The Integration of Princely States: A Case Study of Jammu and Kashmir 

In 1947, the British rule ended with the creation of two ascendencies - India and Pakistan. According to the Indian Independence Act 1947, the British  suzerainty over Indian States lapsed and with it all the treaties and agreements came to an end. The princely states were at liberty to choose  either to accede to India or Pakistan or to remain  independent. Most of the rulers acceded to either  of  the two dominions. However, the ruler of  Jammu and Kashmir was in a fix and could not  decide the future course of J&K within the stipulated time. Several causes were responsible for this delay. The supplies of all important commodities to Jammu and Kashmir were made  through the territory of Western Punjab, now in  Pakistan. The banking and Postal system of the state was also linked with Lahore. Since the time of Maharaja Ranbir Singh, all the educational  institutions of J&K were affiliated to Punjab University, Lahore. Moreover, there was  complete disagreement among the major political parties of the state on the issue of accession and all this put Maharaja in a dilemma. Cyril John Radcliffe (March 1899- April 1977) was a British lawyer  best known for his role in the partition of British India. 

Stand Still Agreement: In order to decide the future course of action, Maharaja required some  more time and so he offered a Stand Still  Agreement to both Pakistan and India on August  12, 1947. It asserted the maintenance of status  quo (a latin  phrase meaning the existing state of  affairs) in all matters as it was with the British  Indian Government. Pakistan accepted  the offer  on 15th  of August,1947 whereas India sought some clarifications. 

EVENTS LEADING TO ACCESSION 

Though the Maharaja was  in a dilemma  about  the accession  of the state with  one of the two newly created Dominions but the number  of events occurred in  quick succession  which  finally  led  to  the  accession  of  Jammu  and Kashmir to India. 

The case of  Gurudaspur  and the economic  blockade:  Radcliffe Commission’s  decision of awarding  three tehsils of Gurudaspur district  as a viable  land  connection  to India,  aggrieved  Pakistan. As  a  result  of  this,  Pakistani  authorities  began  exerting  pressure  on the state  by  interfering  with  the essential supplies  and disturbed the existing postal and telegraph system. 

Tribal invasions: On  October  22,  1947,  a  large  number  of  armed  tribals (Pashtun) entered Muzaffarabad  from  where  they resumed their  progress  along  the Jhelum  Valley road towards  Srinagar.  However, their  march was temporarily  checked at Uri through a brave  resistance  offered by about  one  hundred  and  fifty  state  soldiers  under  the  command of  Brigadier  Rajinder  Singh  who  was  killed  fighting  a  last  ditch battle.  However,  the  state  forces collapsed to resist the  attack and to tackle the situation Maharaja  requested  the Government of India  for  military  help and to dispatch military  force to counter the tribal attack. Though a meeting of Defense Committee  on October  25,  1947  under  the  chairmanship  of  Lord  Mountbatten in  Delhi  considered  Maharaja’s  demand for  the  supply of  arms and  ammunition  but urged that  it  would not be possible  to send  in  any  troops  unless  Jammu  and  Kashmir  had  first  offered to accede. Maharaja signed the instrument of accession on 26th Oct,  1947.  Later  on,  on  the  basis  of  the  information  provided  by V.P.Menon,  military  help  was provided  and  the  Indian  Armed Forces  airlifted  to Srinagar  who were  successful  in carrying out the rescue operation and pushed back the invaders. Meanwhile,  the invaders also made  a determined bid to occupy Ladakh.  But it  was  saved owing to the superior  strategy  of the Indian  Military. However, in  the  north  of  the region,  Gilgit,  a strategic  area which was  initially  given  on  lease  for  sixty  years  to  British  by  Maharaja Hari Singh, was also grabbed by the invaders. In  January,  1948,  India  moved  the  issue regarding  the occupation of  Jammu  and  Kashmir territories  by Pakistan to the  U.N.  which led  to United Nations Security Council Resolution  47  of 21st April,  1948.  Subsequently,  an  agreement  of  ceasefire  called  ‘The Karachi  Ceasefire  Agreement’  was signed  between India  and Pakistan in 1949. However,  as  a  result  of  this  ceasefire  following  the  UN  resolution, one-third  territory of Jammu  and Kashmir, comprising  of Gilgit, Hunza, Baltistan,  Rawalakot, Sudhanati,  Neelam, Bhimber  and Muzaffarabad-Kotli-Mirpur,  remained under Pakistani occupation.

THE  FORMATION  OF JAMMU & KASHMIR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY 

In  October  1950,  the  General  Council  of  the  National  Conference passed  a resolution recommending election to Constituent Assembly  for the purpose  of giving  the State a Constitution that  would  determine  the  future  of  the  J&K  State.  In  May  1951, Karan  Singh,  in  the capacity  of the Regent, issued  a proclamation convoking  a Constituent Assembly  on  the  basis of  Universal Adult Franchise. The elections  to the Constituent Assembly were  accordingly  held  and  the  Assembly  met  for  the  first  time  in October,  1951.The  constituencies  were  delimited  on  the  basis  of one  member  to  forty thousand  people  and people  were assured  of free  and  fair  exercise  of  their  vote.  Further,  the  Constitution  of J&K came into force on 26th  January 1957. 

• Cyril John Radcliffe (March 1899- April 1977) was a British lawyer  best known for his role in the partition of British India.
• Economic Blockade: Blocking of essential supplies.
• Dilemma: A situation in which you have to make a difficult choice between two or more things.
• Pashtun: People inhabiting Southern Afghanistan and NorthWestern Pakistan.
• V.P. Menon was an Indian Civil Servant who was the Constitutional Advisor and Political Reforms Commissioner to the last three Viceroys during the British rule in India.
• A unique feat in Ladakh was that of Major General Themayya who personally led the surprise attack by taking his tank to the snow covered Zoji-La pass on Ist November, 1948. He succeeded in driving out the entrenched invaders out of the region. 

EXERCISE

LET’S RECALL: 

Match the following;

Match the following
Column A	Column B
Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir	6th October, 1947
Instrument of Accession	Muzaffarabad
An area in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK)	26th January, 1957

Answers
Column A	Column B
Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir	26th January, 1957
Instrument of Accession	6th October, 1947
An area in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK)	Muzaffarabad

Fill in the blanks: 

1. _______________was the Viceroy of India at the time of  Indian Independence.

Answer:- Lord  Mountbatten

2. The meeting of the Defence Committee  was  held in Delhi  in the year____________________. 

Answer:- October  25,  1947

3.  A unique feat in  Ladakh  was  that of___________________________who resisted the tribal attack at Zojilla Pass. 

Answer:- Major General Themayya

4.  The  two  areas  that  fall  in  the  territory  of  Pakistan  Occupied  Jammu  & Kashmir are ______________and __________________. 

Answer:- Bhimber and Muzaffarabad

True or False: 

1. Karan Singh  was  the Maharaja of Jammu  and Kashmir at the time of the signing of Instrument of Accession. (   )

Answer:- False  (Maharaja Hari Singh)

2. V.P Menon advised the Defense Committee  to provide military support  to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. (  ) 

Answer:- True

3. Brigadier Rajinder Singh was killed in an operation launched against the tribal invaders at Uri. (  ) 

Answer:- True

4. Maharaja offered The Stand Still Agreement to both  India and Pakistan. (  ) 

Answer:- True

5. The  Constituent  Assembly  of  J&K  met  for  the  first  time  in  October  1951. (  )

Answer:- True

LET’S DISCUSS: 

a).  Briefly  discuss  the  events  leading  to  the  signing  of  the Instrument of Accession? 

Answer:- On  October  22,  1947,  a  large  number  of  armed  tribals (Pashtun) entered Muzaffarabad  from  where  they resumed their  progress  along  the Jhelum  Valley road towards  Srinagar. The  state  forces collapsed and Maharaja  requested  the Government of India  for  military  help. Though a meeting of Defense Committee  on October  25,  1947  under  the  chairmanship  of  Lord  Mountbatten in  Delhi  considered  Maharaja’s  demand for  the  supply of  arms and  ammunition  but urged that  it  would not be possible  to send  in  any  troops  unless  Jammu  and  Kashmir  had  first  offered to accede. Therefore Maharaja signed the instrument of accession on 26th Oct,  1947.  

b). What do you know about the Stand Still Agreement?

Answer:- In order to decide the future course of action, regarding accession Maharaja required some more time and so he offered a Stand Still Agreement to both Pakistan and India  on August  12, 1947. It asserted the maintenance of  status  quo in all  matters as it was with the British Indian  Government. Pakistan accepted the offer on 15th of August,1947 whereas India sought some clarifications. 

 c). Write a brief note on

 i)  Karachi ceasefire agreement. 

ii)  Formation  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  Constituent  Assembly 

Answer:- i) Karachi ceasefire agreement:-  January,  1948,  India  moved  the  issue regarding  the occupation of  Jammu  and  Kashmir territories  by Pakistan to the  U.N.  which led  to United Nations Security Council Resolution  47  of 21st April,  1948.  Subsequently,  an  agreement  of  ceasefire  called  ‘The Karachi  Ceasefire  Agreement’  was signed  between India  and Pakistan in 1949.

ii)  Formation  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  Constituent  Assembly:- In  October  1950,  the  General  Council  of  the  National  Conference passed  a resolution recommending election to Constituent Assembly  for the purpose  of giving  the State a Constitution that  would  determine  the  future  of  the  J&K  State.  The elections  to the Constituent Assembly were  accordingly  held  and  the  Assembly  met  for  the  first  time  in October,  1951.The  constituencies  were  delimited  on  the  basis  of one  member  to  forty thousand  people.  Further,  the  Constitution  of J&K came into force on 26th  January 1957.