AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF MYSORE STATE AND THE INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT: A HISTORICAL STUDY

An empirical analysis of the national movement in Mysore State reveals a distinct socio-political trajectory shaped by data-driven governance, high literacy, and a unique ‘dual power’ struggle. The history of the Indian National Movement was not confined to British-ruled provinces; it also extended into the princely states, where people increasingly demanded responsible government, civil rights and political participation. Mysore State occupied an important position in this wider political transformation. Although Mysore was a princely state under the rule of the Wadeyar dynasty and enjoyed internal administrative autonomy, British political influence remained significant. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the growth of education, newspapers, political associations and social reform contributed to the emergence of political consciousness in Mysore. The formation of organisations such as the Mysore State Congress and the Praja Party strengthened popular demands for responsible government. The influence of Mahatma Gandhi and the wider Indian National Congress movement also encouraged political mobilisation within the state. Movements such as the Mysore Chalo Movement of 1947 became important milestones in the struggle for responsible government. This paper examines the political, social and historical development of Mysore State, the emergence of nationalist consciousness, the role of political organisations and leaders, major movements, and the integration of Mysore into independent India. The study argues that the people of Mysore made a significant contribution to the Indian National Movement by transforming demands for administrative reform into a broader struggle for responsible government and democratic participation.