ABSTRACT
This chapter explores Gandhians and non/anti-Gandhians to highlight the continuity in the trajectory of localizing governance in India over different phases of colonial administration in India. It expresses two major arguments: one of which, by highlighting specific instances of devolution of power during India's political subjugation, reinforces the idea that by being influenced by the fundamental tenets of Freedom, Equality and Fraternity of the Enlightenment philosophy, the rulers deemed it appropriate to evolve and also strengthens a mindset supportive of colonialism by opening-up administration to those who did not appear to be 'nationalist'. By highlighting the distinctive characteristics of these designs of devolution of power, the second argument draws on the assumption that they are not disjointed, but grand colonizing designs which acted as a buffer against endeavours towards weakening colonialismex.
