Aspirant Academy

History

Key Points at a Glance

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

Paper I · Unit 1 Section 1 of 14 0 PYQs 51 min
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Key Points at a Glance

  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. 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. 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. Bijolia Peasant Movement

    • 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. Begun Movement

    • 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. Govind Guru and the Bhil Movement

    • Founded Samp Sabha: 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"

  7. Motilal Tejawat and the Eki Movement

    • Launched: 1921 among Bhils of Udaipur, Dungarpur, and Banswara
    • 21-point charter: Mataji ki Araj
    • Key demands: abolition of begar and forest levies

  8. Praja Mandals

    • 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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