29 | Bhopal State

Bhopal was the principal Muslim State in Central India, ranking second in importance only to Hyderabad among Muslim states in India. Its ruling family was founded by Dost Muhammad, an Afghan adventurer, who established independent authority in Bhopal around 1708-1709. A formal treaty of alliance with the British was concluded in 1818, guaranteeing the integrity of the State. The State was ruled by three Begums from 1844 to 1926, with the last Nawab, Sir Hamidullah Khan, succeeding in 1926. Sir Hamidullah Khan was a significant figure in princely India, serving as Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes from 1931-1932 and again from 1944-1947. His prestige and position were considered disproportionate to the actual size and revenue of his State (Menon, 1956; Ramusack & Johnson, 2004).

Before India's independence, the Nawab of Bhopal had a strong stance on the future of princely states. He conveyed to the Cabinet Mission in April 1947 that Indian States desired to maintain their existence with the maximum degree of sovereignty and no interference in their internal affairs from British India. He suggested the possibility of a ‘third India’ composed of the States, parallel to British India and Pakistan, and favored a "loose federation" at the Centre, explicitly pleading that paramountcy should not be transferred to an Indian government. He did not attend the crucial meeting of rulers on July 25, 1947, indicating his strong opposition to accession, famously remarking that they were being "invited like the Oysters to attend the tea party with the Walrus and the Carpenter". He believed it would be impossible for Bhopal to become an ‘organic part of either Dominion’ and suggested entering into treaty relations with both India and Pakistan (Menon, 1956; Ramusack & Johnson, 2004).

Beyond the Nawab's personal stance, Bhopal presented several unique issues:

• The majority of the Muslim population in Bhopal was concentrated in Bhopal town, necessitating reassurance during the integration process.

• The Bhopal State Forces were predominantly manned by Muslims, many drawn from Pakistan, requiring delicate handling during their disbandment and reorganization.

• The State's services, particularly the police, were overwhelmingly Muslim, calling for significant readjustment.

• Although Bhopal was a major state, it was surrounded by states of Maratha origin and lay at the center of India's main communication system. Therefore, it held a strategic position.

  
  

The integration of Bhopal was a prolonged process that required frequent trips by V. P. Menon. The Nawab was noted for his extraordinary passion for detail, requiring every tentative conclusion to be written down and initiated. Lord Mountbatten's long-standing personal friendship with Nawab Hamidullah Khan played a significant role in his eventual decision to accede (Basu, 2020; Menon, 1956).

Initially, the Nawab, after realizing that most rulers had opted for accession, questioned if he could sign a Standstill Agreement without acceding, but was informed this was not possible. Following Bhopal's accession to the Indian Union, the Nawab and his State were initially left alone. However, the State soon faced widespread agitation for responsible government and a merger with Madhya Bharat (Menon, 1956).

In January 1949, the Nawab wrote to Sardar Patel for advice. V.P. Menon visited Bhopal and explicitly told the Nawab that Bhopal could not continue as a separate State and should merge with Madhya Bharat due to its geographical, ethnic, and cultural affinity to Malwa. Menon suggested the ministry resign and the Nawab temporarily take over administration. The Nawab, who at one point even contemplated abdication, eventually agreed to tentative conclusions. A communiqué was issued, confirming the Nawab would temporarily administer the State, suspending agitation for or against merger, and the ministry resigned. The Nawab, however, insisted that no announcement regarding Bhopal's merger should be made until the future of other significant states like Baroda, Kolhapur, Travancore, and Cochin had been settled (Menon, 1956).

The central government ultimately decided to postpone Bhopal's amalgamation with Madhya Bharat, instead opting for a transitional arrangement where the State would be administered directly as a Chief Commissioner's province. This decision was influenced by the need to reassure the Muslim population (Menon, 1956).

The Bhopal Merger Agreement was signed by the Nawab on April 30, 1949, and the State was taken over by a Chief Commissioner on June 1, 1949. Key features of the agreement included:

Cession of Powers: The Nawab ceded full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction, and powers for the governance of Bhopal to the Government of India.

Privy Purse: The Nawab's Privy Purse was fixed at Rs 11 lakh annually, with Rs 1 lakh specifically allocated for his eldest daughter, the heir apparent. This was one of the eleven cases where the Privy Purse exceeded the Rs 10 lakh ceiling and was fixed on an ad hoc basis. Uniquely, for Bhopal (along with Hyderabad and Patiala), the Privy Purse was not fixed after consultation with a responsible ministry or popular leaders. The agreement also guaranteed an annual amount of Rs 9,00,000 for his successors with no time limit. Additionally, he was promised Rs 5,55,000 annually from his investment in the Bhopal State Railway.

Private Property and Assets: The Nawab negotiated the final division of his private from his public assets, rather than leaving the decision to a judicial officer appointed by the Government of India, a point of difference from other mergers. He also agreed to hand over jagirs granted to him by his mother after appealing to Sardar Patel's final decision on the matter. The agreement explicitly stated that the Nawab was entitled to all personal rights, privileges, immunities, and dignities enjoyed by him as the Ruler of Bhopal immediately before August 15, 1947.

Succession: The succession to the Throne of Bhopal State was to be governed by "the Succession to the Throne of Bhopal Act of 1947" then in force in the State, and the rights and privileges secured by the agreement would continue for his successors.

Judicial Determination: The Nawab initially sought to have any differences arising from the merger agreement subject to judicial determination by the Federal Court, but V.P. Menon objected, stating that political matters should not be adjudicated by a court.

Bhopal was initially taken over as a Chief Commissioner's province. This was done with the understanding that its position would be reviewed after at least five years, to allow for the stabilization of the state under central administration. It was eventually integrated into Madhya Pradesh during the linguistic reorganization of states in 1956. It was also made the capital of Madhya Pradesh.

References:

• Basu, N. (2020). VP Menon: The Unsung Architect of Modern India. Simon & Schuster India.

  
  

• Menon, V. P. (1956). The Story of Integration of the Indian states. Orient Blackswan.

  
  

• Ramusack, B. N., & Johnson, G. (2004). The Indian Princes and their States. Cambridge university press.