This talk explores constitutional discussions in one of the largest princely states of British India in order to understand the complexity of debates that surrounded the arrival of independence on a subcontinent characterized by varied political forms. Because of its size, importance, and irregular constitutional status, one can access through a study of Hyderabad some of the breadth and range of discussions that accompanied decolonization, discussions that took place long before India and Pakistan’s Constituent Assemblies began their deliberations, and stretched from organized political discussion in London to petition writing in India.

Kavita S. Datla received her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. She is currently Associate Professor at Mount Holyoke College's History Department. Her book, The Language of Secular Islam: Urdu Nationalism and Colonial India was published by the University of Hawaii Press in 2013.