Freedom struggle and integration of Rajasthan

The political background of modern Rajasthan begins with the weakening of Mughal authority after Aurangzeb's death in 1707. Jaipur, Marwar, Mewar, Kota, Bundi and other Rajput states retained their ruling houses, forts and court traditions, but the older imperial balance had broken. This made succession disputes, revenue collection and local security more unstable. Maratha chiefs, especially the Scindia and Holkar houses, entered Rajputana politics through tribute demands, military pressure and bargaining with rulers and nobles. Pindari raids later deepened insecurity in villages and trade routes.

The Battle of Tunga in July 1787 is a useful anchor for this phase. Jaipur and Marwar cooperated against Mahadji Scindia's Maratha pressure near the Lalsot-Dausa region. The battle is not to be read as the permanent end of Maratha influence; later bargaining and campaigns again changed the balance. Its exam value is different: it shows that Rajput resistance was possible when major houses coordinated their military response.

By the early nineteenth century many rulers wanted external protection from the Maratha-Pindari cycle, but protection came at a political cost. The East India Company used this insecurity to create a treaty system. Rajputana therefore moved from Mughal decline to Maratha pressure and then to British-supervised princely politics. This background helps explain why Rajasthan entered independence not as one British province, but as many princely states and British-controlled pockets.