Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today said not much is known about princely states and what happened there during the British rule partly because they were not seen central to the national movement.
Speaking at the launch of a book, 'A Political Biography of Maharaja Rupudaman Singh of Nabha', the Lok Sabha MP said, "We tend to think in simplistic terms about ways in which our national movement evolved, with Gandhi, Nehru, 'divide and rule' policy, rise of Muslim League. That narrative is familiar. However, we do not know enough about princely states and what's going there, partly because they are not seen central to the national movement."
The book written by Prof. J S Grewal and Prof. Indu Baga traces Maharaja of the princely state of Nabha, in the present-day Punjab, Ripudaman Singh's political career and reveals various ways in which he resisted the British during his reign between 1911 and 1928.
"The book turns out to be the story of a nationalist, someone who is social reformer, someone who thinks for himself politically and someone who stands up to the British. The book fulfils the need to enlighten us about a phenomenon that deserves to be far better known," Tharoor said.
Grewal is a former professor and vice chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and Banga is professor emeritus of History at Panjab University.
The book, published by Oxford University Press, also explores Maharaja Ripudaman Singh's career, education and upbringing to explain his ideological stance, appreciation for Indian nationalism, and his active involvement in the Sikh reformist movement.
Descendants of Maharaja Singh were also present on the occasion.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
