India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wanted the governor to be an eminent person, respected in his or her field, whether in academics, science or art. He did not favour a political appointee—a person whom the ruling party sought to give the office. During a debate of the Constituent Assembly, he said: “I think it would be infinitely better if he were not so intimately connected with local politics of the province.” But today, 25 of the 28 governors are former politicians; while one is an army man. Of the remaining two, one is a bureaucrat, and the other an