220
his word was not intended to be kept. By -his
command I placed the matter before the Council,
and a Committee was appointed to draw up a
working proposal as an intermediate stage in the
progress of the scheme. After the usual inevit-
able delays caused by incidental hitches, our
report was ready; but it was fated to be delayed
once more owing to certain changes that took
place in the personnel of the Council in 1927.
My own idea about such reforms has always
been that they should be made by gradual instal-
ments in a calm atmosphere of mutual gocrd-will,
and in the traditional gracious and dignified
manner of Princely Hyderabad. To recognise
the just rights of the people and to enable them
to take part (as they became fit to do so) in the
management of public affairs under the benefi-
cent guidance of a Ruler whom they love and
revere, is what we all desire. And this was the
spirit in which the last Ruler of Hyderabad
usually viewed the relationship between himself
and his subjects. He was recognised as a gene-
rous loving father by his people while he was also
a conservative guardian of the wiser traditions
of his State. " Hyderabad must do things in its
own way, and not adopt alien methods unguarded-
ly. " This was his wise policy.
Sir Ali Imam and I had a brotherly regard
for each other and I was really sorry when he
decided, too hastily as I thought, to leave Hyder-
abad before his term expired. It was offended
compelled him to take "ffiat" step ;"