Chamber of Princes (1921-1947)

The uprising of 1857 administered a violent shaking to the British rule in India. As its aftermath, there was a veering round to the view that the safety of the British rule was enhanced and not decreased by the maintenance of the Native Royalities. The view that the Native Stats had served as "break-waters to the storm" also proved weighty.

The British Government abjured the desire of territorial extension. It renounced the doctrine of lapse and granted the issueless rulers the right of adoption to continue their dynastic rule. It declared its intention to respect the rights dignity and honour of the Princes.

There was however, evidently, no change in the policy of keeping the Princes in isolation from one another. They were kept reminded of the Paramountcy of the British Crown. Any aberration or deviation was firmly dealt with. Imperial satraps like Curzon had scent regard for their susceptibilities and sent shivers down their spines by their harsh pronouncements. They were often pulled up to improve their administrations and look to the welfare of their people. Wherever there was a clash of Princes’ interests with those of the Crown, the Imperial, interests were supreme. The railways, telegraphs and telephones were pushed through the Princes’ territories by ignoring all their claims.

The rising tempo of nationalism and the demand for constitutional reforms in the country led to a gradual change in the British Policy towards the Princes. The Princes could be natural allies to block the nationalist aspirations. The isolation policy was eased. The Princes were encouraged to demand a say in changing format of the country.

To reward the Princes for their services in the First World War, they were to have an organization of their own known as the ‘Chamber of Princes’ or ‘Narrendra Mandal’ But its constitution reduced it to be a mere debating society. The meetings of the chamber were in the nature of an annual pageant. It undertook to act as a body to safeguard the interests of the Princes in the emerging scenario in the country. But it failed and its failure was due to the mutual jealousies and constant bickerings. Right from the beginning, the big States [21-Gun-Salute States] did not joint it. The constraints of the ‘Caste systems’ (big and small States) made it ineffective.

The Princes lost their shine in the eyes of the British, when the latter lost interest in the proposed Federation of 1935. The constitutional developments after 1938-39 sounded the requiem for the Chamber in August 1947.

The book presents a detailed study of the constitution and composition of the Chamber of Princes. It discusses the constitutional myth of Paramountcy and the relationship of the Princes with the Princes in the deliberations of the Round Table Conferences, Cripps Mission, Wavell Plan, Cabinet Mission and the negotiations under the Mountbatten Plan for the integration of the Native States in the respective dominions of India and Pakistan.