Accession of Princely States | Problems during early days of 1947
Introduction
• Total princely states 462• British government decided not to give them independence. They were given choice to join Pakistan or India
• Their location or religion became their straightforward choice
• States that went to Pakistan include
• Dir, Swat, Chitral, Amb, Hunza, Gilgit, Kalat and Bahawalpur from West Pakistan while Sylhet voted in a referendum to East Pakistan
• In other areas decision was difficult to make
Hyderabad
• Largest princely state
• Had a population of 160 million
• Wealthy state with revenue of Rs. 160 million
• Wanted to become dominion of UK, British government refused and asked to join either Pakistan or India
• Ruler – Nizam of Hyderabad was Muslim but majority population was non- Muslim
• Ruler favored joining Pakistan
• Indian government was unhappy on this
• Pressurized Nizam to join India instead
• Nizam agreed to enter into a treaty with India in respect of defense, foreign affairs and communications
• Upon further pressure by India Hyderabad filed a complaint against India in UN. Before it could be heard, Indian troops occupied Hyderabad
Junnagadh
• A small state on the coast near to Karachi
• Ruler Muslim and population was non-Muslim
• Wanted to join Pakistan
• India attacked the state and occupied it
• Pakistan went to UN but the matter remained unresolved
The Kashmir Issue
• Most serious dispute between Pakistan and India
• One of the largest states in India
• Had strategic importance as it shared borders with Tibet, China, Afghanistan and Russia at that time
• Ruler Hindu and majority of population Muslim
• Wanted to win independence of his state and delayed joining either Pakistan or India
• Ruler treated population very poorly
• Drove Muslims out of Kashmir
• Over 200,000 fled to Pakistan
• The situation led to rebellion
• Indian help came when ruler agreed to join India
• Pakistan and India fought their 1st war against each other
• The matter was referred to UN
• Kashmir was divided
• Major portion went to India
• Pakistan got angered, Lord Mountbatten pressurized India and India agreed on referendum once situation becomes normalized
• No referendum so far and Kashmir is still the biggest dispute between both the countries
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