Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli
{{Short description|Former de facto independent political entity in South Asia}}
{{Infobox former country
| name =
| conventional_long_name = Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli
| common_name = Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli
| native_name = Mukta dādarā āṇi nagara havēlī
| era = Cold War
| status = Unrecognised state
| status_text = De facto state claimed by Portugal
| government_type = Provisional government
| coordinates = {{coord|20.27|N|73.02|E|display=inline,title}}
| event_start = Liberation of Dadra
| date_start = 22 July
| year_start = 1954
| event1 = Liberation of Nagar Haveli
| date_event1 = 2 August 1954
| event_end = Annexed by India
| date_end = 11 August
| year_end = 1961
| p1 = Portuguese India
| s1 = Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli
| image_map = Dadra Nagar Haveli Locator Map.svg
| image_map_caption =
| capital = Silvassa
| national_motto =
| national_anthem =
| common_languages = English, Gujarati, Hindi, Dhodia
| religion =
| currency = Portuguese Indian rupia, later Indian rupee
| leader1 = R. V. Mudras
| leader2 = Vishwanath Lawande
| leader3 = Appasaheb Karmalkar
| leader4 = Antonio Furtado
| leader5 = K. G. Badlani
| year_leader1 = 1954
| year_leader2 = 1954
| year_leader3 = 1954-1955
| year_leader4 = 1955-1960
| year_leader5 = 1960-1961
| title_leader = Administrator{{cite web|last1=Cahoon|first1=Ben|title=States of India since 1947|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_states.html#Dadra-Nagar|website=WorldStatesmen.org|accessdate=23 November 2014}}
| deputy1 = K. G. Badlani
| year_deputy1 = 1961
| title_deputy = Prime Minister
| legislature = Varishta Panchayat
}}
Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was a de facto independent political entity that existed on the Indian subcontinent between 1954 and 1961. It was declared by pro-India forces that had gained control of the region from Portugal in 1954, and ceased to exist after being formally annexed by India on 11 August 1961 as the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
History
{{main|Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli}}
Dadra and Nagar Haveli were small Portuguese overseas territories that had been part of Portuguese India since 1779. They were administered by a Portuguese Governor based in nearby Daman. Following Indian independence in 1947, they were completely surrounded by sovereign territory belonging to India.
On 22 July 1954, pro-India forces took control of the main police station in Dadra. They would proceed to take control of Naroli on 22 July and the capital of Silvassa on 2 August, at which point the region was declared liberated from Portuguese rule and assumed the name “Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli”.{{cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/dadra-and-nagar-haveli-celebrated-its-60th-liberation-day-1375437166-1 |title=Dadra and Nagar Haveli Celebrated Its 60th Liberation Day |publisher=Jagranjosh.com |date=2013-08-02 |accessdate=2020-03-02}} A body called the Varishta Panchayat of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was formed to administer the territory. The Indian National Flag was hoisted in Silvassa and the Indian national anthem was sung, becoming the symbols of the state.P S Lele, Dadra and Nagar Haveli: past and present, published by Usha P. Lele, 1987{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/dadra-and-nagar-haveli-when-an-ias-officer-became-the-instrument-of-accession/articleshow/70611496.cms?from=mdr |title=Dadra and Nagar Haveli: When an IAS officer became the instrument of accession - The Economic Times |newspaper=The Economic Times |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date= |accessdate=2020-03-02|last1=Dasgupta |first1=Reshmi R. }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/in-dnh.html|title = Dadra and Nagar Haveli (India)}}
In June 1961, the Varishta Panchayat of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli voted to accede to India. An Indian civil servant, K.G. Badlani would assume the title “Prime Minister of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli” on 11 August 1961 in order to formally sign an Instrument of Accession allowing annexation by India to take place.{{cite web|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/135865/ias-badlani-prime-minister-dadra-nagar-haveli-history-india/ |title=When an IAS Officer Was The Prime Minister of Dadra & Nagar Haveli |publisher=Thebetterindia.com |date=2018-03-28 |accessdate=2020-03-02}} Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was annexed by India on 11 August 1961 by virtue of the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of India, becoming the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.{{cite web |url=https://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/documents/amendment/amend10.htm |title=The Constitution (Amendment) |publisher=Archive.india.gov.in |date= |accessdate=2020-03-02 |archive-date=2020-02-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229133903/https://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/documents/amendment/amend10.htm |url-status=dead }}
Portugal refused to recognise the loss of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and continued to claim the areas as part of Portuguese India an were still recognised internationally (e.g., by the International Court of Justice) as Portuguese possessions.{{cite journal |title=Case Concerning Right of Passage over Indian Territory (Merits), Judgement of 12 April 1960 |journal=International Court of Justice Reports 1960 |page=6 |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/32/4521.pdf |accessdate=2011-04-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220044651/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/32/4521.pdf |archivedate=20 December 2011 |df=dmy-all }} Portugal formally recognised Indian sovereignty over the area on 31 December 1974 following the Carnation revolution.{{cite web|url=http://www.commonlii.org/in/other/treaties/INTSer/1974/53.html |title=TREATY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PORTUGAL ON RECOGNITION OF INDIA'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER GOA, DAMAN, DIU, DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI AND RELATED MATTERS [1974] INTSer 53 |publisher=Commonlii.org |date= |accessdate=2020-03-02}}
Government and politics
After Dadra and Nagar Haveli was declared liberated from Portuguese rule, a body called the Varishta Panchayat of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was formed to administer the region. The administration of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was also supported by civil servants from the Indian Administrative Service.
Postal history
Mail from Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was routed through the Indian town of Vapi close to the border. Initially, remaining stocks of stamps of Portuguese India were overprinted LIBERATED AREAS in two lines.{{cite web |last1=Bayanwala |first1=Ashok Kumar |title=Portuguese Possessions in India – July 1954 |url=http://www.oocities.org/indianphilately/chapter49b.htm |website=Geocities |accessdate=29 February 2020}} A single revenue stamp was also issued by Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli.{{cite book |last1=Barefoot |first1=John |title=British Commonwealth Revenues |date=2019 |publisher=J. Barefoot Ltd |location=York |isbn=9780906845769 |page=246 |edition=10}}