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History
At the time of independence on 15th august 1947,
Rajasthan was known Rajputana (country of Rajputs). It
comprised of 18 Princely States, two chieftains and a
British administered province of Ajmer-Merwara besides a
few pockets and territories outside its main boundaries.
It took seven stages to form Rajasthan as defined today.
In March 1948 the Matsya Union comprising of Alwar,
Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli was formed. Also in March
'48 Banswara, Bundi, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Kishangarh,
Kota, Pratapgarh, Shahpura and Tonk joined the Indian
union and formed a part of Rajasthan. In April '48
Udaipur joined the state and the Maharana of Udaipur was
made Rajpramukh. Therefore in 1948 the merger of south
and southeastern states was almost complete. Still
retaining their independence from India were Jaipur and
the desert kingdoms of Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
From a security point of view, it was vital to the new
Indian Union to ensure that the desert kingdoms were
integrated into the new nation. The princes finally
agreed to sign the Instrument of Accession, and the
kingdoms of Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Jaipur were
merged in March 1949. This time the Maharaja of Jaipur,
Man Singh II was made the Rajpramukh of the state and
Jaipur became its capital. Later in 1949, the United
State of Matsya, comprising the former kingdoms of
Bharatpur, Alwar, Karauli and Dholpur, was incorporated
into Rajasthan. On January 26th 1950, 18 states of
united Rajasthan merged with Sirohi to join the state
leaving Abu and Dilwara to remain a part of Greater
Bombay and now Gujarat.
In November 1956 under the State Re-organisation Act,
1956 the erstwhile part 'C' State of Ajmer, Abu Road
Taluka, former part of princely State Sirohi (which were
merged in former Bombay), State and Sunel Tappa region
of the former Madhya Bharat merged with Rajasthan and
Sirohi sub district of Jhalawar was transferred to
Madhya Pradesh. Thus giving the existing boundary
Rajasthan. Today with further reorganisation of the
states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
Rajasthan has become the largest state of the Indian
Republic.
The princes of the former kingdoms were constitutionally
granted handsome remuneration in the form of privy
purses and privileges to assist them in the discharge of
their financial obligations. In1970, Indira Gandhi, who
was then the Prime Minister of India, commenced
under-takings to discontinue the privy purses, which
were abolished in 1971. Many of the former princes still
continue to use the title of Maharaja but the title has
little else power other than status symbol. Many of the
Maharajas still hold their palaces and have converted
them into profitable hotel while some have made good in
politics. The democratically elected Government runs the
state with a Chief Minister as its executive head and
the Governor as the head of the state. |
