THE STORY BEHIND THE UNIFICATION OF INDIAN STATE AFTER THE INDEPENDENCE
THE STORY BEHIND THE UNIFICATION OF INDIAN STATE AFTER THE INDEPENDENCE: The story: When the Britishers ruled India, it was not a single unit but the entire area was divided into two distinct parts, British India and Princely India. The Princely India comprised of 562 states. They were not a part of British India but were influenced by the British. They ruled the princely states on the basis of two policies: 1) To annex or occupy them forcibly. 2) To acquire the power and gain tribute from the rulers of the princely states. Before 1857, British annexed the princely states but later they realized the importance of their support and then started the paramountcy over them with the British crown and protected the princely states as their allies. Each princely state had its own ruler, court of justice, railways, roads, currency, stamps etc. They were fixed to pay taxes to the British and none were allowed to maintain their own armies. The British when began the establishment of ...