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After independence in 1947, the princely states did not all become part of the new Indian Union in the same way. Some signed accession agreements early, while places such as Hyderabad and Junagadh became much more complicated cases.
How much did geography, the ruler’s preferences, and the population’s wishes matter in each decision? I’m interested in what explains the different timelines, beyond the usual short summary that the states were simply “merged” after independence.
