Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was a de facto state that existed in the Indian Sub-continent 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

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 Silvassa on 2 August at which point the region was declared to be liberated from Portuguese rule and assumed the name "Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli". 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 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. Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was annexed by India on 11 August 1961 by virtue of the

Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of India The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of India, officially known as The Constitution (Tenth Amendment) Act, 1961, incorporated Dadra and Nagar Haveli as the seventh Union territory of India, by amending the First Schedule to the Constitution ...

, becoming the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Portugal refused to recognise the loss of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and continued to claim Dadra and Nagar Haveli as part of Portuguese India and they were still recognised internationally (e.g., by the

International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ; french: Cour internationale de justice, links=no; ), sometimes known as the World Court, is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). It settles disputes between states in accordanc ...

) as Portuguese possessions. Portugal formally recognised Indian sovereignty over the area on 31 December 1974 following the Carnation revolution.

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 The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the administrative arm of the All India Services of Government of India. Considered the premier civil service of India, the IAS is one of the three arms of the All India Services along with the Indian ...

Postal history

Mail from Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli was routed through the Indian town of

Vapi Vapi ( IAST: vāpī,), is a city and municipality in Valsad district in the state of Gujarat, India.It is situated near the banks of the Daman Ganga River, around 28 km south of the district headquarters in the city of Valsad, and it is ...

close to the border. Initially, remaining stocks of stamps of Portuguese India were overprinted LIBERATED AREAS in two lines. A single

revenue stamp A revenue stamp, tax stamp, duty stamp or fiscal stamp is a (usually) adhesive label used to designate collected taxes or fees on documents, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, drugs and medicines, playing cards, hunting licenses, firearm registration, ...

was also issued by Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

References

{{reflist Dadra and Nagar Haveli Indian independence movement Former unrecognized countries Former countries Former countries in Asia States and territories established in 1954 States and territories disestablished in 1961 Former countries in South Asia