1949-Amalgamation of States’ Post Offices
By: Mr. Ashok Kumar Bayanwala

On 3rd June 1947, the plan for partition of India was announced and accepted by the principal political parties in India. It was also made clear that the Cabinet Mission Memorandum of 12th May 1946 will remain unchanged. It means that the rights of the States which flowed from their relationship (Treaties) with the Crown would no longer exist and that the rights surrendered by the States to the Paramount Power would return to the states. Thus the Indian Independence Act, left the Indian States completely free, and created 562 Independent Countries within India.

While in process of assuming power, the new Indian Government had to cope with one internal crisis after another. Following the blood letting, looting and unprecedented mass migration that accompanied partition, law and order had to be restored, and mass machinery had to be organized to deal with the millions of non Muslim refugees from East and West Pakistan. But the major task of the new administration was to unite India and to dethrone 562 princely rulers.

Against the above stated background, the Government of India decided to setup a separate “States Department” on 13th June 1947, to deal with matters of common concern with Princely States. This Department was, in charge of Sardar Patel. Mr.V. P. Menon became its first Secretary. On 5th July 1947, the States Department started functioning. And on this occasion Sardar Patel issued an important statement defining the policy of India, on the accession of States on three subjects - Foreign affairs, Defence and Communications, in which the common interest of the country were involved. The safety and preservation of these States as well as of India, demanded unity and mutual cooperation between its different parts. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel also gave long and forceful speeches to the princely rulers on merits of integration. He said “one should not forget that one’s conflicts, internecine quarrels and jealousies were the main cause of one’s downfall in past, and becoming victims to foreign domination a number of times. Therefore, one should preserve the unity of the country”.

A special full meeting was convened on 25th July 1947 to consider the question of accession of the States to the Dominion of India. The Princes were assured that their accession on three subjects of Defence, External affairs and Communication, would involved no financial liabilities and that in other matters there would be no encroachment on their internal sovereignty.

The bloodless revolution, which integrated all States in India, was brought about by the operation of democratic forces unleashed by freedom and also by patriotic attitude of the States Rulers who had been quick to appreciate the change.

All this happened because there is a considerable unity in India, - a unity characterized by love of country, devotion to democratic principles, common historical bonds, elements of cultural similarity and common interest. Actually, within a week’s time negotiations were concluded and all States excepting Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir acceded to the Indian Dominion.

The accession of the Princely States to the Dominion of India established a new and more organic relationship between the States and the Government of India. The constitutional link thus forged, proved strong enough to bear the stress of the upheaval through which the country has had to pass and enabled the Government of India and Governments of the States and the Provinces concerned to take concreted and coordinated action in relation to matters of common concern.

The accession of the States to the Dominion of India was a momentous event in India’s history. For the first time, after hundreds of years, India became welded into a constitutional entity.

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Readers are requested to send their query/comments to Mr. Ashok Kumar Bayanwala, 96, Swastik Society,Navarangpura, AHMEDABAD-380009, INDIA or email to Prashant H. Pandya