All India States Peoples Conference

The All India States Peoples' Conference was a political organization in India during the British Raj. The first session of the organisation was held in Bombay in December 1927.

Organisation

The Conference brought together representatives from hundreds of Indian princely states, including Baroda, Bhopal, Travancore and Hyderabad. It was established to encourage political dialogue between the princely class of India, and the British Raj, upon the issues of governance, political stability and future of India.

For a long period, the Conference was hostile to the Indian Independence Movement, and acted often to condemn and counter-act the work of the Indian National Congress when it was banned by British authorities.

Democratisation

The body had no popular representation until the 1930s, when it opened up its ranks to membership from across the political spectrum.

Jawaharlal Nehru, who would become the first Prime Minister of India in 1947, was invited to become the President of the All-India body in 1935, and remained so until 1946.

Indian integration

"Main Article": Political Integration of India

The body would play an important role during the political integration of India, helping Indian leaders Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru negotiate with hundreds of princes over the formation of a united, independent India after 1947.

ee also

*History of Independent India
*British Raj, Indian Independence Movement