Question
Discuss the initiative of the Native States for inclusion in India.
Answer
After India’s independence in 1947, a significant number of princely states existed within the country, which had the option to remain independent or join either India or Pakistan. The Indian government under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel initiated several efforts to bring these states into the Indian Union.
The initiative included negotiations with the rulers of the princely states, persuading them to accede to India. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a crucial role in this process and was able to integrate over 552 princely states into India, including major ones like Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
