• In 1953, Andhara was declared to be the first linguistic state for Telugu speaking people due to excessive protest of Telugu speaking people to reorganise states based on linguistic interests of populations. 

Conclusion

The study concludes that independence consolidation was one of the major reasons responsible for the partition of India into two countries such as India and Pakistan. It further summarises various bases on which the states were reorganised after independence and partition of India. The study also suggests that Andhra was the first state to be considered as a linguistic-based state for Telugu speaking people.