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| History
of Rajasthan |
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The history of India dates back almost
five thousand years, and Rajasthan plays
a crucial and unique role, especially with
regard to the development of Indian culture.
Its impressive story reaches through a heroic
past. Its extravagant splashes of bright
hues against the desert landscape and the
purity of its dry and sandy reaches, the
miniature elegance of its small villages
and impeccably maintained forts brings alive
the story of the yore. The appearance of
its grand forts perched on rocky hills still
tell the story of the bravery of its men
and the stoic sacrifice of its women, and
the chivalrous old world manners of all.
The Rajputs rose to prominence in the 9th
and 10th centuries, and were a major force
to reckon with medieval India. Passionately
attached to their land, family and honour,
the Rajputs treated war as a sport, and
followed a strong chivalric code of conduct.
Myths and legends of their valour, gallantry,
sacrifice and courage are legion. There
are many heroes among the Rajputs, such
as Prithviraj Chauhan, who fought successfully
against the invader Muhammad Ghori in the
battle of Tarain (1191), although he died
on the same battlefield in the following
year. Or the great Rana Pratap of Mewar,
who defiantly withstood the might of the
Mughal, and continued to raid on them even
after his defeat. He died in 1597, and his
son, Ambar Singh, took over the mantle of
opposition to Mughal rule. Rana Pratap was
the lone exception, as most of the leading
Rajput clans finally married into Mughal
royalty and nobility, and went into direct
State service of the Mughal Empire. This
was chiefly at the behest of the wise and
farsighted Mughal emperor, Akbar, who was
able to consolidate and expand his empire
because of his close ties with the proud
Rajputs, the men who made formidable enemies
and also steadfast and loyal friends.
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. |
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