Reigniting Constitutionalism in Karnataka

Abstract

India was one of the first nation states to have adopted a Constitution in South Asia, being one of the first newly independent states to establish democratic institutions. Karnataka has a rich political history and was among the signatories to negotiate the spaces between what was thought of as plainly monarchical history and what the future would be in terms of constitutionalism.  The history of the recent Maharajas of Mysore showed they had enlightened ideas. And though their philosophy may not be absolutely towards democratisation, they had the components of the making of a new state.  The last Maharaja of Mysore before independence of India, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar chose to nominate the Dewan of Mysore N Madhava Rau to the Constituent Assembly. The result was, the well educated Dewan with the sense of political democratic participation (sic Patemen), was able to work on principles of democracy in the Constitution which was drawn from the British, Swiss and French framework, to architect our own.   In the past couple of years, the constitution of India has been threatened. Therefore, it was important to rescue modern ideals of Constitutionalism and it was Karnataka who seemed to be the forerunner of this exercise in India. The ideals and principles of Dr Madhava Rau, seem even more relevant today, and there is a certain urgency to evaluate and study them in depth, to secure and reinforce the democratic aspect of the Indian Constitution.