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The Indian Version of First among Equals – Executive Power during the First Decade of Independence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2009

H. KUMARASINGHAM
H. KUMARASINGHAM*
Affiliation:
Victoria University of Wellington, 18 Wyndrum Avenue, Lower Hutt 5011, Wellington, New Zealand Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

When India gained independence in August 1947 the world watched with excitement as well as trepidation as to what would happen following this unique and major event. The political destiny of the world's largest democracy would lie in the hands of an infinitesimal portion of the population – the political executive. India's new institutions had new operators to act in new conditions. There were few precedents. Within this Westminster system, refounded in India with its emphasis on executive flexibility and ambiguity, the leading political figures often had conflicting opinions and interpretations as to their powers. The relationship between Nehru as Prime Minister and other leading political figures, such as Patel as deputy Prime Minister, Prasad as President, and their definitions of their roles, would forge a new India. This paper revisits those debates and ideas in the first decade following independence, which allow greater understanding of the workings and conventions of today's Indian executive.

Type
Research Article
Information
Modern Asian Studies , Volume 44 , Issue 4 , July 2010 , pp. 709 - 751
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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References

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