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The historical roots of Indian federalism (1905-1956)
Holman, Jaroslav ; Říchová, Blanka (advisor) ; Strnad, Jaroslav (referee) ; Baar, Vladimír (referee)
The dissertation deals with historical roots of the Indian federalism. It focuses on the the first six decades of the twentieth century. At the beginning of this period India was a colonial realm (Indian Empire) consisting of the provinces of British India on one hand and the princely states on the other. At the end of the period, though deprived of the territories that had gine to Pakistan, India was a sovereign federal republic consisting of union states, the boundaries of which were mostly determined according to the "linguistic" principle. The year 1905, set as a starting point in the title ofthe study, brought the partition ofBengal (politically the most important province of British India), resulting in widespread protests all over India and in radicalization of Indian nationalism. It also strengthened autonomist tendenci es and thus provided a strong impetus to the federal idea. The final year of the period, set in the title of the study, brought the enactment of the States Reorganization Act, 1956, which finalised the formation of all main features of the Indian federal system. From the institutional point of view, the system has not been changed in any significant aspect since. India through this Act became a trne "ethno-federation" or "ethno-federal" state. In the author' s view a solid basis was...
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