Review: Indian Constitutional Documents, Vol. II, 1858‑1945
Summary
This review by I. Banerjee assesses volume II of Indian Constitutional Documents compiled by A. C. Banerjee covering 1858–1945. The reviewer praises the author for assembling this comprehensive collection despite shortages of paper. The volume includes statutes, speeches, despatches, treaties, sanads, agreements, Congress and Muslim League resolutions, and press conference reports, providing a broad perspective on constitutional developments since the Mutiny. Unlike earlier collections that confined themselves to official documents, this work includes extracts from Congress presidents’ addresses and resolutions, offering insight into nationalist demands. The reviewer notes that documents relating to Indian states are included, and the introduction provides commentary on constitutional evolution during the period. An appendix with miscellaneous notes and a bibliography enhances the volume’s usefulness. Banerjee asserts that no student of modern Indian history or political evolution can overlook this work. The review also discusses The Cabinet Mission in India, edited by A. C. Banerjee and D. R. Basu, which collects documents relating to the 1946 Cabinet Mission, from Attlee’s announcement on 19 February to the Muslim League’s rejection of the Mission’s plan on 29 July. The reviewer emphasises that the volume is indispensable for students of current politics, history and constitutional studies and congratulates the editors for producing an excellently edited and printed book.
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Conclusion
The reviewer concludes that Indian Constitutional Documents, vol. II, and The Cabinet Mission in India are invaluable resources. By assembling an impressive variety of official and nationalist documents, these works fill a gap left by earlier collections and provide essential context for constitutional developments. Banerjee encourages students and historians to engage with these compilations to gain a nuanced understanding of modern India’s political evolution.