The federal provisions of the Government of India Act of 1935 foundered on the rock of princely intransigence.

Answer:

The Government of India Act of 1935 proposed an All-India Federation consisting of British Indian provinces and princely states. However, the federal scheme never came into operation. One major reason was the unwillingness of the princes to join the federation on terms that reduced their autonomy.

Federal Provisions of the 1935 Act

Proposed federation:

• The Act planned to unite British Indian provinces and princely states in a federal structure.
• Provinces were to join automatically.
• Princely states were to join voluntarily through Instruments of Accession.
• Federation could start only when enough princely states joined.

Representation of princes:

• Princes were given representation in the federal legislature.
• However, their representatives were to be nominated, not elected.
• This would have preserved princely authority but also tied them to an all-India constitutional structure.

Princely Intransigence

Fear of losing autonomy:

• Princes feared that joining the federation would reduce their sovereignty.
• They were unwilling to accept central control over defence, external affairs and communications beyond agreed terms.
• Many also feared pressure from democratic and nationalist politics.

Preference for British protection:

• Princes preferred direct relations with the British Crown.
• They feared that a federal India dominated by elected provincial leaders would threaten their privileges.
• Therefore, they delayed or avoided accession.

Other Reasons for Failure

Congress opposition:

• Congress criticised the Act as undemocratic and defective.
• The proposed federation retained strong powers for the Governor-General.

British safeguards:

• The Act gave excessive safeguards to British authority, making federation unattractive to nationalists.

Thus, princely intransigence was a major reason why the federal scheme failed. But it was not the only reason. The federation collapsed because princes feared loss of autonomy, Congress rejected its undemocratic structure, and British safeguards made real responsible government impossible.