Q.7 Describe the process of integration of Rajasthan as a multi-dimensional challenge.
राजस्थान के एकीकरण की प्रक्रिया को एक बहुआयामी चुनौती के रूप में वर्णित कीजिए।
Ans.
The Process of Integration of Rajasthan: A Multi-Dimensional Challenge
With India’s independence on August 15, 1947, the complex process of integrating Rajasthan’s 22 princely states and the British-administered territory of Ajmer-Merwara began. This was a multi-dimensional challenge involving a combination of political, social, geographical, and cultural factors.
Challenges:
- Political Challenges:
- Diversity of princely states: Rajasthan had princely states of varying sizes and strengths, each with its own aspirations and interests.
- Reluctance of rulers: Many rulers wanted to maintain their independence and were reluctant to merge with India. For example, the Maharana of Mewar and the Jagirdar class were not willing to merge into the union due to their glorious historical status.
- Competition between princely states: There was competition between the princely states for regional and political dominance, which complicated the integration process.
- Impact of partition: The communal riots that followed independence and partition also affected the integration process. The problem of the Mew caste in Alwar and Bharatpur resurfaced.
- Socio-Cultural Challenges:
- Cultural diversity: Rajasthan had diverse cultural and linguistic groups, which was a challenge to accommodate in a unified state.
- Caste and communal tensions: Caste and communal tensions also affected the integration process.
- Geographical Challenges:
- Vast area: Rajasthan’s vast geographical area and scattered princely states complicated the integration process.
- Border region: Bikaner, being a border state, was a very important region for India.
- Economic Challenges:
- Economic inequality of princely states: There was a wide variation in the economic condition of the princely states, which made it difficult to create a unified economic system.
- Income of princely states: The State Secretariat of the Government of India decided that only those princely states with an annual income of one crore rupees and a population of ten lakhs or more would be able to maintain their separate existence in independent India. According to this criterion, only Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur and Bikaner fulfilled this condition in Rajasthan.
Solutions:
- Role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a crucial role in the integration process. He played an important role in persuading the rulers of the princely states to merge.
- State Secretariat: The State Secretariat was formed on July 5, 1947 under the chairmanship of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. The State Secretariat wanted the merger or grouping of all small and big princely states.
- Phased integration: The integration of Rajasthan was completed in seven phases, which allowed for the gradual integration of various princely states.
Conclusion:
- The integration of Rajasthan was a historic achievement that transformed a diverse and complex region into a unified state.
- This process was fraught with many challenges, but was successfully completed through the efforts of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other leaders.
| Source: New RBSE : Class 12th : History : Page 162 |
| Keywords: Political aspirations, cultural identity, administrative viability, and security concerns. Examples: Jodhpur-Pakistan links, Mewar’s resistance, Matsya Union. |