Princely States Desiring Independence in India

At the time of India's independence in 1947, there were hundreds of princely states within the geographical boundaries of India. These states were not directly under British rule but were governed by local rulers under British paramountcy. With the lapse of British paramountcy, these states were given the choice to join either India or Pakistan, or theoretically, to remain independent.

Several princely states initially expressed a desire to remain independent rather than joining either of the two new dominions. Let's examine the stance of the states mentioned in the question:

• Travancore: The ruler of Travancore, Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, the Dewan, declared the state's intention to remain independent in June 1947. This decision was met with significant opposition from the local population and political groups who favored accession to India.
• Hyderabad: Hyderabad was one of the largest and wealthiest princely states, with a Nizam as its ruler. The Nizam initially wished to remain independent and even explored options for sovereign status or joining Pakistan, despite the state's majority Hindu population and its location surrounded by Indian territory.
• Bhopal: The Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, was also initially reluctant to join India. He held discussions about the possibility of Bhopal remaining an independent entity. However, facing pressure and changing circumstances, he eventually agreed to accede to India.

Based on historical records, Travancore, Hyderabad, and Bhopal were among the princely states that initially considered or expressed a desire to remain independent upon the partition of British India.

Therefore, all three states listed – Travancore, Hyderabad, and Bhopal – expressed their desire to remain independent at some point during the process of India's integration.