Three eras 1764 1857 1947 - How our
subcontinent avoided the fate of a #balkanised continent like #Africa.
| wish #ShashiTharoor appreciates that how Raj helped Indian subcontinent nearly half of Europe landmass become a nation state with a contagious landmass. Imagine 1764 kind of politically and geographically
divided landmass in this day and age.
India in 1764 (the first map below) was a land of infighting warlords and potentates - a totally fragmented landmass. The Mughal rule for all practical purposes was weak and
withdrawn to the suburbs of Delhi. India was a subcontinent but fragmented like
Africa today even worst.
The entire funds
as if we have learned a
lesson
of the nation would be drowned in
war expense by those potentates. Unending
wars and disputes between the states
would continue. This is one of the biggest upside from colonialism. We were innately driven to internecine wars.
It would be a tragedy. From 1857-1947 the
90 years of Raj rule helped Indian
subcontinent to evolve as a nation state
which it never was in the last few thousand
years.
The Mughal vassals and Rajas Maharajas
Nawabs ruled the country fraught with
internecine wars as well as regular
invasions of loot across the #KhyberPass.
Fast forward 1857 - #Gaddar #Raj was the system of governance that was instituted
on 28 June 1858, when, after English
success in 1857 War of Independence what
was termed by East India Company as Mutiny, the rule of the British East India Company was transferred to the Crown in the person of Queen Victoria who, in 1876, was proclaimed Empress of India!
The Raj to avoid wars of annexations and legal issues governed India through two legal approaches the British provinces and the semi autonomous princely states. 565 semi autonomous princely states covered 48% of the area of pre-independence India and constituted 28% of its population. It
was a checkered pot hole land not a
contagious land.
The Five rulers of the big states were huge nations who also had aspirations to become
free autonomous nations after the
independence — the Nizam of Hyderabad, was the most senior princely ruler, who was
entitled to the unique style Exalted
Highness and 21-gun salute.
The others Maharaja of Mysore, the
Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir state, the
Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda and the
Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior and they were then entitled to a 21-gun salute like today head of a state is.
Six more the Nawab of Bhopal, the
Maharaja Holkar of Indore, the Maharaja of
Bharatpur, the Maharana of Udaipur, the Maharaja of Kolhapur, the Maharaja of Patiala and the Maharaja of Travancore
were entitled to 19-gun salutes.
The pomp, pageantry, wealth and
indulgence the fabulous palaces, jewellery collections, elaborate durbars and fleet of luxury cars, defined #Nawab_maharaja. An epitome of decadent wasteful lifestyle. The
bigger states Rajas and Nawabs were integral part of the international jet set.
Nizam of Hyderabad, used huge diamonds <7 as paper weights.
In 1947, just before the time of the British withdrawal, the Indian Independence Act of
1947 based on the #MountbattenPlan
provided for the lapse of paramountcy of the British Crown over the Indian states
mandated each of these rulers the option to accede to the newly born dominions India or Pakistan. Without #MountbattenPlan there
would be anarchy and not a contiguous subcontinent. All Princely state were
officially amalgamated and the era of the princely states effectively ended with Indian
independence in 1947.
Present-day India owes limitless
unfathomable debt of gratitude to the
wisdom and foresight of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to integrate 562 princely states with
the Union of India and prevented the Balkanisation of the subcontinent.
In 1947, just before the time of the British withdrawal, the Indian Independence Act of
1947 based on the #MountbattenPlan
provided for the lapse of paramountcy of the British Crown over the Indian states
mandated each of these rulers the option to accede to the newly born dominions India or Pakistan.
Without #MountbattenPlan there
would be anarchy and not a contiguous subcontinent. All Princely state were
officially amalgamated and the era of the princely states effectively ended with Indian
independence in 1947.
Present-day India owes limitless
unfathomable debt of gratitude to the
wisdom and foresight of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to integrate 562 princely states with
the Union of India and prevented the Balkanisation of the subcontinent.