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PositionofPrincelyStatesinIndiaDuringBritishRule

byPujaMondal

ADVERTISEMENTS:
PositionofPrincelyStatesinIndiaDuringBritishRule!
Theprincelystates,whichcoveredatotalareaof7,12,508squaremilesandnumberednofewer
than562,includedtinystatessuchasBilbariwithapopulationof27personsonlyandsomebig
oneslikeHyderabad(aslargeasItaly)withapopulationof14million.
TheEastIndiaCompanyacquired,intheprocessofconquest,importantcoastaltracts,thevalleys
ofthegreatnavigableriversandsuchtractswhichwererichinagriculturalproductsanddensely
populatedbyprosperouspeople,while,generally,theIndianstatesweretheinaccessibleandless
fertiletractsoftheIndianpeninsula.
ThemakingofIndianstateswaslargelygovernedbythesamecircumstanceswhichledtothe
growthofEastIndiaCompanyspowerinIndia.
TheevolutionofrelationsbetweentheBritishauthorityandstatescanbetraced
underthefollowingbroadstages:

I.EastIndiaCompanysStruggleforEqualitywithIndian
StatesfromaPositionofSubordination(17401765):
StartingwithAngloFrenchrivalrywiththecomingofDupleixin1751,theEastIndiaCompany
assertedpoliticalidentitywithcaptureofArcot(1751).WiththeBattleofPlasseyin1757,theEast
IndiaCompanyacquiredpoliticalpowernextonlytotheBengalNawabs.In1765withthe
acquisitionoftheDiwaniofBengal,BiharandOrissa,theEastIndiaCompanybecameasignificant
politicalpower.

II.PolicyofRingFence(17651813):
ThispolicywasreflectedinWarrenHastingswarsagainsttheMarathasandMysore,andaimedat
creatingbufferzonestodefendtheCompanysfrontiers.ThemainthreatwasfromtheMarathas
andAfghaninvaders(theCompanyundertooktoorganiseAvvadhsdefencetosafeguardBengals
security).
Wellesleyspolicyofsubsidiaryalliancewasanextensionofringfencewhichsoughttoreduce
statestoapositionofdependenceonBritishGovernmentinIndia.Majorpowerssuchas
Hyderabad,AwadhandtheMarathasacceptedsubsidiaryalliance.Thus,Britishsupremacywas
established.

III.PolicyofSubordinateIsolation(18131857):

Now,theimperialideagrewandthetheoryofParamountcybegantodevelopIndianstateswere
supposedtoactinsubordinatecooperationwiththeBritishGovernmentandacknowledgeits
supremacy.
Statessurrenderedallformsofexternalsovereigntyandretainedfullsovereigntyininternal
administration.BritishResidentsweretransformedfromdiplomaticagentsofaforeignpowerto
executiveandcontrollingofficersofasuperiorgovernment.
In1833,theCharterActendedtheCompanyscommercialfunctionswhileitretainedpolitical
functions.Itadoptedthepracticeofinsistingonpriorapproval/sanctionforallmattersof
succession.In1834,theBoardofDirectorsissuedguidelinestoannexstateswhereverand
wheneverpossible.ThispolicyofannexationculminatedinusurpationofsixstatesbyDalhousie
includingsomebigstatessuchasSataraandNagpur.

IV.PolicyofSubordinateUnion(18571935):
Theyear1858sawtheassumptionofdirectresponsibilitybytheCrown.Becauseofthestates
loyaltyduringthe1857revoltandtheirpotentialuseasbreakwatersinpoliticalstormsofthe
future,thepolicyofannexationwasabandoned.Thenewpolicywastopunishordeposebutnotto
annex.
After1858,thefictionofauthorityoftheMughalemperorendedsanctionforallmattersof
successionwasrequiredfromtheCrownsincetheCrownstoodforthastheunquestionedrulerand
theparamountpower.
Nowtherulerinheritedthegaddinotasamatterofrightbutasagiftfromtheparamountpower,
becausethefictionofIndianstatesstandinginastatusofequalitywiththeCrownasindependent,
sovereignstatesendedwiththeQueenadoptingthetitleofKaiseriHind(QueenEmpressof
India).
TheparamountsupremacyoftheCrownpresupposedandimpliedthesubordinationofstates.The
BritishGovernmentexercisedtherighttointerfereintheinternalspheresofstatespartlyinthe
interestoftheprinces,partlyintheinterestofpeopleswelfare,partlytosecureproperconditions
forBritishsubjectsandforeignersandpartlyintheinterestofthewholeofIndia.
TheBritishGovernmentwasfurtherhelpedinthisencroachmentbymoderndevelopmentsin
communicationrailways,roads,telegraph,canals,postoffices,pressandpublicopinion.
TheGovernmentofIndiaexercisedcompleteandundisputedcontrolininternationalaffairsit
coulddeclarewar,peaceorneutralityforstates.AccordingtotheButlerCommissionin1927,For
thepurposeofinternationalrelations,stateterritoryisinthesamepositionasBritishterritoryand
statesubjectsinthesamepositionasBritishsubjects.

CurzonsApproach:

Curzonstretchedtheinterpretationofoldtreatiestomeanthattheprinces,intheircapacityas
servantsofpeople,weresupposedtoworksidebysidewiththegovernorgeneralintheschemeof
IndianGovernment.Headoptedapolicyofpatronageandintrusivesurveillance.
HethoughttherelationbetweenthestatesandGovernmentwasneitherfeudalnorfederal,atype
notbasedonatreatybutconsistingofaseriesofrelationshipshavinggrownunderdifferent
historicalconditionsthat,inthecourseoftime,graduallyconformedtoasingleline.
ThenewtrendseemedtoreduceallstatestoasingletypeuniformlydependentontheBritish
GovernmentandconsideredasanintegralpartofIndianpoliticalsystem.

Post1905:
Apolicyofcordialcooperationbegantocounterprogressiveandrevolutionarydevelopmentsin
faceoflargescalepoliticalunrests.
AccordingtotherecommendationsofMontfordReforms(1921),aChamberofPrinces(Narendra
Mandal)wassetupasaconsultativeandadvisorybodyhavingnosayintheinternalaffairsof
individualstatesandhavingnopowerstodiscussmattersconcerningexistingrightsandfreedoms.
ForthepurposeofthechambertheIndianstatesweredividedintothreecategories:
1.Directlyrepresented109
2.Representedthroughrepresentatives127
3.Recognisedasfeudalholdingsorjagirs.
ThequestionofextentofsovereigntyandParamountcywasstillundefined.TheButlerCommittee
(1927)wassetuptoexaminethenatureofrelationshipbetweenthestatesandGovernment.
Itgavethefollowingrecommendations:
1.Paramountcymustremainsupremeandmustfulfilitsobligations,adoptinganddefiningitself
accordingtotheshiftingnecessitiesoftimeandprogressivedevelopmentofstates.
2.StatesshouldnotbehandedovertoanIndianGovernmentinBritishIndia,responsibletoan
Indianlegislature,withouttheconsentofstates.
Thus,Paramountcywasleftundefinedandthishydraheadedcreaturewaslefttofeedonusage,
Crownsprerogativeandtheprincesimpliedconsent.

V.PolicyofEqualFederation(19351947):
TheGovernmentofIndiaAct,1935proposedaFederalAssemblywith125outof375seatsforthe
princesandtheCouncilofStateswith104outof160seatsfortheprinces,underitsschemeofan

allIndiafederation,whichwassubjecttoratificationbystatesrepresentingmorethanhalfofthe
populationandentitledtomorethanhalfoftheseatsintheCouncilofStates.
ThisschemenevercameintoexistenceandaftertheoutbreakofWorldWarII(September1939)it
wasdroppedaltogether.

VI.IntegrationandMerger:
AfterWorldWarIIbeganandapositionofnoncooperationwasadoptedbytheCongress,the
BritishGovernmenttriedtobreakthedeadlockthroughtheCripps
Mission(1942),WavellPlan(1945),CabinetMission(1946)andAttleesstatement(February
1947).
CrippsheldthattheBritishGovernmentdidnotcontemplatetransferringParamountcyofCrown
toanyotherpartyinIndia.Thestatestriedvariousschemestoforgeaunionoftheirown,
envisagingthemselvesassovereigninstatusorasathirdforceintheIndianpoliticalscene.
TheJune3rdPlanandAttleesstatementmadeitclearthatthestateswerefreetojoineitherofthe
twodominions,andMountbattenrefusedtogiveasovereignstatustothestates.
SardarPatel,whowasinchargeofstatesministryintheinterimcabinet,helpedbyV.P.Menon,
thesecretaryintheministry,appealedtothepatrioticfeelingofrulerstojointheIndiandominion
inmattersofdefence,communicationandexternalaffairsthethreeareaswhichhadbeenpartof
theParamountcyoftheCrownandoverwhichthestateshadanywaynocontrol.
ByAugust15,1947,136stateshadjoinedtheIndianUnionbutothersremained
precariouslyoutside:

1.Junagarh:
TheMuslimNawabwantedtojoinPakistanbutaHindupopulationwantedtojoinIndianUnion.
InthefaceofrepressiveattitudeoftheNawab,therewasaplebiscitewhichdecidedinfavourof
India.

2.Hyderabad:
Hyderabadwantedasovereignstatus.ItsignedaStandstillAgreementwithIndiainNovember
1947.IndiantroopswithdrewandtheNizamspoliceandstormtroopers(Razakkars)tookover.The
Nizamwantedanoutlettothesea(Goa).TheviolenceandsupplyofforeignarmspromotedIndian
troopstomoveinagainin1948describedasapoliceactiontorestorelawandorder.
HyderabadaccededinNovember1949.

3.Kashmir:
ThestateofJammuandKashmirhadaHinduprinceandaMuslimmajoritypopulation.The

princeenvisagedasovereignstatusforthestateandwasreluctanttoaccedetoeitherofthe
dominions.Asheprocrastinated,thenewlyestablishedstateofPakistansentitsforcesbehinda
frontoftribalmilitiaandmovedmenacinglytowardsSrinagar.
ItwasnowthattheprincewasforcedtosignanInstrumentofAccession(October1947)withthe
IndianUnion,endorsedbythepopularleaderSheikhAbdullah.Indiantroopsweredespatchedto
defendthestateagainsttheraidersfromPakistan.
IndiascomplaintstotheUNSecurityCouncilregardingraidsfromPakistanandtheIndianofferto
settlethestatusofthestatethroughaplebisciteledtoaceasefireandleft84,000squarekmofarea
underPakistanioccupation.
ThespecialstatusofJammuandKashmirwasrecognisedunderArticle370oftheIndian
ConstitutionwhichimpliedalimitedjurisdictionoftheIndianUnionoverthestateascomparedto
otherstates.
Theproblemnowwastwofolds:
(i)Oftransformingthestatesintoviableadministrativeunits,and
(ii)Ofabsorbingthemintotheconstitutionalunits.
Thiswassoughttobesolvedby:
1.Incorporatingsmallerstates(216suchstates)intocontiguousprovincesandlistedinPartA.For
instance,39statesofOrissaandChhattisgarhwereincorporatedintoCentralProvinces,Orissa.
GujaratstateswereincorporatedintoBombay
2.Makingsomestatesascentrallyadministeredforstrategicorspecialreasons,listedinPartC(61
states)HimachalPradesh,VindhyaPradesh,Manipur,Tripura,Bhopal,etc.
3.CreatingfiveunionsUnitedStatesofKathiawar,UnitedStatesofMatsya,PatialaandEast
PunjabStatesUnion,RajasthanandUnitedStatesofTravancoreCochin(laterKerala).
Initiallythesestatesaccededwithrespecttodefence,communication,externalaffairslaterthey
feltthatacloserassociationwasnecessary.ThefiveunionsandMysoreacceptedIndian
jurisdictioninUnion,concurrentsubjectsexcepttaxationandsubjecttodifferencesasunder
Article238andthesupervisorypowerofUnionfortenyears.
TheSeventhAmendment(1956)abolishedPartBstatesasaclassandformedoneclassoutof
PartsAandBthusspecialprovisionsrelatingtoPartBstatesweredeleted.
TheIndianstatesthuslosttheiridentityandbecamepartofoneuniformpoliticalsetup.

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