Question 1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.
(1) There were more than six hundred small and big ............. in India.
(a) States
(b) Villages
(c) Princely States
(d) Cities
(2) All the princely states merged with India except the states of Junagad, ............. and Kashmir.
(a) Aundh
(b) Jhansi
(c) Vadodara
(d) Hyderabad
Question 2. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) Junagad merged within India.
Answer :
- Junagad was a princely state in Saurashtra.
- The Nawab of Junagad wanted to merge the state with Pakistan.
- It was opposed by the people vigorously as they wanted the merger with
- Due to this, the Nawab fled to Pakistan and Junagad was merged with India in February, 1948.
(2) The Indian Government started police action against the Nizam.
Answer :
- In July 1947, the Hyderabad State Congress issued a resolution calling for the state of Hyderabad to be merged with India.
- The Nizam was anti-India and attempted to join with Pakistan.
- The Razakar organisation of Kasim Rizvi committed atrocities on Hindus as well as Muslims who supported the democratic movement.
- The Nizam did not respond to the appeal of the Government of India for peaceful negotiations.
- At last, the Government of India started police action on 13 September, 1948 and the state of Hyderabad was merged with India.
(3) Hari Singh signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ with India.
Answer :
- Hari Singh the ruler of Kashmir, had decided to retain the independence of
- Pakistan was keen to secure the merger of Kashmir with itself.
- As a result, Pakistan began putting pressure on Hari Singh for this reason.
- In October 1947, armed invaders attacked Kashmir at the direction of Pakistan.
- Therefore, Hari Singh signed the 'Instrument of Accession’ with India.
Question 3. Answer the following questions in brief.
(1) Explain the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the integration of Princely States.
Answer :
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's then-Home Minister, handled the issue of the merging of princely states with tact.
- He told the Princes that joining their states with India was in their best interests.
- He created a 'Instrument of Accession' that was acceptable to everybody.
- The Princes approved the idea, and all states except Junagad, Kashmir, and Hyderabad were combined with India.
- These three states were later merged with India.
- As a result, he adopted a tough stance and resolved the issue of princely state merger.
(2) Explain the contribution of Swami Ramananda Tirth in the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad.
Answer :
- Hyderabad was India's largest princely state, and the despotic ruler, Nizam, had denied the people civil and political rights.
- Swami Ramananda Tirth founded the Hyderabad State Congress in 1938.
- After Nizam outlawed his organisation, a campaign for recognition of the Hyderabad State Congress and democratic rights started.
- In July, 1947 a resolution was passed by the Hyderabad State Congress for its merger with India.
- Swami Ramananda Tirth was assisted by Narayan Reddy and Siraj-ul-Hasan Tirmiji in his efforts.