THE PERIOD OF COLONIAL RULEWhile the end of empire was approaching, imperial structure had
attained a rather hybrid final shape. A highly centralised federalism had
been imposed on India and parliamentarianism had after all been
introduced—though it was marred by incompatible features such as
separate electorates and the retention of an irremovable executive at the
centre. On the one hand, this provoked an increasing centralisation of the
national movement with its own ‘high command’; on the other hand, it led
to a movement towards separatism among those whose segregation had
been conditioned by separate electorates. The evolution of imperial
structure thus contributed to the final destruction of the political unity
which had been one of the main achievements of imperial rule. But the
evolution of the national movement which was directed against that
imperial rule also contributed to this end: national agitation and political
interest aggregation could not be promoted simultaneously. Agitation calls
for issues which arouse political passions, whereas interest aggregation
requires the give and take of political compromise—which does not fire
anybody’s imagination but which is of vital importance if people are to live
together in peace.