Question

Which of the following Princely States were reluctant to sign the Instrument of Accession with India?

• A. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab
• B. Kerala, Hyderabad, Bombay
• C. Assam, Goa, Tripura
• D. Hyderabad, Junagadh, Kashmir

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The Princely States of India, during the partition and independence period of 1947, were given the option to join either India or Pakistan through an Instrument of Accession. Among these, certain states exhibited reluctance in signing the Instrument of Accession due to political, cultural, or strategic reasons. The states that were particularly hesitant were: 

• Hyderabad: A large and prosperous state in central India, ruled by a Nizam who wanted to remain independent or align with Pakistan despite having a predominantly Hindu population.
• Junagadh: Situated in present-day Gujarat, Junagadh was a small princely state with a Muslim ruler who chose to accede to Pakistan, leading to a conflict due to its primarily Hindu population.
• Kashmir: A strategically located region with a Hindu Maharaja and a Muslim-majority population. Kashmir's ruler was initially undecided, leading to a complex situation involving both India and Pakistan.

Therefore, among the given options, the correct set of Princely States that were reluctant to sign the Instrument of Accession with India is Hyderabad, Junagadh, Kashmir.

Answer 2

The Princely States that were reluctant to sign the Instrument of Accession with India were Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Kashmir.

Additional Context:

• Hyderabad: The Nizam wanted to remain independent, leading to military action (Operation Polo) in 1948
• Junagadh: Initially acceded to Pakistan despite geographical contiguity with India, later reversed after plebiscite
• Kashmir: Maharaja Hari Singh hesitated, leading to tribal invasion and eventual accession under special conditions
• All other options include regions that were either provinces or princely states that readily joined India
• These accessions were crucial in India's territorial integration post-independence

Correct Answer: (4) Hyderabad, Junagadh, Kashmir