The Scramble of Lacccadives was a military race between Pakistan Navy and Indian authorities in Travancore to reach the islands of Lakshadweep and annex the territory which took place in late August 1947. Both countries deployed naval vessels but the Indian authorities were able to reach first annexing the islands.
Background.
The Aminidivi islands under the rule of Tipu Sultan of Mysore Kingdom in 1787 were annexed to the British Raj in 1799 after the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War. The rest of the islands remained under the suzerainty of the Arakkal family in return for a payment of annual tribute. The British took over the administration of those islands in 1908 for nonpayment of arrears and attached it to the Madras Presidency. As Lacccadives were not a separate entity so they weren't considered during the Partition of India and thus their status was unclear so Pakistan attempted to take hold of these islands.
Race for Lacccadives.
At the end of August, 1947, Liaquat Ali Khan, came to realisation that Lacccadives, a region with Muslim majority didn't become a part of Pakistan and could be taken control of with ease. The deputy prime minister of India, Vallabhbhai Patel, also started to think about Lacccadives.
So, the Royal Pakistan Navy sent a naval vessel towards Lacccadives from Karachi. In India Vallabhbhai Patel was informed about the plannings in Karachi. He immediately sent collector of Travancore to Lacccadives. He also sent a message to Mudaliar brothers to convey the collector of Travancore to order the police officials to go to Lacccadives with available weaponry. Vallabhbhai Patel stated "If the police forces no firearms with them, they can take lathis with them but somehow take possession of the area." and the Flag of India was raised.
A few hours later, Pakistani warship reached and had to return on seeing the Indian flag flying.
Aftermath.
The islands were annexed into the Dominion of India and became part of the Madras State under the Constitution of India in 1950. In 1956, the islands which were had been divided between the South Canara and Malabar districts of Madras state, was organized into a separate union territory administered by the Government of India, following the States Reorganisation Act. The territory which was known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands became Lakshadweep islands on 1 November 1973.
References.
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