19th-20th Century: 1857 Revolt, Peasant and Tribal Movements, Political Awakening, Integration

Key Points at a Glance

1. 1

   First Sepoy Revolt in Rajputana

   • Erupted at Nasirabad: 28 May 1857
   • Followed by Neemuch: 3 June 1857
   • Then Erinpura: 21 August 1857
   • Then Kotah contingent revolt: October 1857
2. 2

   Rajputana Princes — Loyalty to British

   • Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner: loyal under 1817–18 Subsidiary Alliance treaties
   • Their own hired sepoys revolted while rulers aided British suppression
3. 3

   Thakur Kushal Singh of Awwa — 1857 Resistance

   • Led the only significant armed resistance in Rajputana
   • Battle of Chetwas: 8 September 1857 — rebel victory
   • British Political Agent Captain Mason killed in the battle
   • Kushal Singh tried after capture but acquitted for lack of direct evidence
4. 4

   Bijolia Peasant Movement (बिजोलिया किसान आंदोलन)

   • Period: 1897–1941 — India's longest peasant agitation
   • Location: Bijolia jagir, present Bhilwara district (Mewar)
   • Vijay Singh Pathik documented 84 illegal cesses from 1916 onward
   • Three phases: Sadhu Sitaram Das → Vijay Singh Pathik → Manikya Lal Verma
5. 5

   Begun Movement (बेगूँ किसान आंदोलन)

   • Period: 1921–23 | Location: Chittorgarh district (Mewar)
   • Leader: Ramnarayan Chaudhary (NOT Vijay Singh Pathik)
   • Gomenda firing: 13 July 1923 — two peasants killed: Roopaji and Kripaji
6. 6

   Govind Guru and the Bhil Movement

   • Founded Samp Sabha (सम्प सभा): 1883
   • Led Bhil reform-resistance movement across Banswara and Dungarpur
   • Mangarh Hill massacre: 17 November 1913 — approximately 1,500 tribals killed
   • Event termed "Adivasi Jallianwala Bagh" (आदिवासी जलियाँवाला बाग)
7. 7

   Motilal Tejawat and the Eki Movement (एकी आंदोलन)

   • Launched: 1921 among Bhils of Udaipur, Dungarpur, and Banswara
   • 21-point charter: Mataji ki Araj (माताजी की अरज)
   • Key demands: abolition of begar and forest levies
8. 8

   Praja Mandals (प्रजा मंडल)

   • Began at Jaipur: 1931
   • Spread to 8 states by 1939
   • Jamnalal Bajaj financed Jaipur Praja Mandal's early phase
   • Demanded responsible government in princely states
9. 9

   Jaipur Praja Mandal and Quit India Movement (1942)

   • Adopted cautious stance toward Quit India (August 1942)
   • Prioritised responsible government dialogue over direct action
   • Launched "Jeevan Kuti" constructive programme instead
   • Drew criticism from Congress nationalists
10. 10

    Integration of Rajputana — Six Stages

    • 22 princely states integrated into India: 18 March 1948 – 1 November 1956
    • Stage 1 (Matsya Union): 18 March 1948
    • Stage 4 (Greater Rajasthan): inaugurated 30 March 1949
11. 11

    Sirohi's Merger — The Abu Complication

    • Sirohi merged with Rajasthan: 26 January 1950
    • Abu and Delwara tehsils provisionally assigned to Bombay
    • States Reorganisation Act, 1956: Abu remained with Bombay; remaining Sirohi with Rajasthan
12. 12

    Ajmer-Merwara Merger — Final Territorial Form

    • Status: Chief Commissioner's Province (not a princely state)
    • Merged with Rajasthan: 1 November 1956 under States Reorganisation Act, 1956
    • Gave Rajasthan its present territorial form: 342,239 sq km
13. 13

    Hiralal Shastri and Privy Purse Abolition

    • Hiralal Shastri: first Chief Minister of Rajasthan — 7 April 1949
    • Privy purses guaranteed under original Article 291 of the Constitution
    • Abolished by: 26th Constitutional Amendment, 1971