***THE INTEGRATION OF PRINCELY STATES:

1. The background of division of India into 2 dominions- British India and princely states.

2. challenges that arised in the integration process.

3. The role played by Lord Mountbatten, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, and V.P. Menon in the integration
process.

4. The scheme of integration.

5. Kingdom that forced challenges to Indian govts. in the integration- different case studies.

1.

After the decline of Mughal empire in early 18th century, there was no central authority to
establish a pan-Indian kingdom; many regional kingdoms took their birth from the ruins of the
Mughal empire. The Marathas, the Sikh, the Hyderabad, Mysore, Travancore, Bengal etc were the
most formidable kingdoms. This period coincided with the rise of the British trade and commerce in
India which almost eliminated all her other European rivals. The Mutual conflicts among the regional
kingdoms provided opportunity for the British company for exercising political domination on these
kingdoms. In between 1757-1857, in a span of 100 years the British established themselves
comfortably in a fixed territory called British India by eliminating Indian rulers through wars and
political weapons like Doctrine of Lapse. By the end of 1857, 2/3rd of Indian land came under direct
British rule with a single boss called as Governor general which was divided into roughly 11
provinces. The Queen’s proclamation of 1858 permanently halted the annexation process and the
existing Indian rulers at that time continued till 1947. The princely states were approximately 550+ in
number ranging from smaller to larger sizes.

In 1947 the fate of these princely kingdoms once again became unpredictable as the British
decided to quit India and left their future into the hands of successive govts. of India and Pakistan.
Their long-term friends according to them betrayed the friendship.

The stand of INC right from the beginning was the principle of a united India and one India
referred popularly as ‘Akhand Bharat’ that must include both British provinces and princely states.
The Nehru report of 1928 and the Lahore resolution of independence firmly declared this principle.
Even the British honoured this demand of INC visible in Simon commission’s report, Government of
India act of 1935, Cabinet mission plan.

2.

CHALLENGES BEHIND INTEGRATION PROCESS:

1. The princely states always dreamt of independence and one such option was also given to
them in the Indian independence act of 1947. It was not easy to convince a ruler to abdicate
his throne as everyone was not like Lord Rama.
2. The native kingdoms also maintained small sized armies of their own and any means of
forceful integration can lead to a war with these kingdoms that can lead to a civil war and
dilute the Indian independence.
3. After 1858 many rajas and nawabs shifted their base to Europe to have a more luxurious and
comfortable lifestyle; so, to initiate discussions with them was not possible in their absence.
4. Though we have several examples taken from world history on integration of kingdoms into
one nation (Italy and Germany), that model cannot be implemented in India as Indian
nationalism is a product of non-violence; when Indians were not ready to use violence
against the British, how could they use it on their own people. So, a different mechanism had
to be adopted treating India’s case as unique.