Page 92 - SST Class 08

nawabs. A few territories were under the control Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The Portuguese
of the French and the Portuguese. rulers were not ready for the annexation but the
people were willing to merge into the Indian
According to the Indian
Union. So the Indian army had to move into Goa
Independence Act of 1947 ,
to help the local people who were fighting for
monarchy was abolished and
the princely states had to join their liberation. Finally, the Portuguese liberated
these Indian colonies and left India in 1961.
either India or Pakistan. The
first Home Minister of free
Info Bits
India Sardar Vallabhbhai Info Bits
Patel , tactfully persuaded Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
most of the princely states to accede to India. The Statue of Unity is a colossal statue of
Those states that hesitated to join India were independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir. Junagadh is a (1875-1950), who was the first Home Minister of
small state on the coast of Kathiawar (Gujarat). independent India and the chief adherent of
The Nawab of Junagadh wanted to join Pakistan, Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian
but the people of Junagadh wanted to join India. independence movement. He was highly respected
The Nawab fled to Pakistan and the people voted for his leadership in uniting
in favour of joining India. The ruler of the princely the 552 princely states of
India to form the single
state of Kashmir was Hindu but majority of the
population was Muslims. Maharaja Hari Singh, Union of India. It is
the ruler of Kashmir, delayed accession to India or located in the state of
Gujarat, India. It is the
Pakistan. He signed the Instrument of Accession
after Pakistani invaders entered Kashmir in world’s tallest statue with a
October 1947. India then sent troops to drive out height of 182 metres. It is
located on a river island
the invaders and Kashmir integrated with India. facing the Sardar Sarovar
The Nizam of Hyderabad wanted to continue as Dam on river Narmada in
an independent ruler. There was an internal revolt Kevadiya colony, 100
in the Hyderabad kingdom and the Indian troops kilometres south-east of
entered Hyderabad. In 1948, the Nizam finally the city of Vadodara and
agreed to join India.
150 km from Surat.
Just Think! FORMATION OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

Why did almost princely states join India? The Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946
with representatives from different parts of India
In 1947, with a population of 345 million divided and from different political parties. The main
on the basis of caste, language, faith and culture, it architect of the Indian Constitution was Dr. B. R.
was not that easy to make them live together
Ambedkar who was the Chairman of the Drafting
under the umbrella of a united nation. Sardar Committee . He believed that political democracy
Vallabhbhai Patel played a key role here in had to be accompanied by
persuading most of the states in joining India.
social and economic
The French had control over Pondicherry, democracy. A series of
Karaikal, Mahe and Yaman in South India and meetings were held between
Chandernagore in Bengal. These states became 1946-49 to discuss the future
the part of India in 1954 with the consent of the Constitution of India. The
French government. Constitution came into effect
on 26 January 1950. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
The Portuguese had control over Goa, Daman and
Contemporary Social Science-8
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