Accession of Junagadh
Also called: Junagadh plebiscite · Topic: Challenges of Nation Building: Partition, Princely States and Reorganisation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Challenges of Nation Building"
Meaning
The accession of Junagadh refers to how this small princely state in Saurashtra came to join India. Most of its people were Hindu, and India surrounded it. Even so, its Nawab acceded to Pakistan in 1947. The people revolted and set up a parallel government, the 'Arzi Hukumat' led by Samaldas Gandhi. India took control in November 1947. A plebiscite (a direct vote by the people) on 20 February 1948 confirmed that they wanted to join India.
Example
Junagadh raises a question of consistency. There, India gave weight to the people's will over the ruler's choice. In Kashmir, India relied on the ruler's accession: Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947.
Don't confuse with
- Hyderabad: the Nizam there wanted independence, not Pakistan. That case ended with army action (Operation Polo, September 1948), not with a plebiscite.