Long before the cry for struggle against British imperialism had been raised, the princely State of Mysore had been experimenting with the process of democratisation of the State administration. The enlightened rulers and their illustrious dewans were under no compulsion to initiate such measures, for the people were basking under the sunshine of the benevolent rule, what with their basic needs being met by the State, which was a far cry in the British-governed State of Madras.
 The long  spell of direct administration by the British from 1831 to 1881 had ended and Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar had ascended the throne. The fifty-year-long rendition had its own positive results too, for Mysore returned after half a century of British rule to the Wodeyars, its position as an Indian state having been assured of a good administrative set up. With a view to re-establishing closer relations with the people, Dewan C Rangacharlu conceived a popular institution called the Representative Assembly with the avowed objective of bringing people into immediate communication with the Government and convincing them that the interests of the Government were identical with those of people. It was the desire of the Maharaja that the views and objects of the Government in the measures adopted for the administration of the province should be better known and appreciated by people for whose benefit they were intended.
To begin with, rich landlords and merchants drawn from across the State were invited and they were meeting after Dasara. The first annual meeting was held on October 7, 1881 when 144 members attended. The  bedecked Jaganmohan Palace was the venue for the Assembly. These members, some of them being timid, apologetic to begin with, sat face to face with the high and mighty dewan.The dewan used to place before the House the achievements of the past year and present a programme for the coming year.
Yet another measure of great importance and significance was the establishment of the Legislative Council during the reign of Sri Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV in 1907, thus paving the way for the constitution of bicameral legislature after Independence. Hitherto, the legislative  measures formed part of the Executive Council consisting of the dewan and two councillors. But it was felt that the character and composition of the Council, the smallness of its members and want of publicity in its proceedings did not permit of legislative measures  being considered as fully and from as many points of view as was desirable. The official and non-official members who were to be associated, it was hoped, would bring their practical experience and knowledge of local conditions and requirements to bear on the discussion of legislative measures.
The Legislative Council came into existence on June 22, 1907. The Council, to begin with, was constituted with the dewan as the president, two councillors as ex-officio members and not less than ten or more than 15 additional members of whom not less than two-fifths were to be non-officials. Under the new scheme of reforms, Dewan M Visvesvaraya enlarged the Council in 1913, increasing the number of members from 18 to 25 - 13 of them were to be non-officials, 8 elected and 5 nominated, of these 4 were to be elected by members of the Representative Assembly and 4 from districts. The Council had the privilege of discussing the budget and the interpellation.
Again in 1919, the Council was enlarged, increasing the number of members to 30, and in the process the Council could send one of its members to the Mysore University elected bodies.
The Maharaja announced a scheme of major constitutional reforms in 1922 relating to the Representative Assembly, Legislative Council and Local Self Government. These reforms changed the composition and character of the Assembly and the Council, which included  removal of a clause relating to gender discrimination, and this resulted in the increase of the number of electorate by four-fold. All elections were made direct. The representations for special interests and minorities were also assured in the Assembly, giving a definite place in the Constitution as a popular public body.
As regards the Council, the strength was raised to 50, of whom 22 were to be elected and 8 nominated. The voting power on State budget was also conceded to the Council.
As the agitation against the British was intensified by the Congress, the Indian Government became responsive to the demands and the control over administrative changes in the States was relaxed. Maharaja Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV issued a proclamation on November 6, 1929. With this the qualification of voters, both for the Representative Assembly  and the Legislative Council, was lowered. The strength of the Assembly was raised to 310, besides enlarging its scope and powers. The membership of the Council was raised to 68, 44 members to be elected and it had the right to elect a non-official president and a deputy president.
And, as a crowning measure, the Maharaja declared, “My Executive Council will, in future, consist of my dewan and not less than four ministers, of whom it is my desire that not less than two should be non-officials selected from the elected members of the Assembly and the Council, such ministers being eligible to hold any portfolio of the administration.”
It is appropriate that on the occasion of the Centenary celebration of the Karnataka State Legislative Council, the grateful Kannadigas should salute the visionary rulers and dewans of Mysore and recall the peaceful evolutionary process in the establishment and development of parliamentary institutions in the State. Decades before the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution provided for the establishment of State Legislature, the Mysore rulers had seen to the functioning of the Legislature which was bicameral in nature.
Mr M Satyanarayana Rao, who had served two terms as a member of the Legislative Council (1970-76 and 1986-92), recalled that a galaxy of elders like Gubbi Veeranna, Piteelu Chowdaiah, Mallikarjuna Mansoor and Gangubai Hanagal had been the members of the Council in the recent years, lending as they did, grace to the ambience of the Council Hall. He felt that nothing should be done to defeat the objectives of this august body by importing politics in the functioning of the Council.
Dreams, yet to be realised
In what seems to be an achievement for the State in celebrating glorious 100 years of existence of its Council, the dreams are far from being realised completely. The process, made democratical by Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, one of the rulers of Mysore who got to the throne at as young an age as 18 years, dreamt of women's education, voting power for women, industrial progress, decentralisation of power through village panchayats, and health and prosperity for all, among others.
The House proceedings, even during those days, took place in English. But, it was Nalvadi Wodeyar who steered it towards Kannada. This was done when the number of elected representatives was increased.
According to him, it was necessary to speak the common man's language to ensure the discussions at the Council is understood by all who are present. Regular meetings on budget and allocation of funds for various developmental works were also held in open.
Laying emphasis on education and awareness among people, Nalvadi Wodeyar addressed the students of Mysore University during their convocation. That is the place he chose to sow his dreams in young minds.
Many women members were inducted in the bodies that came into existence in the process of decentralisation of power. Executive, judiciary and legislatives functioned under him. However, a striking contrast to his attempts and execution was the fact that all his seven assistant commissioners were Brahmins. And, often Nalvadi Wodeyar dreamt of the upliftment of poor and backward communities. In his government, jobs were based on merit and qualification. Caste did not come in the way of any community from taking up a Government job.
Sir M Visveswaraya received great encouragement during Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar's time. The world famous KRS, Mysore Bank, Bhadravathi Steel Factory and Mysore Sandal Soap factories came into being during his time. Kannada Sahitya Parishat too was born around the same time. A 'committee for political reforms' was formed to bring in apt changes in policies and execution.
Unlike his predecessors, Wodeyar often went touring the State to see the end results of decisions made in his durbar. A provision for Harijans to participate in the durbar proceedings was made during his time. He even partly implemented the Miller Committee report for reservation.
Bans were brought on child marriage, devadasi system and tobacco smoking while encouraging widow remarriage and financial support for widows. Further, compulsory education for all was made free.
Preethi Nagaraj