Indian states and responsible government

Five hundred and sixty-two and odd Protected States and Jagirs persist in India owing to the might of the Paramount Power. Most of these States are medieval autocracies. In a desert of denial of civil liberty, one happily comes across the few oases in the progressive States of Mysore, Cochin, Travan core and Baroda. This medley of States, Jagirs and petty principalities makes the suggestion of different remedies indispensable.

But, there should certainly be a minimum stan dard of civilised administration in all the States. The time has come when the petty Orissa States should set their houses in order lest most of them be wiped out of existence.

The establishment of responsible government in the States is the only way of "restricting para mountcy to its proper field of action." The Princes as a class have not yet realized this aspect of the question.

The States voluntarily moving with the times, as c.g., Aundh, Cochin and Mysore will be assist ing in the birth of a renascent federal India assisted by a Paramount Power which will play its new rôle begun at Rajkot in actively fostering such an array and development of centripetal forces.

In such a hope this book has been written. The author is not in favour of abolition of Indian States which have an important rôle to play in the birth of a Federal India. If the States persist in their medieval folly, nemesis will overtake most of the petty states which cannot ensure by them selves the minimum of civilised administration.

The author thanks the Editor of the "New Rein" Calcutta, where the Chapter on 'Para mountry' had been published as a special article.