Indian Constitutional Documents vol I review

Summary

This review considers the second, revised and enlarged edition of “Indian Constitutional Documents, Vol. I: 1757–1858,” edited by Dr. Anil Chandra Banerjee. The collection gathers all important documents relating to the development of the Indian constitution under the East India Company. While such collections usually include major legislative enactments like the Regulating Act of 1773, Pitt’s India Act of 1784 and the successive Charter Acts, Dr. Banerjee also incorporates speeches, dispatches, minutes, diaries, private letters, treaties and other types of documents necessary for comprehending constitutional growth. The reviewer notes that the administrative history of the East India Company receives due prominence and that the selection covers both formal legislation and the informal correspondences that illuminate policy. One of the most valuable features of the book is the inclusion of documents relating to the Indian princely states, which are often neglected in constitutional compilations. In addition to the documents themselves, the editor provides explanatory notes and references that clarify context and highlight key points. A concise yet illuminating introduction surveys the broad features of the constitutional history of the period and situates the documents within wider historical developments. The reviewer remarks that the work, first published three years earlier, has already proved useful to scholars and students; the new edition incorporates additional material and corrects earlier oversights. Overall, the reviewer views the volume as an indispensable reference for anyone studying the constitutional and administrative evolution of India during the Company era.