THE question of the position of Indian Princes in the polity of India and the Empire has to-day especial interest in view of the Constitutional Reforms. Mr. Panikkar's narrative of His Highness the Maharaja of Patiala's Chancellor-ship of the Chamber of Princes, therefore, appears at an opportune moment.
To some extent it may be said that the form in which that question was raised, and the federal proposals themselves, are the outcome of the activities of the Chamber of Princes, which-at least since 1922, when I was its Chancellor had pressed for a careful examination and inquiry into the future position of the Indian States.
The Chamber of Princes was instituted, as Mr. Panikkar points out, as the result of the desire of the rulers of Indian States for an organization which would enable the Viceroy and the Princes to come together and to deliberate on matters relating to the Empire, India, and the States as a whole. That great and far-sighted Viceroy, Lord Hardinge, who found informal consultation with Princes valuable during the critical days of the Great War, was sympathetic towards this idea. The Princes' Conference came into existence in 1916 and continued to meet every year till the Chamber of Princes was formally inaugurated in 1921.
As Honorary General Secretary to the Princes' Conference from 1916 to 1921, and as the first Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes from 1921 to 1926, it fell to my lot to shoulder the responsibility of organizing and conducting, on behalf of the Princes and States, the work of the Conference and the Chamber.
Throughout this period of ten years His Highness the Maharaja of Patiala was closely associated with me as a valued colleague in much important duty, including that of working out a preliminary scheme while on a small Committee of Princes assisted by some Ministers, and, at a later stage, the formulation, in collaboration with the officers of the Government of India, of the final proposals relating to the establishment of the Chamber, its constitution, rules, and regulations, its functions and composition, and other allied matters; and on various important Conferences and Committees, and especially the present Princes' Standing Committee.
When, in 1926, I decided to relinquish the Chancellorship, it was my privilege to propose at an informal meeting of the Princes the name of His Highness the Maharaja of Patiala as my successor; and he subsequently bore the burden and responsibilities of that difficult, and at times unenviable, office for a total period of some eight and a half years.
Notwithstanding occasional differences of opinion-trivial or important-which are in-evitable in public affairs, I am happy to feel that our official relations to-day are marked by the most cordial co-operation and consultations, and that the friendship which began some thirty-four years ago has been further strengthened and cemented.
I also had the pleasure of enjoying the per-sonal friendship of the Maharaja of Patiala's revered father; and His present Highness has for a great many years extended to me the privilege of an elder brother.
ABRIEF introduction setting forth the conditions and circumstances immediately pre-ceding the Chancellorship of the Maharaja of Patiala is perhaps necessary as an historical background for a correct appreciation of the work done by His Highness as Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes.
The Conferences of 1913 and 1914, convened by Lord Hardinge to ascertain the views of the Ruling Princes on special subjects touching their Order, were the first and tentative attempts towards a collective organization of Princes. The experience gained and the benefits which resulted from these meetings gave rise to a general desire that such conferences should be held annually. Lord Hardinge, who, like his predecessor Lord Minto, appreciated the value of the co-operation of Princes in matters of all-India or Imperial concern and was fully alive to the strength that the British Government would de-rive from the collective support of the Princes, naturally welcomed the suggestion of an annual gathering of Princes. A Conference of Ruling Princes for the discussion of general questions affecting the States and British India was summoned by him annually in conformity with this wise policy, which was followed also by his successor, Lord Chelmsford. H.H. the Maharajadhiraj of Patiala was associated with these annual conferences from their inception. He took a prominent part in the discussions and was from the beginning an accepted leader of opinion in the princely circles. When Mr. Montagu came out to India in 1918, the Maharaja, who had already achieved an outstanding position among the Princes, was, along with His Highness of Bikaner and the late Maharaja Scindia, prominently associated with all the important discussions of the time. In fact, it was at His Highness's invitation and at Patiala itself that the momentous meeting of Princes and Ministers in 1918 took place, at which the views of the Princes with regard to constitutional reforms and their claims in regard to their States were first formulated.
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