Unity and development After Independence


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Unity and development After Independence

Unity and development had to go hand in hand.

  • The southern Indian maritime state was strategically placed for maritime trade and was rich in both human and mineral resources.
  • It was one of the first princely states to refuse accession to the Indian union and question the Congress’ leadership of the nation.
  • By 1946, the Dewan of Travancore, Sir C.P. Ramamswamy Aiyar declared his intention of forming an independent state of Travancore that would be open to the idea of signing a treaty with the Indian union.
  • Sir C.P. Aiyar is also said to have had secret ties with the UK government who were in support of an independent Travancore in the hope that they would get exclusive access to a mineral called monazite that the area was rich in, and would give an edge to Britain in the nuclear arms race.
  • He stuck to his position till as late as July 1947. He changed his mind soon after he survived an assassination attempt by a member of the Kerala Socialist Party.
  • On July 30 1947, Travancore joined India.
  • Junagadh was a small seaport state in Kathiawad (Saurashtra). The Nawab of Junagadh wanted to join Pakistan, while the people of the state wanted to join India. The Indian army was sent to take over state. The Nawab fled to Pakistan, and Junagadh became part of India.

    Hyderabad enjoyed a special position as the largest princely state of India. The nizam declared Hyderabad to be independent. The Indian leaders felts that future of India as a unified nation would face grave danger if this was allowed to happen. Indian troops were sent to Hyderabad. The government of India announced that it was not a war but ‘police action’, and Hyderabad was annexed to India. 

    The case of Kashmir was unique. Unlike Hyderabad and Junagadh, Kashmir had a Hindu ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, ruling over a majority of Muslim people. Its territory touched both India and Pakistan and hence, it could join either of the two. But Hari Singh had secret hopes of remaining independent. At this time, Kashmir was invaded by pathan tribes from Pakistan. Hari Singh appealed to India for help and, in return, he agreed to join India. Both Pakistan and the people of Kashmir felt cheated by this decision. The first Indo-Pakistan war broke out in 1947. Finally, the Kashmir dispute was referred to the newly formed United Nations. In 1948, a UN truce froze the battle line of control between India and Pakistan.

     
     


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