This is a study in the modern political history of India. It sets out to examine political changes in the Madras Presidency, the southernmost province of British India, at a crucial period in its recent history. In the years between the two world wars south India witnessed two political movements that have coloured its subsequent history; firstly a division of political forces along lines of caste and secondly the growth of nationalist organisation to a dominant position in provincial affairs. At the same time, the Madras Presidency, along with the other provinces of British India, had its first experience of many political institutions and practices such as large important legislatures, powerful local authorities, elections and election campaigns, political parties and ministerial office. In 1937, Indian politicians took this experience with them when they took over the entire government of the provinces for the only, brief spell of fully responsible government before the coming of independence ten years later. The experience of the inter-war years played a vital part in moulding political parties and political leadership.

Published works on India's modern history have concentrated heavily on the nationalist movement and on the all-India level of politics. There have been few forays into the provinces and into those areas of political life which were not closely bound up with the struggle for national freedom. The south has been conspicuously neglected, largely because it did not figure so consistently or so spectacularly in the nationalist saga as did other regions of India.