The Integration of India: Forgotten Heroes
For most of the time in my childhood, I was taught that Gandhi led Congress helped to acquire independence. Nehru became the first Prime Minister. Sardar Patel integrated India. This is the narrative I have been listening and probably will die with — if not exposed to the realms. Today, I want to touch base on the problem of Integration, and give a holistic view of a person who architectured the mammoth task with Sardar Patel.
11th August 1947. Maharaj Hanumant Singh, then king of the Princely state of Jodhpur pointed a gun towards a civil servant who was in the process of acquiring signature on the Instrument of Accession; with which it would mean that the state of Jodhpur will forever be part of Dominion of India. The not-so-frightened civil servant told him firmly, “It won’t be nice for you your highness, to kill me. You’ll forever be the villain in the history of Jodhpur.” Then, Lord Mountbatten enters the room — chills the fire and successfully oversees the signature process.
This helped to integrate India and stopped her from dismantling from an important part of Indian body, the present Rajasthan (the area of 93k square km).
There were 565 princely states in India, and numerous of them had a tumultuous process of accession. Sardar Patel constructed gem of a team which ensured the processes are fruitful for India.
The civil servant who was at receiving end was V. P. Menon ( Rao Bahadur Vappala Pangunni Menon ). He was the Constitutional advisor to the last three Viceroys of India. Sardar Patel had good relations with him and he was considered to be his right-hand during the process.
The British were extremely smart. They had created the power transfer process such that there could have been 565 different countries. They created a power transfer document according to the treaties with the Princely states in 1823. Sardar Patel had to find a way. He found an answer in V.P. Menon.
Menon and Patel had created a strategy with which Mountbatten supported Strong Dominion of India. V.P. Menon was the one who convinced Mountbatten. Menon drafted the Instrument of Accession by which the current states are integrated in India. He was part of numerous negotiations for the integration. He served as a bridge between the Congress and the British during the transfer of power and integration.
After Independence, He was a Minister of State for Sardar Patel’s ministry. However, unfortunately after the sad demise of Sardar — he was shown the door by the government and India could not benefit more from his services.
Reason for his exclusion? So called Liberal Nehru. He had a strong prejudice against the Civil servants who worked with the British before the independence. Therefore, he ill-treated Mr. Menon.
On advice of Sardar Patel, Menon wrote two wonderful books — The Story of the Integration of the Indian States and The Transfer of Power. (Sardar ji was so visionary that he told Menon to write, knowing the ill-mind of Nehru)
This is a thanking note to a great who was forgotten. But remember, truth always prevails. The shoddy historians will never be able to hide the truth of my mother. My India.
JAI HIND.
