Write a short note on: Decolonisation of Princely States

Answer:

At independence there were about 565 princely states. The Indian Independence Act (1947) allowed them to join India or Pakistan. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with V. P. Menon, persuaded most rulers to sign the Instrument of Accession before 15 August 1947.

Junagadh joined India after a plebiscite in 1948, Hyderabad was integrated through police action (Operation Polo) in September 1948, and the Maharaja of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession in October 1947 when tribal raiders attacked. Later the French settlements (1954) and Goa, Daman and Diu (1961) were freed, completing the political integration of India.