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The Complete History of Mysore

Chapter 12 · 1881 – 1950

The Princely State and Accession

Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV's reformist reign, the freedom movement inside the state, and the accession of Mysore to the Indian Union.

12.1The reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV

Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV ruled from 1902 (assuming full powers on attaining majority) to 1940. His government founded the University of Mysore in 1916 — the first university in India established outside British-administered presidency towns — the Bank of Mysore (1913), the Mysore Iron and Steel Works at Bhadravati, and the Kannambadi (Krishnaraja Sagar) dam.[1]

Social legislation included measures against child marriage, the removal of some caste disabilities in public institutions, and the Miller Committee (1918) recommendations on reservations in public employment for non-Brahmin communities — an early landmark in Indian affirmative action.[2]

12.2Politics inside the state

Mysore's own nationalist politics grew through the Mysore Congress, the Praja Paksha and the Mysore Chalo agitation of 1947, which demanded responsible government. The 'Mysore state Congress' movement pressed for full democratic transfer even as the state administration remained comparatively liberal.[3]

12.3Accession and after

Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar signed the Instrument of Accession to India in 1947. Mysore became a Part B state in 1950 and the maharaja served as Rajpramukh until 1956, later as Governor of Mysore and of Madras.[4]

Privy purses and princely titles were abolished by the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution in 1971, ending the formal political role of the dynasty.

References and footnotes

  1. [1]"Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV", Wikipedia. Link
  2. [2]"Miller Committee (Mysore)", Wikipedia; Mysore Government records, 1918–1921. Link
  3. [3]"Mysore State", Wikipedia. Link
  4. [4]"Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar", Wikipedia. Link