Maharashtra Board Class 8 History Chapter 13 Fulfillment of Struggle for Independence PDF Download

Fulfillment Of Struggle For Independence

India became independent but the struggle for independence was not yet over. There were many princely states in India. These princely states had the right to either merge with India or remain independent. Therefore the Congress dream of undivided India remained incomplete. Due to independent princely states, India was going to be fragmented into many parts. The Portuguese and French powers had not withdrawn their control over some parts of India, but the country solved these problems very firmly. This chapter will deal with the information on it.

Integration Of Princely States In India

There were more than six hundred small and big princely states in India. Due to the influence of non-cooperation movement, there was beginning of political awakening among the princely states. Praja Mandals came to be formed in the princely states. Praja Mandal means people's organisation that worked for the interest of the people in the princely states and for securing political rights for them. In 1927, such Praja Mandals came together and formed an All India States People's Conference. Due to it, the movement in princely states got an impetus. After the independence of India the then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel very diplomatically found out the way of merging the princely states in India. He took the rulers of the princely states into confidence and prepared an Instrument of Accession, acceptable to all.

Sardar Patel convinced the princely rulers the benefit of merging into India. The rulers gave good response to his appeal. All the princely states merged into India, except the state of Junagad, Hyderabad and Kashmir. Sardar Patel took a firm stand and solved the issue of merger of princely states.

Teacher's Note

Sardar Patel was like a smart leader who brought all the kings together, just like how our Prime Minister brings all States together today. He used talking and trust instead of fighting.

Exam Trick

Remember: Sardar Patel = Instrument of Accession = All princes agreed to join India. Think of it like signing a big agreement form where everyone said YES.

Points to Remember

Sardar Patel was the Home Minister who merged princely states.
Praja Mandals were people's groups that fought for rights in princely states.
There were 600 plus princely states in India.
Most states merged peacefully with India.
Only Junagad, Hyderabad and Kashmir had problems merging.

Merging Of Junagad

Junagad was a princely state in Saurashtra. The people there wanted to be merged with India. But the Nawab of Junagad was thinking of joining Pakistan. The people strongly opposed his decision and the Nawab left for Pakistan. Later in February 1948, Junagad got merged into India.

Teacher's Note

The Nawab wanted Pakistan but the people wanted India. The people won because Sardar Patel supported them. It was like when your class votes and most students win.

Exam Trick

Remember: Junagad = Nawab ran away = People got their wish and joined India in February 1948. The people power worked.

Points to Remember

Junagad was in Saurashtra region.
The Nawab wanted to join Pakistan.
But the people wanted to join India.
The Nawab left for Pakistan.
Junagad merged with India in February 1948.

Hyderabad Mukti Sangram

Hyderabad was the largest princely state in India. It included Telegu, Kannada and Marathi speaking regions. There was the autocratic rule of the Nizam over these provinces. There was absence of civil and political rights. To secure these rights, the people formed organisations such as Andhra Parishad in the Telangana region, Maharashtra Parishad in the Marathwada region, Karnataka Parishad in the Karnataka region. In 1938, Swami Ramananda Tirth formed the Hyderabad State Congress. The Nizam banned this organisation. A struggle began for getting recognition to Hyderabad State Congress and democratic rights. This struggle was led by a militant fighter Swami Ramananda Tirth. He was assisted by Narayan Reddy and Siraj-ul-Hasan Tirmiji. P.V.Narsimha Rao and Govindbhai Shroff were the faithful followers of Swamiji.

In July 1947, Hyderabad State Congress passed a resolution for merger of Hyderabad state into India. The Nizam however took an anti-India stand. He started making movements for merging of Hyderabad state with Pakistan. To reject the demand of people of Hyderabad to be merged with India, Kasim Rizvi, an associate of the Nizam, formed an organisation known as Razakar. Kasim Rizvi and his associates not only oppressed the hindus but also the muslims who supported the democratic movement. Due to it, there was inflammation of public opinion. The Government of India tried to negotiate patiently with the Nizam but he refused to respond. At last, the Indian government started the police action against the Nizam on 13 September 1948. It was symbolically named as Operation Polo. Finally, the Nizam surrendered on 17 September 1948 and the state of Hyderabad was merged within India. The struggle of people in the princely state became successful. There was significant contribution of Arya Samaj in this movement.

Contribution Of Marathwada In The Struggle For Liberation Of Hyderabad

In this struggle Swami Ramananda Tirth, Govindbhai Shroff, Anant Bhalerao, Ashatai Waghmare etc. made a valuable contribution.

Through the movement of Vande Mataram, students participated in the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad. Similarly, in this struggle Ved Prakash, Shyamlal, Govind Pansare, Bahirji Shinde, Shridhar Vartak, Janardan Mama, Shoaib Ullah Khan etc. embraced martyrdom. Their sacrifice proved to be inspirational to the Indians. Thus we can understand that the leaders and the people in Marathwada had a lion's share in the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad.

17 September is celebrated as Marathwada Mukti Din in Marathwada to commemorate the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad. Marathwada was not included in Free India on 15 August 1947. After the inspiring struggle of the people, this region was included in independent India in 1948.

Teacher's Note

Swami Ramananda Tirth and many brave people fought the Nizam to free Hyderabad. They gave their lives just like soldiers give their lives for the country. We should remember them with respect.

Exam Trick

Remember: Operation Polo = 13 September 1948 = Indian Army took over. The Nizam gave up on 17 September 1948. Write these dates carefully in the exam.

Points to Remember

The Nizam ruled Hyderabad without giving people any rights.
Swami Ramananda Tirth led the freedom struggle there.
The Razakar group was formed to stop the merger with India.
Operation Polo was the police action taken by India.
Hyderabad merged with India on 17 September 1948.

Problem Of Kashmir

Hari Singh, the ruler of State of Kashmir, had decided to remain independent. Pakistan had intended to secure the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan. Due to this Pakistan started putting pressure on Hari Singh. At the instigation of Pakistan, armed intruders attacked Kashmir in October 1947. At that time Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India. In this manner, after merging into India, Indian army was sent for the defense of Kashmir. The army won back a major portion of Kashmir from the possession of intruders. But some part of it remained in the possession of Pakistan.

Teacher's Note

Kashmir was like a puzzle piece. The king wanted it independent, but Pakistan pushed hard. Finally he joined India and Indian army protected it. This problem still continues today.

Exam Trick

Remember: Kashmir = Hari Singh = Instrument of Accession = October 1947. When Pakistan attacked, Hari Singh quickly signed with India. The Indian Army fought back.

Points to Remember

Hari Singh was the ruler of Kashmir.
He first wanted Kashmir to be independent.
Pakistan attacked Kashmir in October 1947 with armed men.
Hari Singh then signed with India to get protection.
Indian Army won back most of Kashmir but some parts stayed with Pakistan.

Merger Of French Colonies

Even after the independence of India, the regions of Chandranagar, Puduchcheri, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam were in the possession of the French. The Indian natives there, were eager to get merged with India. The Indian Government demanded that these territories being a part of India should be handed over to it.

In 1949 France held a plebiscite in Chandranagar. The people voted for India. Chandranagar was handed over to India. Thereafter France handed over the rest of the territories to the Government of India.

Teacher's Note

France held a vote in Chandranagar to ask people what they wanted. The people voted for India. This is like a class voting on what they want. The winner decided everything.

Exam Trick

Remember: Plebiscite = voting = people decide. In 1949, France let people vote and they voted for India. That is why French colonies became part of India.

Points to Remember

Five French colonies were in India: Chandranagar, Puduchcheri, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
France held a plebiscite which means a public vote.
People voted to join India in 1949.
France peacefully handed over these places to India.
No fighting was needed for French colonies.

Struggle For Liberation Of Goa

Portugal denied to hand over the territories under its possession to India. Indians had to struggle for securing these territories. In this struggle, Dr.T.B.Kunha was in the forefront. He worked to bring about an awakening of the people against the Portuguese Government. With the objective of building struggle against the Portuguese, he established the Goa Congress Committee. Later in 1945, Dr. Kunha founded the organisation Goa Youth League in Mumbai. In 1946, he went to Goa and violated the ban on public speech. For this he was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment. In 1946, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya started a Satyagraha for liberation of Goa. Violating the ban, he delivered a public speech at Madgaon in Goa. For this the Portuguese Government deported him.

During the same period, the Azad Gomantak Dal was founded to liberate Portuguese colonies of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in Gujarat. On 2 August 1954, youths of Azad Gomantak Dal by making an armed attack liberated the territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli from Portuguese rule. Vishwanath Lavande, Rajabhau Wakankar, Sudhir Phadke, Nanasaheb Kajrekar and others took part in this attack. In 1954, Goa Mukti Samiti was formed. The Samiti sent many batches of satyagrahis from Maharashtra to Goa. N.G.Gore, Senapati Bapat, Peter Alvares, Mahadevshastri Joshi and his wife Sudhatai and many others participated in the satyagraha. Mohan Ranade was an aggressive leader in this struggle for liberation of Goa. The Portuguese rulers committed unlimited tyranny and atrocities on the satygrahis. Due to this the public opinion became more infuriated.

The struggle for liberation of Goa took up a fierce form. The Indian Government was patiently holding negotiations with the Portuguese Government but they did not respond. At the end, the Indian Government unwillingly took the decision of using military force. In December 1961, the Indian Army entered Goa. In a short period of time, the Portuguese army surrendered. On 19 December 1961, Goa was liberated from Portuguese dominion. Imperialism was completely rooted out from the Indian soil. India's freedom struggle was truly fulfilled.

Teacher's Note

Dr. Kunha and Dr. Lohiya fought hard against Portugal for 15 years. They used peaceful methods like Satyagraha. Only at the end did India use the army. This shows how patient we were.

Exam Trick

Remember: Goa = Portuguese = 1961 = Operation in December. On 19 December 1961, Goa became free. This is the most important date for Goa liberation.

Points to Remember

Dr. T.B. Kunha led the struggle against Portugal for Goa.
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya started Satyagraha for Goa.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli were freed in 1954 by armed attack.
The Indian Army entered Goa in December 1961.
Goa became free on 19 December 1961 from Portuguese rule.

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