Post Colonial India..: WBBSE Class 10 History notes, answers

Summary

The Indian Independence Act was passed in July 1947, allowing native rulers the choice to accede to either India or Pakistan. However, some states believed they were entitled to independence. Vallabhbhai Patel convinced the leaders of these states to join the Indian Union, and all states, except Kashmir, Hyderabad, and Junagadh, did so. India invaded and occupied Junagadh, and the Nizam of Hyderabad was merged with India after attempting to act independently. The state of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India, but Pakistan did not accept this merger, leading to several wars between the two countries.

The partition of India and the resulting refugee crisis caused significant issues, including communal riots. The Delhi Pact, signed between Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan, aimed to address these issues by ensuring complete equality of citizenship and a sense of security for minorities in both India and Pakistan. The history of the partition and the condition of refugees have been reconstructed with the help of autobiographies and reminiscences, such as ‘Chere Asa Gram’, ‘Udvastu’, ‘Atmakatha’, ‘Udbritter Itibritta’ by Ajoy Gupta, and ‘Kichu Smriti Kichu Katha’ by Saibal Gupta. Immediately after independence, there was a demand for the reorganization of states based on language.

The Dar Commission advised against the reorganization of states based on language, fearing it could threaten national unity. However, the public was not satisfied, and a committee appointed in December 1948 also recommended against the creation of linguistic states for the time being. The movement for reorganisation persisted, and eventually led to the creation of the separate state of Andhra Pradesh in 1952 and the emergence of Tamil Nadu as a Tamil-speaking state. The agitation for the reorganisation of boundaries continued, and a commission known as the States Reorganisation Commission was established to recommend the reorganizationreorganisation of state boundaries. This commission recommended the reorganization of India’s state boundaries into 16 states and 3 union territories, which were subsequently implemented and became integral parts of the Indian Union by 1956.

India is rich in languages, and the constitution does not give any language the status of a national language. The official languages recognised by the government of India are Hindi and English. The Constitution also includes provisions for the inclusion of 14 languages in the Eighth Schedule, which as of December 1, 2007, lists 22 languages: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Telugu, Urdu, Tamil, Sindhi, Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali.

Textual (Oriental)

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Name the national leader who successfully completed the accession of the princely states to the Indian Union.

(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(d) Clement Atlee

Answer: (c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

2. Of the following which was the first linguistically reorganized state ?

(a) West Bengal
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Orissa
(d) Andhra

Answer: (d) Andhra

True/False

1. It was clearly stated by the national leaders that with the end of the British rule the only option left with the princely states was to accede to India or Pakistan.

Answer: True

2. The Nawab of Hyderabad voluntarily acceded to the Indian Union

Answer: False

3. The renowned journalist, Kuldip Nayar, in an article narrated the plight of the refugees from West Pakistan to Punjab.

Answer: True

Fill in the Blanks

1. Maharaja ______ formally acceded Kashmir to India on 20 October 1947. (Kartar Singh/ Hari Singh/ Tara Singh/ Trilochan Singh)

Answer: Hari Singh

2. The ______ carried on depredations on the borders of Indian provinces bordering Hyderabad. (Razakars/ militants/ terrorists/ Nizam’s army)

Answer: Razakars

3. Akali leader Master ______ demanded separate homeland for the Sikhs. (Trilochan Singh/ Tara Singh/ Dara Singh/ Sadhu Singh)

Answer: Tara Singh

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What statement of Muhammad Ali Jinnah encouraged some of the rulers of the princely states to remain independent?

Answer: The princes of the native states got encouragement from the open statement made by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. On 18 June 1947, he declared that ‘the States would be independent sovereign States on the termination of paramountcy’. The sly hint was that should they so desire, the princely states could retain their independence.

2. Why did the ruler of Kashmir appeal to India for military assistance?

Answer: The ruler of Kashmir, the Maharaja, appealed to India for military assistance because sometime in October 1947, Pathan tribesmen, led unofficially by the Pakistan army, invaded Kashmir and proceeded towards Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir.

3. What was the attitude of the Government of India regarding the rehabilitation of the refugees?

Answer: The Government of India’s initiative in rehabilitating the refugees was not beyond controversy. At the initial stage, the Government of India was primarily concerned about the rehabilitation of the refugees from West Pakistan, and the national leadership was undecided regarding the responsibilities towards the Hindu refugees who migrated in huge numbers to West Bengal from East Pakistan. The sincere efforts the government had taken in settling and rehabilitating the refugees from West Pakistan were found missing in the case of the refugees who had to leave their homeland in East Pakistan. In the case of rehabilitating the refugees in West Bengal, a step-motherly attitude of the Government of India was noticeable, and this discriminatory nature in its policy gave rise to controversies.

Analytical Answer Type Questions

1. How was Junagadh acceded to the Indian Union?

Answer: Situated on the coast of Saurashtra and surrounded by Indian territory, Junagadh created some problem in its accession to India. Muhammad Muhabat Khanji III, the ruling Nawab of Junagadh, despite the wishes of the people declared the accession of the state to Pakistan. As a protest against this, the people of Junagadh launched a movement. Unable to resist this, the Nawab fled to Pakistan. In November 1947, the Government of India took over the administration at the desire of the people of Junagadh as expressed through a plebiscite. Later on, Junagadh was merged into Saurashtra according to the desire of the people.

2. What was the real issue in the Kashmir problem?

Answer: The state of Kashmir bordered on both India and Pakistan. Its ruler Maharaja Hari Singh was a Hindu while it was a Muslim-dominated state, about 70% of its population being Muslim. Pakistan demanded the inclusion of Kashmir in its dominion on the ground of Muslim majority. This was contrary to the joint declaration made earlier by both India and Pakistan, where it was agreed that the secession of a state would depend on the decision of the respective rulers of the princely states. Pakistan refused to accept the principle of plebiscite for deciding the issue of accession as was in the case of Junagadh. Sometime in October 1947, Pathan tribesmen led unofficially by the Pakistan army invaded Kashmir and proceeded towards Srinagar. The Maharaja forthwith appealed to India for military assistance. India agreed to render military assistance only after the Maharaja formally acceded Kashmir to India on 26 October 1947 by signing the Instrument of Accession. Simultaneously a popular government headed by Sheikh Abdullah replaced the monarchy, and Maharaja Hari Singh abdicated voluntarily. Pakistan, however, could not reconcile itself to the accession of Kashmir to the Indian Union and also refused to vacate the part of Kashmir that it had occupied forcibly (since then known as POK, Pak-occupied Kashmir).

3. How did Andhra become the first linguistically reorganized state?

Answer: A strong movement was launched in Andhra in favour of separation of Andhra from Madras Presidency. The movement was led by Patti Sriramalu, a great freedom fighter who undertook fast unto death over the demand for a separate Andhra state (province). After he expired while on fast for fifty-eight days, the movement took a serious turn. Under the situation, the Telegu linguist area was separated from the Tamil speaking area. Thus was born Andhra Pradesh (1957). Andhra was the first state of India that had been reorganized linguistically.

Explanatory Answer Type Questions

1. What was the response of the princely states to the call of Sardar Patel to accede to the Indian Union? How was Junagadh acceded to the Indian Union?

Answer: Of the princely states that responded to the call of Sardar Patel, mention may be made of Bhopal, Coochbehar, Tripura, Manipur, etc. There were also a number of states that merged with the neighbouring provinces. These were: The princely state of Myurbhanj merged with Orissa (present Odisa), Kolhapur joined with Bombay, and Benaras with Uttar Pradesh. In a similar manner many other small states acceded to India. By 15 August 1947 excepting the states of Junagadh, Jammu-Kashmir and Hyderabad all the princely states joined India.

Situated on the coast of Saurashtra and surrounded by Indian territory, Junagadh created some problem in its accession to India. Muhammad Muhabat Khanji III, the ruling Nawab of Junagadh, despite the wishes of the people declared the accession of the state to Pakistan. As a protest against this the people of Junagadh launched a movement. Unable to resist this Nawab fled to Pakistan. In November 1947 the Government of India took over the administration at the desire of the people of Junagadh as expressed through a plebiscite. Later on Junagadh was merged into Saurashtra according to the desire of the people.

2. Write in short about the initiative undertaken for the rehabilitation of the refugees.

Answer: At the initial stage the Government of India was primarily concerned about the rehabilitation of the refugees from West Pakistan. The national leadership was undecided regarding the responsibilities towards the Hindu refugees who migrated in huge numbers to West Bengal from East Pakistan (presently Bangladesh). The discriminatory nature in the Government of India’s policy of refugee rehabilitation gave rise to controversies. The report of the Planning Commission at the end of the First Five Year Plan admitted that the continuing migration of the ‘displaced persons from East Pakistan made the problem of rehabilitation in the eastern states particularly difficult’.

The Government of India’s initiative in rehabilitating the refugees was not beyond controversy. In fact, the sincere efforts the government had taken in settling and rehabilitating the refugees from West Pakistan was found missing in case of the refugees who had to leave their homeland in East Pakistan. The Hindu and Sikh refugees moving from West Pakistan occupied deserted houses or fallow land in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab itself about two hundred camps or tenements were raised for rehabilitating the refugees. Besides as many as nineteen suburban towns were built for rehabilitation of the refugees. But in the case of rehabilitating the refugees in West Bengal a step motherly attitude of the Government of India was noticeable. The refugees were shifted from the platforms of Sealdah station to hastily improvised government camps. Some refugees went to the refugee camps set up by the Government in West Bengal while others settled in the squatters’ colonies (refugee colony as they were called in Bengali language).

3. Name the National leader who successfully completed the accession of the princely states to the Union of India. Which was the first linguistically reorganised state?

Answer: It was Vallabhbhai Patel who with great skill and diplomacy successfully completed the accession of the princely states with the Indian Union.

Andhra was the first state of India that had been reorganized linguistically.

4. Why did some of the princely states want to remain independent without joining either India or Pakistan?

Answer: Accession of the princely states became a matter of concern as many of the larger and powerful princes began to dream of independence once the British left the country. The statements and announcements made by Clement Atlee, the then Prime Minister of Britain, complicated the issue. On 20 February 1947 Clement Atlee announced that His Majesty’s Government (British Government) had no intention to hand over paramountcy either to India or Pakistan. This complicated the situation as the rulers of several native states claimed that they would become independent as soon as the British rule in India came to an end. The princes also got encouragement from the open statement made by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. On 18 June 1947 he declared that ‘the States would be independent sovereign States on the termination of paramountcy’. The sly hint was that should they so desire the princely states could retain their independence.

5. The ruler of Kashmir appealed to India for military protection – Why?

Answer: Sometime in October 1947 Pathan tribesmen led unofficially by Pakistan army invaded Kashmir and proceeded towards Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. The Maharaja forthwith appealed to India for military assistance because of this invasion.

6. Junagadh acceded to Indian Union Why?

Answer: Muhammad Muhabat Khanji III, the ruling Nawab of Junagadh, despite the wishes of the people declared the accession of the state to Pakistan. As a protest against this the people of Junagadh launched a movement. Unable to resist this Nawab fled to Pakistan. In November 1947 the Government of India took over the administration at the desire of the people of Junagadh as expressed through a plebiscite. Later on Junagadh was merged into Saurashtra according to the desire of the people.

7. Sardar Patel called upon princely states to acceded to Indian Union- What was the response?

Answer: Of the princely states that responded to the call of Sardar Patel mention may be made of Bhopal, Coochbehar, Tripura, Manipur, etc. There were also a number of states that merged with the neighbouring provinces. These were : The princely state of Myurbhanj merged with Orissa (present Odisa), Kolhapur joined with Bombay, and Benaras with Uttar Pradesh. In a similar manner many other small states acceded to India. By 15 August 1947 excepting the states of Junagadh, Jammu-Kashmir and Hyderabad all the princely states joined India.

8. How were refugees rehabilitated?

Answer: People having some money at their disposal could reconstruct their lives in West Bengal with relative ease. But for most people it was not possible. Some went to the refugee camps set up by the Government in West Bengal while others settled in the squatters’ colonies (refugee colony as they were called in Bengali language).

The Government of India’s initiative in rehabilitating the refugees was not beyond controversy. The sincere efforts the government had taken in settling and rehabilitating the refugees from West Pakistan was found missing in case of the refugees who had to leave their homeland in East Pakistan. The Hindu and Sikh refugees moving from West Pakistan occupied deserted houses or fallow land in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab itself about two hundred camps or tenements were raised for rehabilitating the refugees. Besides as many as nineteen suburban towns were built for rehabilitation of the refugees. But in the case of rehabilitating the refugees in West Bengal a step motherly attitude of the Government of India was noticeable. The refugees were shifted from the platforms of Sealdah station to hastily improvised government camps.

Extras

MCQs

1. How many princely states existed before integration?

A. 565
B. 500
C. 600
D. 525

Answer: A. 565

2. What percentage of the subcontinent’s territory did princely states occupy?

A. 40%
B. 30%
C. 50%
D. 60%

Answer: A. 40%

3. On which date did Clement Atlee announce that Britain would not hand over paramountcy?

A. 20 February 1947
B. 18 June 1947
C. 26 October 1947
D. 15 August 1947

Answer: A. 20 February 1947

4. Who declared that States would be independent sovereign States on termination of paramountcy?

A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
C. Clement Atlee
D. Sardar Patel

Answer: B. Muhammad Ali Jinnah

5. What choice was offered to the princely states after British rule ended?

A. Accede to India or Pakistan
B. Remain independent
C. Join the Commonwealth
D. Seek United Nations trusteeship

Answer: A. Accede to India or Pakistan

6. Which leader successfully completed the accession of princely states with a ‘carrot and stick’ policy?

A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
C. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
D. Clement Atlee

Answer: B. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

7. Which princely state merged with Orissa upon accession?

A. Myurbhanj
B. Kolhapur
C. Benaras
D. Bhopal

Answer: A. Myurbhanj

8. Which princely state merged with Bombay Province?

A. Tripura
B. Kolhapur
C. Coochbehar
D. Bhopal

Answer: B. Kolhapur

9. Which princely state merged with Uttar Pradesh?

A. Bhopal
B. Benaras
C. Tripura
D. Coochbehar

Answer: B. Benaras

10. By which date had most princely states acceded to India, leaving only Junagadh, Jammu‑Kashmir and Hyderabad outstanding?

A. 15 August 1947
B. 26 October 1947
C. 20 February 1947
D. 18 June 1947

Answer: A. 15 August 1947

11. Which ruler declared his state’s accession to Pakistan, prompting a plebiscite?

A. Hari Singh
B. Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III
C. Mir Osman Ali Khan
D. Qasim Rizvi

Answer: B. Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III

12. How was Junagadh’s accession to India confirmed?

A. Plebiscite
B. Treaty
C. Royal decree
D. Referendum

Answer: A. Plebiscite

13. Who was the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir when it acceded to India?

A. Mir Osman Ali Khan
B. Hari Singh
C. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
D. Qasim Rizvi

Answer: B. Hari Singh

14. What proportion of Kashmir’s population was Muslim at the time of accession?

A. 70%
B. 50%
C. 60%
D. 80%

Answer: A. 70%

15. On which date did Kashmir formally accede to India?

A. 26 October 1947
B. 20 February 1947
C. 18 June 1947
D. 15 August 1947

Answer: A. 26 October 1947

16. What is the name of the agreement used by princely states to join the Indian Union?

A. Instrument of Accession
B. State Merger Act
C. Treaty of Union
D. Government Order

Answer: A. Instrument of Accession

17. Under which Act was the Instrument of Accession first incorporated?

A. Government of India Act 1935
B. Indian Independence Act 1947
C. State Reorganisation Act 1956
D. Indian Council Act 1909

Answer: A. Government of India Act 1935

18. Which was the largest princely state that required ‘police action’ to annex?

A. Hyderabad
B. Junagadh
C. Bhopal
D. Mysore

Answer: A. Hyderabad

19. Who led the Razakars opposing annexation of Hyderabad?

A. Qasim Rizvi
B. Hari Singh
C. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
D. Sardar Patel

Answer: A. Qasim Rizvi

20. On which date did Indian forces begin military action in Hyderabad?

A. 13 September
B. 15 August
C. 26 October
D. 20 February

Answer: A. 13 September

21. In which month did the Nizam formally join the Indian Union?

A. November
B. October
C. December
D. September

Answer: A. November

22. Which region experienced a one-time population exchange at Partition?

A. Punjab
B. Bengal
C. Assam
D. Bombay

Answer: A. Punjab

23. Which city’s evacuation on 14 August 1947 did a journalist describe?

A. Sialkot
B. Lahore
C. Amritsar
D. Delhi

Answer: A. Sialkot

24. What material was used for roofing in refugee huts in Calcutta in 1947?

A. Hogla leaves
B. Tin sheets
C. Straw mats
D. Bamboo panels

Answer: A. Hogla leaves

25. Who served as Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner from June 1949?

A. Hironmoy Banerjee
B. Kuldip Nayar
C. Himangsu Mazumder
D. Anasua Raychaudhury

Answer: A. Hironmoy Banerjee

26. Which organisation was formed in 1948 for refugee action in Bengal?

A. All Bengal Refugee Council for Action
B. United Central Refugee Council
C. Bengal Relief Society
D. East Bengal Refugee Forum

Answer: A. All Bengal Refugee Council for Action

27. Which council was established in 1950 following protests against an Eviction Bill?

A. United Central Refugee Council
B. All Bengal Refugee Council
C. Refugee Action Committee
D. National Relief Council

Answer: A. United Central Refugee Council

28. Which pact signed on 8 April 1950 aimed to guarantee minority rights?

A. Nehru‑Liaquat Pact
B. Shimla Accord
C. Tashkent Agreement
D. Karachi Treaty

Answer: A. Nehru‑Liaquat Pact

29. The Nehru‑Liaquat Pact primarily sought to protect which group?

A. Minorities
B. Refugees
C. Traders
D. Landowners

Answer: A. Minorities

30. Approximately how many camps were set up in Punjab for refugee rehabilitation?

A. Two hundred
B. One hundred
C. Fifty
D. Three hundred

Answer: A. Two hundred

31. How many suburban towns were built in Punjab for refugee rehabilitation?

A. Nineteen
B. Ten
C. Five
D. Twenty

Answer: A. Nineteen

32. Who fasted unto death for a separate Andhra state?

A. Patti Sriramalu
B. Potti Sriramulu
C. K M Panikkar
D. S K Dhar

Answer: A. Patti Sriramalu

33. How many days did Patti Sriramalu fast unto death?

A. 58
B. 40
C. 30
D. 75

Answer: A. 58

34. Which state became the first to be reorganised on a linguistic basis?

A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Tamil Nadu
C. Maharashtra
D. Kerala

Answer: A. Andhra Pradesh

35. In which year was Andhra Pradesh formed as a linguistic state?

A. 1957
B. 1956
C. 1960
D. 1953

Answer: A. 1957

36. Which commission was appointed in August 1953 for state reorganisation?

A. States Reorganisation Commission
B. Dhar Commission
C. Linguistic Provinces Commission
D. Planning Commission

Answer: A. States Reorganisation Commission

37. Who chaired the States Reorganisation Commission?

A. Fazl Ali
B. K M Panikkar
C. S K Dhar
D. Hridaynath Kunjuru

Answer: A. Fazl Ali

38. On which date did the Commission submit its report?

A. 30 September 1955
B. 15 August 1956
C. 8 April 1950
D. 20 February 1947

Answer: A. 30 September 1955

39. In which year was the States Reorganisation Act passed?

A. 1956
B. 1955
C. 1960
D. 1948

Answer: A. 1956

40. Which 1948 commission addressed linguistic province issues?

A. Dhar Commission
B. States Reorganisation Commission
C. Linguistic Provinces Commission
D. Planning Commission

Answer: A. Dhar Commission

41. Who chaired the Dhar Commission?

A. S K Dhar
B. Fazl Ali
C. K M Panikkar
D. Hridaynath Kunjuru

Answer: A. S K Dhar

42. How many states did the Commission recommend for the Indian Union?

A. 16
B. 14
C. 18
D. 12

Answer: A. 16

43. How many states were created by the Act of 1956?

A. 14
B. 16
C. 12
D. 18

Answer: A. 14

44. Which two regions combined to form Kerala?

A. Malabar and Travancore‑Cochin
B. Madras and Mysore
C. Bombay and Sind
D. Punjab and Haryana

Answer: A. Malabar and Travancore‑Cochin

45. Which two states were formed in 1960 from Bombay Presidency?

A. Gujarat and Maharashtra
B. Punjab and Haryana
C. Andhra and Tamil Nadu
D. Assam and Nagaland

Answer: A. Gujarat and Maharashtra

46. Which state was carved out of Assam in 1963?

A. Nagaland
B. Meghalaya
C. Tripura
D. Manipur

Answer: A. Nagaland

47. How many states does India currently have?

A. 29
B. 25
C. 23
D. 31

Answer: A. 29

48. How many Union Territories are there currently?

A. 7
B. 6
C. 5
D. 8

Answer: A. 7

49. Approximately how many languages were recorded in India in the 1961 census?

A. 1652
B. 1200
C. 1400
D. 1800

Answer: A. 1652

50. Which two languages serve as official languages of the Government of India?

A. Hindi and English
B. Urdu and Hindi
C. Bengali and English
D. Tamil and English

Answer: A. Hindi and English

51. Until 1967, how many regional languages appeared in the Eighth Schedule?

A. 14
B. 12
C. 16
D. 10

Answer: A. 14

52. Which of these languages was originally in the Eighth Schedule?

A. Sanskrit
B. Sindhi
C. Bodo
D. Santhali

Answer: A. Sanskrit

53. Which language was added to the Eighth Schedule after 1967?

A. Sindhi
B. Sanskrit
C. Bengali
D. Tamil

Answer: A. Sindhi

54. What do Indian currency‑notes display on their reverse sides?

A. Languages in their scripts
B. National monuments
C. Serial numbers
D. Signatures

Answer: A. Languages in their scripts

Questions and Answers

1. What was the dual policy followed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?

Answer: Sardar Patel followed the dual policy of carrot and stick. First, he tried to convince the princes the advantages they would derive being acceded to India. In the cases where the appeal was not responded to he did not hesitate to get those acceded through the application of force.

2. Name the princely state that merged with Orissa?

Answer: The princely state of Myurbhanj merged with Orissa (present Odisa).

3. Who was the last Nawab of Junagadh?

Answer: Muhammad Muhabat Khanji III was the last Nawab of the Princely State of Junagadh.

4. What percentage of Kashmir’s population was Muslim in 1947?

Answer: About 70% of Kashmir’s population was Muslim.

5. Who led the invading tribesmen in Kashmir unofficially?

Answer: Pathan tribesmen led unofficially by Pakistan army invaded Kashmir.

6. What was the name of the legal document that allowed princely states to join India?

Answer: The Instrument of Accession is a legal document, first incorporated in 1935 in the Government of India Act, which was used in 1947 by the then Government of India to enable the rulers of the Princely States to join the Indian Union.

7. Who was the Nizam of Hyderabad at the time of independence?

Answer: At the time the British left India Mir Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII was the ruling Nizam of Hyderabad.

8. What was the name of the fanatical group that spread terror in Hyderabad?

Answer: The Nizam at that time fell under the influence of a fanatical group called Razakars who entertained wild schemes regarding the future of the state and were opposed to India, letting loose a reign of terror in Hyderabad under the leadership of Qasim Rizvi.

9. Who led the Indian military forces during the ‘police action’ in Hyderabad?

Answer: Indian military forces during the ‘police action’ in Hyderabad were under the command of General J.N. Chaudhuri.

10. When did Indian troops enter Hyderabad?

Answer: Indian military forces under the command of General J.N. Chaudhuri entered Hyderabad 13 September (1949).

11. When did the Nizam of Hyderabad formally accede to the Indian Union?

Answer: In November, the Nizam formally joined the Indian Union.

12. What was the name of the refugee council formed in 1948?

Answer: In 1948 All Bengal Refugee Council for Action was formed.

13. When was the United Central Refugee Council formed?

Answer: In 1950 the United Central Refugee Council (UCRC) was formed.

14. Who signed the Nehru-Liaquat Pact from the Pakistan side?

Answer: The Nehru-Liaquat Pact was signed in New Delhi between the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan of Pakistan on April 8, 1950.

15. Who was the Chairman of the Linguistic Provinces Commission in 1948?

Answer: The Chairman of the Linguistic Provinces Commission appointed in 1948 was S.K. Dhar.

16. Who were the members of the States Reorganisation Commission?

Answer: The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) appointed in August 1953 was headed by its chairman Justice Fazl Ali. K.M. Panikkar and Hridaynath Kunjuru were the two other members of the Commission.

17. When did the States Reorganisation Commission submit its report?

Answer: The Commission submitted its report on 30 September 1955.

18. In which year were Gujarat and Maharashtra created?

Answer: Gujarat and Maharashtra were born in 1960.

19. When was Nagaland carved out of Assam?

Answer: Nagaland was curved out of Assam in 1963.

20. How many languages were listed in the Eighth Schedule until 1967?

Answer: Until 1967 the Constitution recognized 14 official regional languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.

21. Which two languages are the official languages of the Government of India?

Answer: The official languages of the Government of India are Hindi and English.

22. What is the name of the agreement signed by Maharaja Hari Singh to join India?

Answer: Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession through which the state was acceded to Indian Union in 1947.

23. Why was the idea of independent princely states unacceptable to Indian nationalists?

Answer: The idea of independent princely states was hardly acceptable to the Indian nationalists because the unity of free India would be jeopardized and put into peril by the presence of hundreds of autonomous states within it. Consequently, the nationalist leaders rejected the idea of independence for any of the princely states.

24. What were the problems in the accession of Junagadh to India?

Answer: Junagadh, situated on the coast of Saurashtra and surrounded by Indian territory, created some problems in its accession to India. The ruling Nawab of Junagadh, Muhammad Muhabat Khanji III, declared the accession of the state to Pakistan despite the wishes of the people. This led to the people of Junagadh launching a movement in protest. Unable to resist this movement, the Nawab fled to Pakistan.

25. Why was the idea of an independent Hyderabad not acceptable to India?

Answer: The idea of an independent Hyderabad kingdom was not acceptable to India because it was considered, as it were, a dagger pointed to the heart of India. It was not desirable for the Government of India from the consideration of defense, security, as well as the solidarity of the Indian nation.

26. What was the role of the Razakars in Hyderabad?

Answer: The Razakars were a fanatical group in Hyderabad who influenced the Nizam. They entertained wild schemes regarding the future of the state and were opposed to India. Under the leadership of Qasim Rizvi, the Razakars let loose a reign of terror in Hyderabad and carried on depredations on the borders of the Indian provinces of Madras, Central Province, and Bombay.

27. What was the nature of population transfer in Punjab after Partition?

Answer: In the partition of Punjab, there was the exchange of population. Hindus came from western Punjab to India, and the Muslims moved from eastern Punjab to Pakistan. This exchange of population, however, was not at all peaceful. There had been large-scale massacre during the course of the transfer of population. In any case, the transfer of population in Punjab was a onetime affair.

28. How was the refugee migration in Bengal different from that in Punjab?

Answer: In the case of Bengal, the picture was completely different from Punjab. While the transfer of population in Punjab was a onetime affair, the influx of people from former East Pakistan (and present Bangladesh) to West Bengal has been a continuing affair and remained ‘as inescapable part of our reality’. The influx of refugees from East Pakistan continued in waves for several years. Also, in Bengal, Partition resulted in the killing of several thousands of people, and a few times more than that people were displaced and uprooted from their homeland to find their way to the Indian side of Bengal (West Bengal).

29. Why was the influx of refugees into West Bengal described as a continuing affair?

Answer: The influx of refugees into West Bengal was described as a continuing affair because, unlike the one-time population transfer in Punjab, the influx of people from former East Pakistan (and present Bangladesh) to West Bengal continued in waves for several years and remained ‘as inescapable part of our reality’.

30. What kind of shelter did poor refugees settle in upon arriving in West Bengal?

Answer: Upon arriving in West Bengal, some poor refugees went to the refugee camps set up by the Government or were shifted from the platforms of Sealdah station to hastily improvised government camps. Others settled in squatters’ colonies, which were called refugee colonies in Bengali language. In these colonies, they might construct shelters like thatched huts using materials like Hogla leaves for roofing, often on low-lying and marshy land which they had to clear themselves.

31. Why did the Hindu refugees from East Pakistan start agitational politics?

Answer: Hindu refugees from East Pakistan started agitational politics because they faced a discriminatory and step-motherly attitude from the Government of India regarding rehabilitation, especially compared to the sincere efforts taken for refugees from West Pakistan. The national leadership was initially undecided about responsibilities towards them, and many refugees, particularly those in squatters’ colonies, were considered the worst sufferers as they were not entitled to government help in any manner. In time, they realized they had no other option but to raise their voice for relief and rehabilitation. Specific events, like the proposed Eviction Bill in 1950, also led to movements and the formation of refugee councils like the UCRC to act as spokesmen for the helpless migrants.

32. What role did the All Bengal Refugee Council for Action play?

Answer: In 1948 All Bengal Refugee Council for Action was formed. Thus the refugees from East Pakistan for the first time began agitational politics.

33. Why was the refugee rehabilitation policy of the Indian government criticised?

Answer: The Government of India’s initiative in rehabilitating the refugees was not beyond controversy and gave rise to controversies due to its discriminatory nature. At the initial stage, the Government of India was primarily concerned about the rehabilitation of the refugees from West Pakistan. The national leadership was undecided regarding the responsibilities towards the Hindu refugees who migrated in huge numbers to West Bengal from East Pakistan. In fact, the sincere efforts the government had taken in settling and rehabilitating the refugees from West Pakistan was found missing in case of the refugees who had to leave their homeland in East Pakistan. In the case of rehabilitating the refugees in West Bengal a step motherly attitude of the Government of India was noticeable.

34. What was the objective of the Nehru-Liaquat Pact?

Answer: The objective of the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, signed on April 8, 1950, was to guarantee the rights of minorities in both India and Pakistan after the Partition of India and to avert another war between the two countries.

35. Why was the reorganisation of states necessary after independence?

Answer: After the accession and integration of the princely states, it was imperative that the states be reorganized. This was because after the integration there was no uniformity among the states territory-wise, population-wise or on the basis of economic viability, and on top of these, every unit became multi-lingual. Additionally, the borders of the states inherited from British India by independent India were found not suitable for easy administration. Thus the Government of India found it necessary to reorganize the state boundaries.

36. What were the key recommendations of the States Reorganisation Commission?

Answer: The main features in the report submitted by the States Reorganization Commission on 30 September 1955 were:

(a) The Indian Union was to consist of 16 States.
(b) Special safeguards were recommended for linguistic minorities.
(c) Reconstitution of certain All India Services.
(d) Emphasis on the need for encouraging the study of Indian languages, and English to continue as an important language in educational institutions.

37. Why was the Dhar Commission formed?

Answer: Immediately after Independence, demand was raised from different regions of the country for the reorganization of states on linguistic basis. In the fulfillment of the demand, the Government of India appointed the Linguistic Provinces Commission in 1948. As the Chairman of the Commission was S.K. Dhar, it came to be known as the ‘Dhar Commission’.

38. How did the linguistic movement in Andhra lead to the creation of a new state?

Answer: A strong movement was launched in Andhra in favour of separation of Andhra from Madras Presidency. The movement was led by Patti Sriramalu, who was a great freedom fighter. He undertook fast unto death over the demand for a separate Andhra state (province). After he expired while on fast for fifty-eight days the movement took a serious turn. Under the situation the Telegu linguist area was separated from the Tamil speaking area. Thus was born Andhra Pradesh (1957).

39. What changes were made by the States Reorganisation Act of 1956?

Answer: On the basis of the recommendations of the SRC the State Reorganization Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1956. The Act provided for fourteen States and six Union Territories. Telengana was joined with Andhra Pradesh. Again, Malabar and Travancore-Cochin were clubbed together to become present Kerala. Similar other adjustments had to be made to give effect to the Act of 1956.

40. Why was the linguistic reorganisation of states considered important?

Answer: The opinion in favour of linguistic reorganization received the greatest support. It was hoped that reorganizing the states on the basis of languages of India would make administration easier; and would replace the caste and religion-based identities.

41. Explain the statements of Clement Atlee and Muhammad Ali Jinnah and how they created complications regarding accession of princely states?

Answer: The statements and announcements made by Clement Atlee, the then Prime Minister of Britain, as also those made by Muhammad Ali Jinnah had complicated the issue of accession.

On 20 February 1947, Clement Atlee announced that His Majesty’s Government (British Government) had no intention to hand over paramountcy either to India or Pakistan. This statement complicated the situation as the rulers of several native states (or princely states) claimed that they would become independent as soon as the British rule in India came to an end.

The princes of the native states also got encouragement from the open statement made by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. On 18 June 1947, he declared that ‘the States would be independent sovereign States on the termination of paramountcy’. The sly hint was that should they so desire, the princely states could retain their independence. These statements complicated the issue of accession as many larger and powerful princes began to dream of independence once the British left the country.

42. Describe how Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel achieved the integration of the princely states?

Answer: It was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who with great skill and diplomacy successfully completed the accession of the princely states with the Indian Union. Sardar Patel followed the dual policy of carrot and stick. First, he tried to convince the princes of the advantages they would derive from being acceded to India. In the cases where the appeal was not responded to, he did not hesitate to get those states acceded through the application of force.

43. Describe in detail the events leading to the accession of Kashmir to India?

Sometime in October 1947, Pathan tribesmen led unofficially by the Pakistan army invaded Kashmir and proceeded towards Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. The Maharaja forthwith appealed to India for military assistance. India, on her side, agreed to render military assistance only after the Maharaja formally acceded Kashmir to India on 26 October (1947). Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession through which the state was acceded to the Indian Union in 1947. Simultaneously, a popular government headed by Sheikh Abdullah replaced the monarchy in Kashmir, and Maharaja Hari Singh abdicated voluntarily. Pakistan, however, could not reconcile itself to the accession of Kashmir to the Indian Union and refused to vacate the part of Kashmir that it had occupied forcibly.

44. Explain how Hyderabad was annexed to India?

Answer: Hyderabad was the largest of the princely states and was surrounded by Indian territory. At the time the British left India, Mir Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII was the ruling Nizam of Hyderabad. He refused to join either India or Pakistan, preferring to remain the ruler of an independent kingdom. However, an independent Hyderabad kingdom was considered a dagger pointed to the heart of India and was not desirable for the Government of India due to considerations of defense, security, and the solidarity of the Indian nation.

The situation was further complicated by the prevailing internal chaos and confusion in Hyderabad, which caused alarm to the Government of India. The Nizam fell under the influence of a fanatical group called Razakars, led by Qasim Rizvi, who entertained wild schemes about the state’s future and were opposed to India. The Razakars let loose a reign of terror in Hyderabad and carried on depredations on the borders of Indian provinces like Madras, Central Province, and Bombay.

When repeated protests and attempts at peaceful solutions seemed to be of no avail, and the danger to people’s lives and property continued unabated, the Government of India decided upon ‘police action’ in Hyderabad. Indian military forces under the command of General J.N. Chaudhuri entered Hyderabad on 13 September (1949). By the 16th, the Nizam surrendered. In November, the Nizam formally joined the Indian Union. This was how Hyderabad was annexed to India.

45. Write about the different responses of princely states to Sardar Patel’s appeal?

Answer: It was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who, with great skill and diplomacy, successfully completed the accession of the princely states with the Indian Union. Sardar Patel followed the dual policy of carrot and stick. First, he tried to convince the princes of the advantages they would derive from being acceded to India. In cases where the appeal was not responded to, he did not hesitate to get those states acceded through the application of force.

Regarding the response of the princely states to the call of Sardar Patel, mention may be made of Bhopal, Coochbehar, Tripura, Manipur, etc., which responded positively. There were also a number of states that merged with the neighbouring provinces. For example, the princely state of Myurbhanj merged with Orissa (present Odisa), Kolhapur joined with Bombay, and Benaras with Uttar Pradesh. In a similar manner, many other small states acceded to India. By 15 August 1947, all the princely states joined India, with the exception of Junagadh, Jammu-Kashmir, and Hyderabad.

46. Describe the problems faced by refugees who came from East Pakistan?

Answer: In the case of Bengal, the partition resulted in the killing of several thousands of people, and even more people were displaced and uprooted from their homeland, finding their way to the Indian side of Bengal (West Bengal). Unlike the population transfer in Punjab, which was a one-time affair, the influx of people from former East Pakistan (and present Bangladesh) to West Bengal has been a continuing affair and remains ‘as inescapable part of our reality’.

For most refugees from East Pakistan, reconstructing their lives was not possible with ease, unlike those who had some money at their disposal. Some went to refugee camps set up by the Government in West Bengal, while others settled in squatters’ colonies, called refugee colonies in Bengali language. At the initial stage, the Government of India’s policy showed a discriminatory nature; it was primarily concerned with rehabilitating refugees from West Pakistan, and the national leadership was undecided regarding responsibilities towards the Hindu refugees migrating in huge numbers to West Bengal from East Pakistan. This gave rise to controversies. The Planning Commission later admitted that the continuing migration of ‘displaced persons from East Pakistan made the problem of rehabilitation in the eastern states particularly difficult’.

The plight of the refugees involved struggling to reconstruct their lives in an alien land. Recollections, like those of Himangsu Mazumder from Bijaygarh colony, describe arriving from Barisal in November or December 1947, getting a small plot, constructing a thatched hut with Hogla leaves on low-lying and marshy land, and then clearing the land and installing a tube-well to make the place liveable.

Early migrants were classified into categories, but there was also a group of shelter-seekers in squatters’ colonies who were the worst sufferers as they were not entitled to government help in any manner. They realized they had to raise their voice for relief and rehabilitation, leading to the formation of the All Bengal Refugee Council for Action in 1948 and the United Central Refugee Council (UCRC) in 1950, which acted as a spokesman for the helpless migrants.

The sincere efforts the government took in settling and rehabilitating refugees from West Pakistan were found missing in the case of refugees from East Pakistan. A step-motherly attitude from the Government of India was noticeable. Refugees were shifted from the platforms of Sealdah station to hastily improvised government camps. The influx of refugees from East Pakistan continued in waves for several years.

47. Explain the controversy regarding the rehabilitation of Hindu refugees from East Pakistan?

Answer: At the initial stage, the Government of India was primarily concerned about the rehabilitation of the refugees from West Pakistan. The national leadership was undecided regarding the responsibilities towards the Hindu refugees who migrated in huge numbers to West Bengal from East Pakistan. The discriminatory nature in the Government of India’s policy of refugee rehabilitation gave rise to controversies. The Government of India’s initiative in rehabilitating the refugees was not beyond controversy. In fact, the sincere efforts the government had taken in settling and rehabilitating the refugees from West Pakistan was found missing in case of the refugees who had to leave their homeland in East Pakistan. In the case of rehabilitating the refugees in West Bengal, a step motherly attitude of the Government of India was noticeable. The refugees were shifted from the platforms of Sealdah station to hastily improvised government camps.

48. Describe the role of the refugee councils formed in West Bengal?

Answer: In course of time, the refugees from East Pakistan realized that they had no other option but to raise their voice for relief and rehabilitation. In 1948, the All Bengal Refugee Council for Action was formed. Thus the refugees from East Pakistan for the first time began agitational politics. In 1950, the United Central Refugee Council (UCRC) was formed in the wake of a movement against the proposed Eviction Bill. The UCRC worked as the spokesman of the helpless migrants from East Pakistan.

49. How did the Government of India deal with refugee rehabilitation in Punjab?

Answer: The Hindu and Sikh refugees moving from West Pakistan occupied deserted houses or fallow land in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab itself, about two hundred camps or tenements were raised for rehabilitating the refugees. Besides, as many as nineteen suburban towns were built for rehabilitation of the refugees.

50. Describe the features of the States Reorganisation Commission’s report?

Answer: The main features in the States Reorganization Commission report, submitted on 30 September 1955, were:

51. What adjustments were made in state boundaries as per the 1956 Act?

Answer: On the basis of the recommendations of the SRC, the State Reorganization Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1956. The Act provided for fourteen States and six Union Territories. Adjustments made included Telengana being joined with Andhra Pradesh. Again, Malabar and Travancore-Cochin were clubbed together to become present Kerala. Similar other adjustments had to be made to give effect to the Act of 1956.

52. Describe the process and reasons behind the creation of Andhra Pradesh?

53. Describe the language policy adopted by the Indian Constitution till 1964?

Answer: India is a land of diverse languages, with about 1652 languages in vogue according to the 1961 census. The Constitution of India does not give any language the status of national language. The official languages of the Government of India are Hindi and English. Besides these, regional languages have also been recognized as official languages. The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India. Until 1967, the Constitution recognized 14 official regional languages, which were mentioned in the Eighth Schedule. These languages were: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannad, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telegu, and Urdu.

54. What changes occurred in the map of India due to linguistic reorganisation of states?

Answer: After the integration of the princely states, it became imperative that the states be reorganized as there was no uniformity among them territory-wise, population-wise, or on the basis of economic viability, and many units were multi-lingual. The opinion in favour of linguistic reorganization received the greatest support. Andhra was the first state to be established as a linguistic state following a strong movement for separation from Madras Presidency. Andhra Pradesh was born in 1957, separating the Telegu linguist area from the Tamil speaking area, and Tamilnadu emerged as a state of the Tamil speaking people.

After the reorganization of Andhra, the demand was raised for similar linguistic states, and agitation for reorganization of boundaries on a linguistic basis became rampant. The Government of India appointed the States Reorganization Commission (SRC) in August 1953. On the basis of the recommendations of the Commission, the States Reorganization Act was passed in 1956. The Act provided for fourteen States and six Union Territories. Specific adjustments included Telengana being joined with Andhra Pradesh, and Malabar and Travancore-Cochin being clubbed together to become present Kerala.

However, the creation of new states continued. Tension between Marathi and Gujarati-speaking people of Bombay led to the birth of Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960. Subsequently, following demands for a separate homeland for Sikhs, the states of Punjab and Haryana were created. Bowing to the demand of the Nagas, Nagaland was carved out of Assam in 1963. Assam faced another surgery with the formation of Meghalaya. The map of the Indian states has undergone further changes since 1966.

55. Describe how demands from different regions led to the formation of new states after 1960?

Answer: Demands from different regions led to the formation of new states after 1960. Tension ran high between Marathi and Gujarati-speaking people of Bombay, which led to the birth of Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960. Akali leader Master Tara Singh’s demand for a separate homeland for Sikhs in Punjab was also gaining ground. Subsequently, the states of Punjab and Haryana were created. Bowing to the demand of the Nagas, Nagaland was carved out of Assam in 1963. Assam had to face another surgery later with the formation of Meghalaya.

Ron'e Dutta

Ron'e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.

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