Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-13-Fulfillment of Struggle for Independence-Maharashtra Board

Introduction :

• India gained independence, but the struggle for independence was far from ended.
• India was likely to be divided into many sections as a result of separate princely states.
• The Portuguese and French forces did not relinquish sovereignty of various portions of India, but India resolved these issues decisively.

Integration of princely states in India

• In India at the time of independence, there were over 600 princely states.
• These princely nations had the option of joining India or Pakistan or remaining independent.
• As a result, Congress's ambition of an unified India went unfulfilled.
• Because of the Non-cooperation Movement's influence on princely states, the Praja Mandals emerged.

Praja Mandals :

• Praja Mandals was a people's organisation that aimed to protect the interests of the people in the Princely States and to secure their political rights.
• Many Praja Mandals banded together to organise the 'All India States People's Conference' in 1927.
• This encouraged the democratic movement in the princely states.

Merger of the Princely States was essential :

• If the princely states had remained independent, India would have been split into hundreds of territorial fragments.
• The organisations in the princely states had started movements to secure rights.
• It was necessary to free the people from the autocratic rule in the princely states.
• Some princely states started carrying out movements for merging with Pakistan.

Contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel :

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel handled the subject of princely state merger with outstanding statesmanship.
• He gained the trust of the rulers and convinced them that joining India was in their best interests.
• He drafted a 'Instrument of Accession' that was approved by all of the rulers.
• As a result, the princely states transferred foreign affairs, defence, transportation, and communication to the Government of India while keeping the remaining subjects.
• Except for Junagad, Hyderabad, and Kashmir, all princely states joined with India.

Merger of Junagad :

• The Nawab of Junagad in Saurashtra desired to join Pakistan, but the people desired to join India.
• Following widespread public outrage, the Nawab fled to Pakistan.
• In February 1948, Junagadh was merged with India.

Hyderabad Mukti Sangram :

• Hyderabad was the largest princely state in India.
• The autocratic ruler, Nizam had denied civil and political rights to the people.
• The state of Hyderabad included Telugu, Kannada and Marathi speaking regions.
• There was absence of civil and political rights.
• For securing these rights, people formed organisation like Andhra Parishad in Telangana region, Maharashtra Parishad in Marathwada region, Karnataka Parishad in the Karnataka region.

Contribution of Marathwada in the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad :

• Govindbhai Shrofi, Ashatai Waghmare, and other major leaders made significant contributions to the freedom of Hyderabad state.
• A big number of students took part in the 'Vande Mataram' campaign.
• Govind Pansare, Bahirji Shinde, and others took up the cause of martyrdom.
• The 17th of September is observed as 'Marathwada Mukti Din' to remember the people's struggle for the liberation of Hyderabad.
• After the struggle of the people, Marathwada region was included in independent India in 1948.

Problem of Kashmir :

• Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir, decided to remain independent.
• But, Pakistan was keen on merger of Kashmir with Pakistan.
• Pakistan put pressure on Hari Singh and instigated the armed intruders to invade Kashmir in October 1947.
• Hari Singh signed the 'Instrument of Accession’ with India.
• The Indian army won back major portion of Kashmir but a part of Kashmir remained with Pakistan.

Merger of French Colonies

• Chandranagar, Puduchcheri, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam were the French colonies in India.
• The Native people were keen to merge with India.
• The French handed over Chandranagar after a plebiscite in 1949.
• The French subsequently handed over the rest of the colonies to the
• Government of India.

Struggle for liberation of Goa

• Portugal declined to hand over the territories to India.
• Dr. T. B. Kunha was in the forefront of the struggle. He worked to bring about an awakening against the Portuguese Government. He was sentenced to eight years of jail.
• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia was deported as he violated the ban on public meetings in Goa at Madgaon.
• Azad Gomantak Dal liberated Dadra and Nagar Haveli in Gujarat from the Portuguese rule on 2^nd August 1954, by carrying out an armed attack.
• In this movement, Vishwanath Lavande, Rajabhau Wakankar, Sudhir Phadke,
• Nanasaheb Kajrekar and others took an active part.

Contribution of T.B. Kunha :

In order to fight against the Portuguese, T.B. Kunha :

• Founded the Goa Congress Committee.
• Founded ‘Goa Youth League’ in 1945 at Mumbai.
• He went to Goa in spite of the ban and was sentenced to eight years of jail.