Princely States played a major role in preserving and continuing our culture, tradition, art, and literature even under British rule since 1857, said Y. Sudershan Rao, Chairman, Indian Council of Historical Research, here on Thursday.
But for them, the country’s art and culture would have vanished by the British domination, said Prof. Rao. He was delivering a lecture on “Integration of Indian Princely States-Some cultural issues” in commemoration of 125{+t}{+h}birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, organised by the Centre for Nehru Studies at Bharathidasan University.
He said that Princely States protected India’s culture, tradition, art, and literature. At the time of Independence, the challenge before the Princely States was that what government they were going to get. There were 565 Princely States at the time of Independence.
When Princely States were integrated with India by Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the then Home Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister, was for giving them compensation and privy purses.
But Indira Gandhi, when she became Prime Minister, abolished privy purses. So Nehruvian policy was changed after sometime by his daughter. V.M.Muthukumar, Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University said that 69 per cent reservation for backward classes was a historic move. N.Rajendran, Director, Centre for Nehru Studies, Bharathidasan University, said that Jawaharlal Nehru, who was European in style, Indianised himself after he joined Mahatma Gandhi after returning from Europe. Bharathidasan University was the first in the country to start a centre for Nehru studies.
T. Asokan, Assistant Professor, Department of History, proposed a vote of thanks. A philately exhibition on Jawaharlal Nehru was organised as part of the event.
