5 The princes’ resistance to accession
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Harrison Akins
Abstract
The chapter details the efforts of Indian leaders to convince the princes to accede to the Indian Union, including the creation of the States Department under the leadership of Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon as the vehicle for engaging with the princely states. It outlines the various points of contention among the princely order in relation to issues of the princely states’ sovereignty and the clashes between both Congress leadership and the political groups representing the states’ subjects. The chapter demonstrates how the princes worked to preserve the layered sovereignty of British rule through the broader political changes during 1946 and 1947. It concludes with a discussion of princely opposition to accession through the spring and summer of 1947 as the princes sought to protect their sovereignty following the transfer of power, including the unsuccessful efforts of the Nawab of Bhopal and the Maharaja of Travancore to declare their independence.
Abstract
The chapter details the efforts of Indian leaders to convince the princes to accede to the Indian Union, including the creation of the States Department under the leadership of Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon as the vehicle for engaging with the princely states. It outlines the various points of contention among the princely order in relation to issues of the princely states’ sovereignty and the clashes between both Congress leadership and the political groups representing the states’ subjects. The chapter demonstrates how the princes worked to preserve the layered sovereignty of British rule through the broader political changes during 1946 and 1947. It concludes with a discussion of princely opposition to accession through the spring and summer of 1947 as the princes sought to protect their sovereignty following the transfer of power, including the unsuccessful efforts of the Nawab of Bhopal and the Maharaja of Travancore to declare their independence.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of maps vi
- Introduction 1
- 1 British paramountcy and the princely states 26
- 2 The nationalist movement and the princely states 43
- 3 The All-India Federation, or the first failed accession 56
- 4 The debates over India’s constitutional future 70
- 5 The princes’ resistance to accession 92
- 6 Jammu and Kashmir 110
- 7 Hyderabad 145
- 8 Junagadh 182
- 9 Kalat 214
- Conclusion 242
- Bibliography 260
- Index 267
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of maps vi
- Introduction 1
- 1 British paramountcy and the princely states 26
- 2 The nationalist movement and the princely states 43
- 3 The All-India Federation, or the first failed accession 56
- 4 The debates over India’s constitutional future 70
- 5 The princes’ resistance to accession 92
- 6 Jammu and Kashmir 110
- 7 Hyderabad 145
- 8 Junagadh 182
- 9 Kalat 214
- Conclusion 242
- Bibliography 260
- Index 267
