1984/11/01 by John Wood · 3 citations
Social Sciences · #South Asian Studies and Conflicts #Social and Economic Development in India #Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East #Politics #Independence (probability theory) #Mainland #Saurashtra #Political science #Nationalism #Franchise #Development economics #Political economy #Geography #Economic history #History #Law #Sociology #Economics #Archaeology
paper · doi:10.2307/2056747
openalex publication_date 1984/11/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
The political integration of British India and princely India is generally assumed to be an accomplished fact, but in contemporary Indian states that contain both ex-British and ex-princely territory and population the different legacies of British and princely rule remained influential long after independence and merger. Analysis of the de facto political integration of Gujarat between 1943 and 1969 reveals five stages of bargaining between ex-British and ex-princely nationalist elites. At each stage the interests of these elites—schooled in contrasting historical-political traditions—had to be consulted and compensated; the results can be discerned in the differential electoral behavior of the ex-British-dominated Mainland and ex-princely Saurashtra regions. Eventually, the political resources and training of Mainland politicians proved more appropriate for universal franchise politics than did those of the exprincely Saurashtrians. However, as of. 1969, the objective of an integrated political community in Gujarat was still to be achieved.