Integration of the Princely States

When there was British rulership in India, India was divided and controlled by two administrative powers: British India which had control of over 60% of India, and the Princely States comprising the remaining 40% of India. Before the partition of Pakistan and Bangladesh from India, there were some states in India that were not annexed by the Britishers such as Rajputs and Non-Rajputs princely provisions, these states were combined together and called the princely states. The princely states were autonomous and practiced their own rules and regulations. In this article, we’ll see who was responsible for the integration of Indian princely states, what were the problems of integration of the princely states, etc.

Reason for the integration of the Princely States

During the British reign, there were numerous small princely states spread across India. They were more than 500 in number. All these 500 + states got freedom from British rulership after the enactment of the Indian Independence Act of 1947. The princely states were given choices to make because after the demolition of Britishers in India, British India had divided into Pakistan and India. These princely states had to choose to go with one country either India or with Pakistan. 

Sardar Vallabhai Patel and V.P Menon took the responsibility of integrating all these princely states together. Their intentions were to build a monarch rulership. Then, a treaty of Instrument of Accession was signed between the authorities of Pakistan and India, to serve the best interests of common citizens. According to the Instrument of Accession treaty, India can only practice control over the defense, communications, and foreign interactions.

Out of all 500+ states, Gwalior, Baroda, Patiala, and Bikaner were the four states that chose to combine with India. Other states did not show any interest in India. They were wary and distrustful of the Indian government’s democracy and radical approach to management.

Travancore was the first state to split out because its leader was premeditated to become an independent state. Similarly, Hyderabad chose the same option. Bhopal took out its proposal because they didn’t like the concept of the Constituent Assembly. Because of all these proposals, many people thought that India will still go into further divisions into many more little states separating themselves out from the country. 

The majority of the princely states were non-democratic monopolies that were not giving their citizens democratic rights.  

Integration Of Princely States

Travancore 

Travancore questioned the leadership capabilities of Congress in India.  In 1946, C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar showed that they are an independent nation and they ought to sign a peace and separation treaty with the Indian Congress government. 

C.P Ramaswamy also had some secret ties with the British government, the British government helped him in the process of separating Travancore from India and establishing itself as a separate independent state. 

Travancore was a great place for minerals and marine trade. The Britishers thought to gain extra exclusive access to all the precious minerals and take advantage away from India.

Jodhpur

Jodhpur was a city near Pakistan, and it has been said that it always had some special inclination towards Pakistan even though 60% of the population of Jodhpur were Hindus. Their leader Hanvant Singh, chose to not destroy the contagious relation of their citizens to win the hearts of people. 

Pakistan supreme offered him Karachi airport for manufacturing armors and weapons for military assistance.  When Sardar Patel got to know about this i’ll-act of Hanvant Singh, he proposed to offer him more benefits. On 11th August, the king of Jodhpur, Havant Singh agreed on the proposal and that’s how Jodhpur become a part of India.  

Bhopal

Bhopal was a city that has the majority of the Hindu population, but their leader Hamidullah Khan was a Muslim nawab. He was in a very cordial relationship with Muslim League and is a great anti-supporter of the Congress Party. 

In July 1947, he saw the defeat he could face if Bhopal won’t combine with a strong identity, so he joined India. 

Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Kashmir were three princely states that first got separated from India but came back later.

Conclusion

British India had control of over 60% of India, and the Princely States comprised the remaining 40% of India. Before the partition of Pakistan and Bangladesh from India, there were some states in India that were not annexed by the Britishers such as Rajputs and Non-Rajputs princely provisions, these states were combined together and called the princely states. The princely states were autonomous and practiced their own rules and regulations. Though some of the princely states came up again to join India.