evolution of british paramountcy over princely states??
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The British Paramountcy and the Indian Native States
It would be instructive to note at the outset ofthis chapter, the meaning
and scope of the terms ‘Paramountcy’ and ‘Native State’. The internationally
standard dictionaries like Webster Universal Dictionary define ‘Paramountcy’ as
‘The quality of being Paramount’ or ‘The condition of being Paramount’. Now the
question that emerges is ‘what is ‘Paramount’? Paramount means ‘Having supreme
authority ofjurisdiction’1 or ‘Above all others in rank, order orjurisdiction.’2
The British Paramountcy in India obviously connotes that the British
had established such a power in India which was exercising supreme authority or
jurisdiction over the Indian Native States, or which was above all other States in
India in rank, order andjurisdiction. R iAjj.
What is the Native State ? Sir William Lee-Wamer, a British Political^Officer*)
and a well known authority on the British Paramountcy over the Indian Natives, very
well defines the nature of ‘Native States’ in India. He says, “A Native State is a
political community, occupying a territory in India of defined boundaries and subject
to a common and responsible ruler, who has, as a matter of fact, enjoyed and
exercised, with sanction of the British Government, any of the functions and
attributes of internal sovereignty. The indivisibility ofsovereignty does not belong
to the Indian system ofsovereign States.”
Sir Lee- Warner goes on elucidating the nature and the limits of the
sovereignty enjoyed by the Indian Native States, “No Native State in the interior of
India enjoys the full attributes of complete external and internal sovereignty, since
none is left either the power of declaring war or peace or the right of negotiating
agreements with other States, but sovereignty ofthe Native State is shared between
the British Government and the chiefs in varying degrees. Some States enjoy
substantial immunity from interference in nearly all functions of internal
administration, while others are under such subjections that the Native sovereignty is
almost completely destroyed.”3
The Evolution ofBritish Paramountcy
Before dealing with the relations between the Kolhapur State and the
British Paramountcy, it is imperative to know how the British established their
Paramount Power in India and what was the nature ofthat Paramountcy. It should
be noted at the outset that the establishment of the British Paramountcy was a
product of gradual political and military activities ofthe British in the 18 and 19
centuries and it took several decades to acquire its final shape. An official
announcement in days ofLord Lytton aptly says, “Paramountcy is a thing ofgradual
growth... shaped partly by conquest, partly by treaty and partly by usuage”
✌☺
_____&
The British Paramountcy and the Indian Native States
It would be instructive to note at the outset ofthis chapter, the meaning
and scope of the terms ‘Paramountcy’ and ‘Native State’. The internationally
standard dictionaries like Webster Universal Dictionary define ‘Paramountcy’ as
‘The quality of being Paramount’ or ‘The condition of being Paramount’. Now the
question that emerges is ‘what is ‘Paramount’? Paramount means ‘Having supreme
authority ofjurisdiction’1 or ‘Above all others in rank, order orjurisdiction.’2
The British Paramountcy in India obviously connotes that the British
had established such a power in India which was exercising supreme authority or
jurisdiction over the Indian Native States, or which was above all other States in
India in rank, order andjurisdiction. R iAjj.
What is the Native State ? Sir William Lee-Wamer, a British Political^Officer*)
and a well known authority on the British Paramountcy over the Indian Natives, very
well defines the nature of ‘Native States’ in India. He says, “A Native State is a
political community, occupying a territory in India of defined boundaries and subject
to a common and responsible ruler, who has, as a matter of fact, enjoyed and
exercised, with sanction of the British Government, any of the functions and
attributes of internal sovereignty. The indivisibility ofsovereignty does not belong
to the Indian system ofsovereign States.”
Sir Lee- Warner goes on elucidating the nature and the limits of the
sovereignty enjoyed by the Indian Native States, “No Native State in the interior of
India enjoys the full attributes of complete external and internal sovereignty, since
none is left either the power of declaring war or peace or the right of negotiating
agreements with other States, but sovereignty ofthe Native State is shared between
the British Government and the chiefs in varying degrees. Some States enjoy
substantial immunity from interference in nearly all functions of internal
administration, while others are under such subjections that the Native sovereignty is
almost completely destroyed.”3
The Evolution ofBritish Paramountcy
Before dealing with the relations between the Kolhapur State and the
British Paramountcy, it is imperative to know how the British established their
Paramount Power in India and what was the nature ofthat Paramountcy. It should
be noted at the outset that the establishment of the British Paramountcy was a
product of gradual political and military activities ofthe British in the 18 and 19
centuries and it took several decades to acquire its final shape. An official
announcement in days ofLord Lytton aptly says, “Paramountcy is a thing ofgradual
growth... shaped partly by conquest, partly by treaty and partly by usuage”
✌☺
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Before 1857, British had availed themselves of every opportunity to annex princely states.
The Revolt of 1857 led the British to reverse their policy towards the Indian States.
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