RAS question
The Maharaja of which state was initially reluctant to join India and considered joining Pakistan during integration?
Correct answer: (A) Jodhpur.
Jodhpur was the princely state whose Maharaja initially hesitated to join India and explored joining Pakistan during the integration of princely states.
Explanation
The state in question was Jodhpur. Maharaja Hanwant Singh initially considered Pakistan, influenced by Jodhpur's proximity and Jinnah's promises. In June 1947, Jodhpur had attempted negotiations for better terms with Pakistan before acceding to India after several meetings and negotiations. This is why the episode is usually treated as a diplomatic success in the wider integration of princely states. Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon persuaded Jodhpur to accede to India, with Mountbatten also playing a role in that effort. The key contrast is that Jodhpur did not simply accede without hesitation; it first tested the Pakistan option and then joined India.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Udaipur is wrong because it agreed to India, while the accession episode involving negotiations with Pakistan concerns Jodhpur.
- (C) Bikaner is wrong because it readily agreed to India, unlike Jodhpur, which explored Pakistan before accession.
- (D) Jaipur is wrong because it readily agreed to India, whereas the hesitation and Pakistan negotiations are specifically linked to Jodhpur.
Concept
This tests the integration of Rajasthan's princely states after Independence, especially cases where accession involved negotiation rather than automatic consent. It recurs in RAS because Rajasthan history expects precise linkage between rulers, states, and the political process of integration.