Oh it's a remarkable story in itself… Buckle up!
The year was 1947 when British were wrapping everything up and a partition line was being drawn between India and Pakistan after balkanising this beautiful country.
Funny thing is, the British just left Lakshadweep on its own. To be claimed by either of the two countries as if the islands did not matter much to them.
As far as History tells us, the division was based on the type of population in an area. Lakshadweep being majority muslim, should have gone to Pakistan. But since the British did not pay attention to the small group of islands, Jinnah's decision to just send his representatives and hoist their flag on the islands could have worked in integrating them with Pakistan.
But our then Home Minister was a man of wisdom, Sardar V. Patel. He was looking to get as much land for us as he could and the islands were sitting there, just like that. He sent for Mudaliar brothers and asked them to hurry up, take a tricolor, a ship and leave for the Islands. His words “somehow take possession of the area” resonated deep within them. The duo did everything asked and beat the Pakistani ship with just a half hour. Lakshadweep saw hoisting of Indian🇮🇳 flag and this became an Indian territory.
If Lakshadweep would have gone to Pakistan, we'd have lost much. Today the archipelago is one of the most beautiful and important areas for India.