Question

In which Princely State of India was plebiscite held to determine whether to merge it with India or Pakistan?
1. Kashmir
2. Morbi
3. Junagadh
4. Jamnagar

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Junagadh

The correct answer is Junagadh.

• Junagarh was a princely state which had a majority of Hindus but was ruled by a Muslim ruler. It had already signed the pact with Pakistan to be a part of the latter’s territory. However, India firmly believed in the will of the people for such a decision.
• Hence, V.P Menon and V.B Patel tried to convince the Diwan of Junagarh (Shahnawaz Khan Bhutto) to conduct a plebiscite. Hence option 3 is correct.

• There were more than 500 princely states recognized at the time of independence.
• Persuasion, diplomacy, military force, or plebiscite were the methods for the integration of princely states in India.
• India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Sardar Vallabhai Patel (Born on October 31st, 1875) used a combination of political maneuvering and brute force to integrate the Princely states.

• Jodhpur: The services of the Diwan of the neighboring state of Bikaner were used to persuade the King of Jodhpur to align herself with India. Thus, the Instrument of Accession with Jodhpur was signed.
• Bhopal: After Lord Mountbatten asked the Nawab of Bhopal to sign the Instrument of Accession, he tried to avoid any integration to the Union of India by reasoning the interests of Muslims in the Hindu-dominated region will be compromised after the accession. But the people of Bhopal had realized that this was only being done to preserve the Nawab's own power in the state and had nothing to do with the genuine interests of any community. Hence, the Nawab had to sign the Instrument of Accession with India.
• Travancore: Since Travancore had good reserves of natural resources, it was believed it could survive on its own and hence wanted to remain independent. The Dewan of Travancore, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, was invited by Jawaharlal Nehru to Delhi, to persuade him, but he refused to sign the Instrument of Accession.  CP was also unpopular with the Communists of the Kingdom for his anti-communism stands. An assassination attempt was made on C. P. on 25 July 1947. From his hospital bed, he advised the King of Travancore to accede to India, and thus the Instrument of Accession was signed.
• Hyderabad: The Nawab of Hyderabad succeeded in mobilizing a group of orthodox Muslims called Ittehadul Muslameen and a militia called Razakars. They challenged the idea of India and hence finally a police action was taken by the Government of India in 1948 leading to the surrender of Hyderabad on September 17 of that year.
• Kashmir: At the time of Independence, Kashmir was neither a part of India nor Pakistan. When on 22nd Oct 1947, a section of Pakistanis backed by their army attacked Kashmir, the King of Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh requested help from the Indian Government. After the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession.