All India States Peoples Conference
Encyclopedia
The All India States Peoples' Conference was a political organization in India
during the British Raj
. The first session of the organisation was held in Bombay in December 1927.
and Hyderabad
. It was established to encourage political dialogue between the princely class of India, and the British Raj
, upon the issues of governance, political stability and future of India.
For a long period, the Conference was hostile to the Indian Independence Movement
, and acted often to condemn and counter-act the work of the Indian National Congress
when it was banned by British authorities.
Jawaharlal Nehru
, who would become the first Prime Minister of India
in 1947, was invited to become the President of the All-India body in 1935, and remained so until 1946.
The body would play an important role during the political integration of India, helping Indian leaders Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru
negotiate with hundreds of princes over the formation of a united, independent India
after 1947.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
during the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. The first session of the organisation was held in Bombay in December 1927.
Organisation
The Conference brought together representatives from hundreds of Indian princely states, including Baroda, Bhopal, TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
and Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
. It was established to encourage political dialogue between the princely class of India, and the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, upon the issues of governance, political stability and future of India.
For a long period, the Conference was hostile to the Indian Independence Movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
, and acted often to condemn and counter-act the work of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
when it was banned by British authorities.
Democratisation
The body had no popular representation until the 1930s, when it opened up its ranks to membership from across the political spectrum.Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, who would become the first Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
in 1947, was invited to become the President of the All-India body in 1935, and remained so until 1946.
Indian integration
Main Article: Political Integration of IndiaPolitical integration of India
At the time of Indian independence, India was divided into two sets of territories, the first being the territories of "British India", which were under the direct control of the India Office in London and the Governor-General of India, and the second being the "Princely states", the territories...
The body would play an important role during the political integration of India, helping Indian leaders Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
negotiate with hundreds of princes over the formation of a united, independent India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
after 1947.
See also
- History of Independent India
- British RajBritish RajBritish Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, Indian Independence MovementIndian independence movementThe term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...