Name the leader talking to the Prince in this cartoon.
OR
(For Visually Impaired Candidates, in lieu of question number 25) Name the speech given by Jawaharlal Nehru at the hour of midnight on 14-15 August 1947.
Name the leader talking to the Prince in this cartoon.
OR
(For Visually Impaired Candidates, in lieu of question number 25) Name the speech given by Jawaharlal Nehru at the hour of midnight on 14-15 August 1947.
Main question: The leader talking to the Prince in the cartoon is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who as India's Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister led the integration of princely states into the Indian Union.
OR (for Visually Impaired Candidates): The speech delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru at midnight on 14-15 August 1947 is famously known as "Tryst with Destiny".
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: correctly names Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (or, for the VI alternative, correctly names the 'Tryst with Destiny' speech).
Hint
Think of the 'Iron Man of India' who, as Home Minister, personally negotiated with princely rulers to join the Union.
Quick Oral Answer
The leader is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who as Home Minister led the integration of princely states into India using persuasion and pressure.
Analysis & Explanation
This is a classic NCERT cartoon-based question from the chapter on nation building, testing recall of who led princely state integration.
Concept
- After Independence, India had over 500 princely states that had to be persuaded or pressured to join the Indian Union.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, aided by civil servant V.P. Menon, used a mix of diplomacy, incentives (privy purses) and firm political pressure — often described as a 'carrot and stick' approach — to secure their accession.
- The cartoon visually represents Patel negotiating directly with a princely ruler, reflecting this historic process.
OR alternative
- Nehru's 'Tryst with Destiny' speech, delivered in the Constituent Assembly at midnight on 14-15 August 1947, marked India's transition to independence and is one of the most quoted speeches in Indian political history.
Exam trap: Students sometimes confuse Patel's role in integration with Nehru's role as Prime Minister in foreign/economic policy — the cartoon specifically refers to internal integration of princely states, which was Patel's domain as Home Minister.
Common Mistakes
- 1Naming Jawaharlal Nehru instead of Sardar Patel as the leader who led princely state integration.
- 2Confusing the 'Tryst with Destiny' speech with other historic Nehru speeches or attributing it to the wrong date.
Interesting Facts
Sardar Patel is often called the 'Iron Man of India' for his firm and skilful integration of over 560 princely states into the Union between 1947 and 1949.
Only Junagadh, Hyderabad and Jammu & Kashmir posed serious resistance to accession, requiring special political or military measures.
Nehru's 'Tryst with Destiny' speech is regarded as one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and is still studied globally for its rhetorical power.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who assisted Sardar Patel in the integration of princely states?
V.P. Menon, a senior civil servant, worked closely with Sardar Patel as the chief architect of the practical negotiations and drafting of the Instrument of Accession for princely states.
Which princely states resisted integration into India?
Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Jammu & Kashmir were the most difficult cases, each requiring special political, diplomatic or military intervention beyond ordinary persuasion.