Get here the summary, questions, answers, textbook solutions, extras, and pdf of Chapter 8 “Post-Colonial India: Second Half of the 20th Century” of the West Bengal Board (WBBSE) Class 10 (Madhyamik) History (Social Science) textbook. However, the given notes/solutions should only be used for references and should be modified/changed according to needs.
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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
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.
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.
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