Integration of the Indian States

***^1/2/*****                                                                                                   History

Integration of the Indian States

V. P. Menon

India as one Nation, as we know it today, is a recent event. In its more than three millennia history, India never existed as one country under one supreme power. For short periods, under Ashoka, Akbar, and Aurangzeb large swathes of territory did come under the suzerainty of an emperor, but there was no political unity among various constituent states. Huge areas in the extreme corners of the country were completely independent and even suzerain states did not have uniform laws and legislature. One of the greatest benefits to accrue to India from British rule was unification of India as a politically consolidated Nation-State. Irony in this statement will be seen as blasphemy by many or most, in today’s India of chest-thumping, testosterone-filled nationalism.

When English decided to exit India in mid -twentieth century, political map of the country presented a variegated picture of utmost chaos and disunity. British directly ruled only about three-fifth of the country i.e. the various provinces of British India, while two-fifth of the country was under the rule of monarchs. These were the Princely States which were independent in every respect. They were bound to Britain nominally under tenuous treaties. Each had different legislation, government policies and currency. Of these 565 independent states, 327 had an average area of about twenty square mile, average population of about three thousand and average annual revenue of Rupees twenty-two thousand. There were some large states like Gwalior, Mysore, Indore, Hyderabad, Baroda, and Rewa which had annual revenues running in to crores of rupees. These had organised army and a well-functioning government. All these independent states, large or small, had territories insinuating into the British Provinces and into each other. There were islands of different states and provinces within each other’s boundaries. But the rulers of all, barring few, wanted to preserve their absolute sovereignty after the demise of British Empire. As per the Cabinet Mission plan and the June 3^rd plan (of 1947), which laid down modalities and principles of relinquishing of power by Britain to two independent dominions of India & Pakistan, Government of India would have had direct control over only two fifths of India, while the remaining 565 states were to be free of any control from Indian Government or obligations arising from treaties that these states had signed with the British Empire earlier. Thus, with the lapse of British dominion in India on 15^th Aug 1947, what would emerge would not be two nations of Indian and Pakistan, but 567 independent nations. This was a nightmarish prospect to contemplate for the leaders of the soon-to-be-free baby nation. It seemed that the country would be blown to smithereens on the very day that it came into existence. There was no other solution but to integrate all these varied states into Indian Union. And time available for this mammoth task of unfathomable complications was only a few months. It was certain that if these states did not sign some instrument of accession to the Indian Union before 15^th August, then after this date,  they would disintegrate into a bottomless spiral of public discontent and ultimate anarchy. Almost all of them were incapable of independent existence and could never provide meaningful administration to their people for any length of time; the aspirations, dreams, and claims of their rulers notwithstanding. A Ministry of States was thus formed with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as the minister and VP Menon as secretary and was entrusted with the gargantuan task of forging union of these disparate states with India.

This book is the story of integration of these 565 states into India. It won’t be inappropriate to say this is the story of creation of India told by the person who was at the helm of these affairs. VP Menon has narrated the story with remarkable objectivity. His language is fluent, concise, and lucid. He has avoided the temptation to narrate anecdotal accounts of innumerable historical figures that he came to know intimately during these vigorous times in Indian history. There were many events of extraordinary importance and significance unfolding during this protean period but Menon steadfastly adheres to his objective of narrating only those events which had bearing on the integration of Indian states. The latter story itself comprises many tortuous details, side trails with intriguing red herrings, and confounding chain of events. It is a credit to Menon’s acute understanding and writing skills that he has produced a very comprehensive narrative of these events in the book.

In the first few chapters he discusses formation of Princely Indian states and their relations with the British Empire. He talks briefly on various bills, committees, and missions that culminated in proclamation of independence for India and Pakistan. In a couple of chapters, he introduces the reader to the enormity of the political disunity that afflicted India and the legal and political consequences of dissolution of British Empire on 15^th August 1947. He then talks about various states other than the triad of Hyderabad, Junagadh and Kashmir, which with cajoling, reassuring, and occasionally with intimidation, were made to sign Instrument of Accession with the Government of India before 15^th Aug. But this instrument envisaged only nominal involvement of the Indian Government with the masses of these states as it was confined only to three subjects of defence, external affairs, and communication. Complete integration of these states was another major task and in the ensuing chapters Menon tells this story. He devotes a chapter each to Junagadh and Kashmir and discusses the intricate Hyderabad imbroglio in three chapters. Last few chapters are devoted to discussion on administrative consolidation, financial integration and the cost of integration.

This is a story of paramount significance in the history of our nation. There could not be a better person than V.P. Menon, who was initimately linked with this process, to tell us this tale. The fact that V.P. Menon possessed astute writing skills for this job, has been a blessing for the posterity. This book is must for anyone interested in the history of modern India. Its preeminent position on the shelf of books on Indian History is guaranteed for many generations to come.