In this guide
In British India, the national movement had a clear target: colonial rule. In the princely states of Rajputana, the situation was more complicated. The people were ruled by their own princes, who in turn were bound to the British. Demands for civil liberties, responsible government and an end to feudal exploitation had to be made to the rulers — who often responded with bans, arrests and exile. Out of this double struggle emerged the Praja Mandals ("people's associations"), the main vehicle of political awakening in Rajasthan.
The revolutionaries
Before the Praja Mandals, a group of revolutionaries in Rajasthan linked the region to the wider armed struggle.
| Figure | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Arjun Lal Sethi (Jaipur) | Founded the Vardhman Vidyalaya in Jaipur (1907), which trained young revolutionaries |
| Kesari Singh Barhath (Shahpura) | Poet and revolutionary; author of Chetavani ra Chungatya (1903); imprisoned for revolutionary activity |
| Pratap Singh Barhath | Son of Kesari Singh; involved in the attempt on Viceroy Hardinge (1912); died in Bareilly jail (1918) after refusing to betray his comrades |
| Rao Gopal Singh Kharwa (Kharwa, Ajmer) | Revolutionary linked with Ras Behari Bose's plans for an armed uprising in 1915 |
| Vijay Singh Pathik | Revolutionary who went on to lead the Bijolia peasant movement |
Early organisations
- Rajputana Madhya Bharat Sabha (founded in 1918, linked with the Congress) — worked for the people of the princely states of Rajputana and Central India.
- Rajasthan Seva Sangh (1919, founded at Wardha by Vijay Singh Pathik and others; later moved to Ajmer) — supported peasant movements such as Bijolia and Begun.
- All India States Peoples' Conference (1927) — a national forum for people of all princely states.
The Haripura turning point (1938)
At first, the Indian National Congress kept a distance from agitation within the princely states. At its Haripura session in 1938, the Congress resolved that people in the states should form their own organisations to fight for responsible government. This encouraged the formation of Praja Mandals across Rajasthan.
The major Praja Mandals
| State | Organisation | Year (founded / revived) | Key leaders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaipur | Jaipur Praja Mandal | 1931; revived 1936 | Kapoor Chand Patni; Jamnalal Bajaj (president, 1938); Hiralal Shastri |
| Marwar (Jodhpur) | Marwar Hitkarini Sabha; Marwar Lok Parishad (1938) | 1920s–1938 | Jai Narayan Vyas |
| Mewar (Udaipur) | Mewar Praja Mandal | 1938 | Manikyalal Verma, Balwant Singh Mehta |
| Bikaner | Bikaner Praja Mandal | 1936 (founded in Kolkata) | Maghram Vaidya |
| Kota | Hadoti Praja Mandal (1934); Kota Rajya Praja Mandal (1939) | 1934, 1939 | Nainuram Sharma, Abhinna Hari |
| Bharatpur | Bharatpur Praja Mandal | 1938 | Kishanlal Joshi, Gopilal Yadav |
| Alwar | Alwar Praja Mandal | 1938 | Harinarayan Sharma |
| Dungarpur | Dungarpur Praja Mandal | 1944 | Bhogilal Pandya |
| Banswara, Pratapgarh, Sirohi, Shahpura, Karauli, Dholpur, Jaisalmer, Kishangarh | Praja Mandals formed in the late 1930s and 1940s | — | Local leaders |
What the Praja Mandals demanded
- Civil liberties — freedom of speech, press and association.
- Responsible government — elected assemblies and ministers accountable to the people.
- An end to begar, excessive cesses and feudal exploitation.
- Social reform — education, the rights of Dalits and women.
Rulers frequently responded with bans, arrests and exile of leaders. Yet by the 1940s, several states had begun to concede elected assemblies or popular ministries.
Quit India in the states (1942)
During the Quit India movement, Praja Mandals in several states held protests and strikes. In Mewar, the Praja Mandal demanded that the Maharana break with the British; in Jaipur, the Praja Mandal's position was more cautious, which led to a split and the formation of the Azad Morcha. Students and workers joined protests in many towns.
Sagarmal Gopa
In Jaisalmer, a state that suppressed political activity severely, Sagarmal Gopa campaigned against the ruler's repression. He was imprisoned and died in 1946 after being set on fire in jail — an event that drew national outrage. He is remembered as one of Rajasthan's martyrs.
From Praja Mandals to integration
After independence in 1947, the Praja Mandal leaders played a central role in the integration of the princely states into Rajasthan and in its first governments — Hiralal Shastri became the first Prime Minister (Chief Minister) of Greater Rajasthan in 1949, and Manikyalal Verma and Jai Narayan Vyas were among its leading politicians (see our post on integration).
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Who founded the Vardhman Vidyalaya in Jaipur?
- At which Congress session (1938) was support given to movements in the princely states?
- Who led the Marwar Lok Parishad?
- Where was the Bikaner Praja Mandal founded?
- In which state was Sagarmal Gopa martyred?
Mains-style (50 words): What were the aims of the Praja Mandals?
Mains-style (100 words): "The people of the princely states fought a double struggle." Discuss with reference to Rajasthan.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
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