23 | Mysore state

Mysore (along with Hyderabad), was one of the few states that initially remained a separate entity due to its size, population, financial resources, and geographical position. Its rulers became constitutional heads. So the merger of Mysore state was a significant part of the broader integration process post-independence.

Mysore has a long history, with its ruling dynasty dating back to 1399 AD. Although Hyder Ali briefly usurped the throne in 1765, the Wadiyar dynasty was restored in 1799 after Tipu Sultan's death in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war (Memoranda on the Indian States, 1935).

From 1831 to 1881, the British assumed direct management of the state due to a rebellion, laying the foundation for a sound administrative system. After 50 years of rule, in March 1881, they handed it back to the ruling family, installing Maharajah Chamarajendra Wadiyar. 

His son, Maharajah Sir Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar became the successor, who ruled for forty-six years, and was considered the most distinguished ruler Mysore ever had. Under Maharajah Sir Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Mysore made remarkable progress and was renowned as one of the best-administered states in the country, pioneering industrialization and hydroelectric projects. It was also the first state to establish a Representative Assembly in 1881, which evolved into a statutory body with an elected majority by 1923 and an Upper House in 1907. Under Krishnaraja Wadiyar became the first Indian state to grant women enfranchisement. He was succeeded by his nephew Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar in 1940. By the time of the transfer of power, Mysore had a ministry responsible to its legislature, and by 1949, it achieved full responsible government (Memoranda on the Indian States, 1935; Ramusack & Johnson, 2004).

Initial Accession:

In August 1947, the Maharajah of Mysore executed both the Instrument of Accession and the Standstill Agreement. This initial Instrument of Accession, like those for other major states, involved ceding only three subjects to the Dominion of India: Defence, External Affairs, and Communications. These subjects were defined in List I of Schedule VII to the Government of India Act of 1935. A crucial aspect of this initial accession was that it did not entail any financial liability for Mysore and was designed to leave the rulers with all the practical independence they could use, without encroaching on their sovereignty in other matters. While this relationship was considered "tenuous," it was the only practical course available at the time (Menon, 1956).

Revised Accession and Constitutional Integration:

In June 1949, the Maharajah executed a revised Instrument of Accession, with the concurrence of his ministers. This new instrument significantly broadened the scope of accession, granting the Central legislature the power to enact laws for Mysore on all matters listed in the federal and concurrent legislative lists of the Government of India Act of 1935, except those pertaining to duties and taxation.

This development placed Mysore in a constitutional position analogous to the former provinces (Part A states) of British India, particularly concerning central legislation, though it retained its own pre-existing public finance structure.

A Constituent Assembly for Mysore had been established by a proclamation on October 29, 1947. This assembly recommended that the constitution framed by the Constituent Assembly of the Indian Union should be adopted by Mysore, a recommendation implemented by the Maharajah's proclamation on November 25, 1949. The Mysore Constituent Assembly then functioned as the interim legislature until new elections under the new Constitution. By January 26, 1950, when the new Constitution of India came into force, Mysore was among the states fully integrated geographically and brought into the same constitutional relations with the Centre as the provinces. Under the new Constitution, Mysore was included as a Part B State, with its unique status largely assimilated into the new federal structure (Menon, 1956; Europa Publications, 2024).

Key features and negotiations in the merger agreement:

A critical aspect of the integration process for Mysore, as with other princely states, involved the determination of the ruler's Privy Purse and the demarcation of private properties. The Privy Purse for the Maharajah of Mysore was fixed at Rs. 26 lakh. This was one of the instances where the standard Rs. 10 lakh ceiling for privy purses was exceeded, reflecting the state's importance and the unique nature of the negotiations. These financial arrangements were settled through direct discussions between V.P. Menon and the Maharajah and his ministers, with Sardar Patel keenly involved in the matter. The Privy Purse amounts were guaranteed by the Government of India, and with the financial integration, became a charge on the Central Government (Menon, 1956).

Unlike some other states, the distinction between the Maharajah's private property and state property in Mysore did not pose significant difficulties, as this demarcation had been established many years prior, notably after the restoration of the ruling family in 1799. The overall financial integration scheme, which Mysore adopted from April 1, 1950, involved pooling federal resources and functions with the Central Government. Its budgetary impact was managed without compensating for the transferred assets and included a transitional financial assistance scheme. Compared to many other states which faced unrest, military action, or prolonged negotiations, Mysore's integration was considered ‘smooth and easy’ with ‘very little change’ post-accession (Menon, 1956). 

References:

• Europa Publications. (2024). The Territories and States of India 2024 (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003476900

  
  

• Memoranda on the Indian States. (1935). Manager of Publications.

  
  

• Menon, V. P. (1956). The Story of Integration of the Indian states. Orient Blackswan.

  
  

• Ramusack, B. N., & Johnson, G. (2004). The Indian Princes and their States. Cambridge university press.