Hi everyone,

    What are princely states?

• Princely states or native states are either ruled by the Monarchic government or serve as a subsidiary coalition with the more powerful monarchy government.
• Princely states came into existence in Western and central India with the entry of Rajputs who migrated from Central Asia around 200 AD(CE) even before the Mughals and British colonial invasion
• Rajputs means son of kings
• There were no Rajput princely states too which were ruled by Nawabs and Nizams.
• Some were ruled by native dynasties like Mysore, Travancore and Pudukottai.

Attempts to integrate Princely states:

• Integrating princely states preceding India independence and before the colonial invasion has a long history.
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• They started integrating from Magadhan kings, Bimbisara and Ajatasaru during Mauryans, Ashoka, Chandragupta and his son Samudragupta.
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• Thirst for power, jealousy, frequent disagreement lead t the Arab and Persian invasion establishing the Mughal empire and conquering the northern part of pre-independent India.

Princely states under British Raj:

Gun salute system:

During British, French and Portuguese colonization started to take over, disunity worked in their favour to establish their presence

Among them, the British established their sovereignty under the crown of the princely states.

The Gun salute system is an open gesture to announce the affiliation of princely states.

Salute princely States:

Salute states were around 117 to 120 princely states.

21 gun salute is the highest honour granted to the ruler

Rulers of lower ranks received 9 gun salutes.

Non-salute states:

  Apart from the 117 to 120 states others are none salute states.

Reason is 

   Some were not acknowledged as gun salute states

   Some were considered of lower prestige

   Some princely states were obsolete but the rulers are permitted to their royal entitlements.

Princely states of India

The process towards negotiations to merge princely states began in April 1947

This lead to some problems like communal riots, partition, refugee crisis.

Sardar VallaBhai Patel deputy prime minister and minister of home affairs and long with VP Menon, Secretary jointly convinced the princely and made them cooperate and join the constituent assembly.

They also promised that government will not take over the assets and possession.

Many princely states consented except 

       Junagadh, Kashmir, Hyderabad and Jodhpur.

Junagadh:

Dewan, shah Nawaz Bhutto, father of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who later becomes the president of Pakistan rejected the autocratic rule.

Dewan later flew to Karachi with his family with all the state treasures. 

Later it became a part of India.

Hyderabad:

Nizam of Hyderabad ruled the predominantly non-Muslim population

Hyderabad is In the heart of India and it cannot become a dominion.

Later, Nizam became a prisoner of communal organisation. He initially encouraged them later lost control.

Nizam was offered a large portion of wealth and privileges once he declared Hyderabad will be part of India.

Jodhpur:

Initially, Jodhpur agreed to join India. Later Maharaja he can't Singh took over he decided to join Pakistan.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah allegedly offered free access to Karachi port and arms manufacturing and importing.

Havant Singh thought of the threats they would face at the border and India offered free access to import arms from Jodhpur to Kathiawar and supply of grains during the famine.

Kashmir:

Only princely state that is left in Kashmir with the majority of Muslim population being ruled by MaharajaHarisingh. 

Pakistan thought because of the Muslim people majority in Kashmir, it belong to them.

A standstill agreement was made by Hari Singh which was consented to by Pakistan and denied by India.

Hari Singh requested military troops from India but Mountbatten asked to sign an assessment to send Military troops. Harisingh signed it and then Military troops were sent to Oust Pakistan out of the Kashmir valley.

Thank you everyone for reading. keep supporting.