Integration of Rajputana: Six Stages

Framework and Key Actors

On 15 August 1947, India became independent, but Rajputana's 22 princely states (covering ~342,239 sq km, population ~1.60 crore) were technically independent — they had signed no instrument of accession. The Indian Independence Act, 1947 made each state legally free to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent (subject to geographic and strategic realities).

The integration was led by:

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for States; overall political strategist
• V.P. Menon: Secretary, Ministry of States; administrative architect who personally negotiated with most rulers

Strategy: Diplomatic persuasion + financial inducements (privy purses, personal privileges, retention of property) + geographic logic (landlocked states had no viable independence) + implicit political pressure (Patel's warning that reluctant states could not expect protection from internal unrest).

Instrument of Accession: Each state signed this legal document (under the Indian Independence Act, 1947), surrendering control over defence, foreign affairs, and communications to India while retaining internal governance initially.

Stage 1 — Matsya Union (18 March 1948)

States: Alwar, Bharatpur, Dhaulpur, and Karauli
Area: 12,437 sq km | Population: ~8.8 lakh | Capital: Alwar

These four states were geographically contiguous and surrounded by British India territories. Integration was strategically straightforward. Note: Alwar's Maharaja Tej Singh had been removed from power by the Centre in 1947 following evidence of communal violence during Partition; the state was under central administration before formal merger.

Stage 2 — Rajasthan Union (25 March 1948)

States: Banswara, Bundi, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Kishangarh, Kota, Pratapgarh, Shahpura, and Tonk (9 states)
Area: 16,879 sq km | Capital: Kota | Rajpramukh: Maharao Bhim Singh of Kota

Stage 3 — United State of Rajasthan / Mewar Merger (18 April 1948)

Udaipur (Mewar) joined the Rajasthan Union. This was the diplomatically pivotal stage — Maharana Bhupal Singh of Udaipur held the title "Sunrise of the Hindus" and was the most senior Rajput ruler in Rajputana by the traditional hierarchy. Securing his accession legitimised the entire process for hesitant smaller rulers. He became senior Rajpramukh; Maharao Bhim Singh of Kota became junior Rajpramukh. Capital shifted to Udaipur.

Stage 4 — Greater Rajasthan (30 March 1949)

States: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer (the four largest states in Rajputana)
Area added: ~190,000 sq km

This was the most critical and difficult stage:

• Jaipur's Man Singh II: Agreed after negotiations; became Rajpramukh of the unified entity
• Jodhpur's Hanwant Singh: Explored the possibility of accession to Pakistan (he had preliminary discussions with Jinnah). V.P. Menon made direct personal interventions, emphasising geographic impossibility and political consequences. Hanwant Singh finally signed. He died in an air crash on 26 January 1952 (Republic Day) under circumstances that remained controversial
• Bikaner's Sadul Singh: Agreed relatively easily
• Jaisalmer's Giridhar Singh: His state was economically non-viable; accession was straightforward

On 30 March 1949, Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated Rajasthan as a named entity. The date 30 March became institutionalised as Rajasthan Day, celebrated annually.

Stage 5 — Matsya Union Merger (15 May 1949)

The Matsya Union (Alwar, Bharatpur, Dhaulpur, Karauli — which had functioned separately since March 1948) merged into Greater Rajasthan. After merger, Jaipur became the confirmed capital of the unified state.

Stage 6 — Sirohi and Ajmer-Merwara (1950 and 1956)

Sirohi (26 January 1950): Sirohi state's Maharawal Sir Tej Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in December 1947. Sirohi formally merged with Rajasthan on 26 January 1950 (the day the Constitution came into force). However, Abu and Delwara tehsils — home to the Mount Abu hill station and important Jain pilgrimage sites — were provisionally assigned to Bombay state. This was due to lobbying by Jain religious bodies and Bombay commercial interests. Gokulbhai Bhatt had campaigned vigorously for Sirohi's merger with Rajasthan over Bombay.

Under the States Reorganisation Act 1956, Abu area was confirmed as part of Bombay; remaining Sirohi was fully confirmed as Rajasthan territory. Present-day Sirohi district is entirely in Rajasthan.

Ajmer-Merwara (1 November 1956): This was not a princely state but a Chief Commissioner's Province directly administered by British India. It therefore could not be merged through the Instrument of Accession route. It required separate legislative action. The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (based on the States Reorganisation Commission, 1955 report by S. Fazl Ali, K.M. Panikkar, H.N. Kunzru) merged Ajmer-Merwara with Rajasthan on 1 November 1956, giving Rajasthan its present territorial form.

Hyderabad and the Razakars — RPSC 2023

RPSC Mains 2023 asked: "The Razakars were the main obstacles to the accession of Hyderabad into Indian Union. Explain." Though Hyderabad is outside Rajasthan, this question appears in Unit 1 because the 1857 and integration syllabus items include all-India dimensions of princely state politics.

Razakars were a militant paramilitary organisation of the Hyderabad state, led by Qasim Razvi, affiliated with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). They sought to keep Hyderabad independent under the Nizam's rule and opposed accession to India. The Razakars conducted violence against the Hindu majority population of Hyderabad and against those who favoured accession. When India launched Operation Polo on 13–18 September 1948, the Indian Army entered Hyderabad, the Nizam surrendered, and Razakar resistance collapsed. The Razakars were disarmed and Qasim Razvi was arrested.

---