Making of the Indian consitution and liberation of Goa and Pondichery

* Before Independence the number if native states in India was 562, which accounted for 48% of the country's total area and 20% of its total population.
* In 1934 Dr. Rajendra Prasad proposed the introduction of responsible governments in the Princely states – Patel – with a hurricane tour of 40 days – to join the Indian Union by the 5th of August.
* Only Hyderabad, Junagarh and Kashmir did not take a decision by the aforesaid date about their joining the Union.
* The ruler of Junagarh was a Muslim whereas most of its people were Hindus. In February 1948, through a referendum the people of this state decided to join India. The Nawab of Junagarh therefore left for Pakistan.
* Mahatma Gandhi also met the king of Kashmir, but in August 1947, the Pakistan in the guise of Qubailis began intruding into Jammu and Kashmir.
* On October 26, Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir sent his Prime Minister. Meharchand Mahajan, with the signed papers of merger to India, which were accepted.
* But in the meantime, on 21-22 October 1947, with the help of the Pathan Qubailis Pakistan invaded Kashmir and these intruders advanced up o Srinagar.
* Even today about a third of Kashmir territory remains illegally occupied by Pakistan which it calls as Azad Kashmir.
* Pakistan got a share of the country's 40% of cotton production, 85% of jute production and 40% of wheat production whereas all the related mills and factories came under India's share. This led to a shortage of raw materials in India which in turn led to shortage of food grains and textiles.
* In 1948, in the wake of announcing an economic policy, the first scheme known as the Sarvodaya scheme was presented by Jaiprasksah Narain.
* Chandernagore had acceded to India on the basis of a plebiscite.
* In 1946 the French Indian National congress and the French Indian Students Congress had been established with this objective. All these organization expressed their wish to liberate Pondicherry from French control and merge with the Indian Union.
* Within two years, all the five French enclaves came under Indian control though the legal transfer of territories took place only in 1962.
* The Portuguese had established their control over Goa, Diu and Daman since 1510, 1546 and 1559 respectively. Including Dara and Nagar Haveli this whole area used to be referred to as Goa.
* a Goa Liberation Army constituting all political parties was formed to liberate Goa. The Satyagraha of June 18, 1954 was particularly significant as several satyagrahis were arrested in it for unfurling the national flag.
* On 22 July, Dadra and Nagar Haveli came under the control of the liberators.
* In November 1961, the Portuguese injured crew members of the ship S.S.Sabarmati besides killing a fisherman. Ultimately the, Government of India announced operation 'Vijay' for the liberation of Goa. This military operation was carried out under the command of general J.M. Choudhary on 17-18 December 1961 and was completed by 19 December. In this way, the Indian Army freed Goa, Daman and Diu.

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