Representations on behalf of subjects of states, and feudatory chiefs and jagirdars. 5. In the course of our enquiry we were approached by persons and associations purporting to represent the subjects of Indian States. It was quite clear that our terms of reference did not cover an investigation of their alleged grievances and we declined to hear them, but we allowed them to put in written statements, and in the course of our tours we endeavoured to ascertain the general character of the administration in the states. We also received representations from many of the Feudatory Chiefs of Bihar and Orissa requesting a reconsideration of their status and powers, as well as representations from the feudatories of the Kolhapur State. These also we have not dealt with, as they fall outside the scope of our enquiry. Divergent views of Princes. 6. It was soon obvious to us that very divergent views on important matters were held by the Princes themselves. The important states, Hyderabad, Mysore, Baroda, Travancore, as well as Cochin, Rampur, Junagadh and other states in Kathiawar and elsewhere, declined to be represented by Sir Leslie Scott and preferred to state their own case in written replies to the questionnaire. We can, however, claim that we have done our best to ascertain, so far as this is possible, the views of the Princes as a body. Voluminous documents. 7. Altogether seventy replies to the questionnaire have been received from different states. Many of these, although instructive as to the feelings of the Princes and Chiefs, refer to matters outside our enquiry, such as requests for the revision of state boundaries, claims in regard to territories settled or transferred many years back, applications to revise decisions by the Paramount Power made at almost any time during the last century, requests in the matter of precedence, salutes, titles, honours, and personal dignities. These requests and applications will be forwarded to the Political Department of the Government of India. Acknowledgments to secretary and staff. 8. In conclusion, we desire to bring to Your Lordship's notice the admirable work done by our secretary, LieutenantColonel G. D. Ogilvie, C.I.E. His exceptional knowledge of the history of recent discussions, his great popularity with the Princes, his industry, zeal and ability, have very greatly impressed us and placed us under a heavy obligation. 68495 A 4 We desire also to record our appreciation of the very satisfactory manner in which the office staff of the committee performed their duties. Sections of the report. 9. We have drawn up our report in four sections: I.-Relationship between the Paramount Power and the States. Historical summary. Power and II.-Relationship between the Paramount Power the States. More detailed examination. III.-Financial and economic relations between British India and the States. Machinery. IV.-Financial and economic relations between British India and the States. Specific proposals. And we have the honour to be, Your Lordship's Most obedient Servants, HARCOURT BUTLER. SIDNEY PEEL. W. S. HOLDSWORTH. The 14th February, 1929. I.-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARAMOUNT POWER AND THE STATES. HISTORICAL SURVEY. Two Indias. 10. Interwoven in the pink map of India are large patches of yellow which represent the Indian States.* These states survived the establishment by the British of their dominion on the ruins of the Moghul empire and the Mahratta supremacy. They cover an area of 598,138 square miles with a population of 68,652,974 people, or about two-fifths of the area and one-fifth of the population respectively of India including the states but excluding Burma. Politically there are thus two Indias, British India, governed by the Crown according to the statutes of Parliament and enactments of the Indian legislature, and the Indian States under the suzerainty of the Crown and still for the most part under the personal rule of their Princes. Geographically India is one and indivisible, made up of the pink and the yellow. The problem of statesmanship is to hold the two together. Indian States. 11. The Indian States as they exist to-day fall into three distinct classes: The term Indian State is, in fact, extremely elastic as regards both size and government. It covers, at one end of the scale, Hyderabad with an area of 82,700 square miles, with a *See map attached to this report. The area of India including the states but excluding Burma is 1,571,625 square miles. The population of India including the states but excluding Burma, according to the census of 1921, is 305,730,288. волве A crore (ten millions) of rupees, at an exchange of one shilling and sixpence for the rupee, is equivalent to £750,000. population of 12,500,000, and a revenue of 6 crores of rupees or about £5,000,000, and, at the other end of the scale, minute holdings in Kathiawar amounting in extent to a few acres only, and even, in certain cases, holdings which yield a revenue not greater than that of the annual income of an ordinary artisan. It includes also states economically, politically and administratively advanced, and states, patriarchal or quasi-feudal in character, which still linger in a medieval atmosphere; states with varying political powers, constitutional states like Mysore and Travancore and states which are under purely autocratic administration. The one feature common to them all is that they are not part, or governed by the law, of British India. Geographical and historical features. 12. In the Indian States nature assumes its grandest and its simplest forms. The eternal snows of the Himalaya gather up and enshrine the mystery of the East and its ancient lore. The enterprise of old world western adventure now slumbers by the placid lagoons of Travancore and Cochin. The parched plains of Rajputana and Central India with their hilly fastnesses recall the romance and chivalry of days that still live and inspire great thoughts and deeds. The hills and plains of Hyderabad and Mysore, famed for gems and gold, for rivers, forest, water-falls, still cry out great names of history. Over the dry trap plateaux of the Deccan swept the marauding hosts of the Mahrattas, eating here and drinking there, right up to ancient Delhi. From the west, the ports of Kathiawar with their busy progressive people stretch out hands to the jungles of Manipur in the East with their primitive folk and strange practices. The marching life of Moghul and Mahratta times has yielded to the sustained quiet of British rule, but the old spirit survives in many a story and many a hope. Importance of states. 13. The Indian States still form the most picturesque part of India they also represent, where the Prince and his people are Hindus, the ancient form of government in India. In the Brahmanic polity, the Kshatriya (Rajput) Raja is as necessary an element as the Brahmin priest, and all that is national in Hindu feeling is turned towards him. Not always does the tie of religion. unite the ruler and his subjects. In the great state on the north (Kashmir) the ruler is Hindu whilst most of his subjects are Moslem, and in the great state on the south (Hyderabad) the ruler is a Mussulman whilst most of his subjects are Hindus. Truly it may be said that the Indian States are the Indian India. |