Raising of Narayani Regiment in Indian Army as per Merger Agreement with erstwhile Cooch Behar State
People of erstwhile Cooch Behar State, 89% of who were ethnic Rajbanshis, were eager to join Indian Dominion from the days of freedom struggle. For Armed Cooch Behar State Forces, popularly known as ‘Narayani Sena’, it was obviously natural to join Indian Army on subsequent accession with free India. The process of accession, under the statesmanship of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, had begun as early as prior to declaration of Independence on 15 th August, 1947. As per the policy of Dominion of India on accession of princely states, the Instrument of Accession and the Standstill Agreement prepared on the behest of V.P. Menon, then Secretary to the Government of India were dispatched from the States Department, New Delhi vide their letter dated 1 st August, 1947 to Cooch Behar by Registered Post on 5 th August, 1947 to then Maharaja of Cooch Behar State Lt.Col. H.H. Maharaja Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, K.C.I.E. The Instrument of Accession was signed by the Maharaj