Greater Rajasthan to Unification

Many big Rajputana States are merged with the USR, a union of smaller Rajputana states, on its road to becoming the Rajasthan state as we know it today.

Map of Rajputana; Source: Public Domain

Before Independence, there was no Rajasthan. There was rather, Rajputana. And it was not even united. 22 princely states both small and big, as well as enclaves of British control constituted what amounted to be the future Rajasthani state. In 1947, a State Secretariat would be formed, to coordinate all these regions and advise them on policy from the side of the Indian government - and this contained representatives from the 19 Princely states and 3 Thikanas (chiefdoms) of Rajasthan.

There were 7 stages that these princely states would be united through. In 1948, the states of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli would be formed into the Matsya Union. The Second stage came the same year, and united Banswara, Bundi, Dungarpur, Kishangarh, Jhalawar, Pratapgarh, Shahpura, Tonk and Kota into the Rajasthan Union. Udaipur joined the Rajasthan Union, forming the 3rd stage - the United States of Rajasthan (USR).

All these states had been relatively small, and were now in a position to be as big as the big states in the region. And then came, on the 30th of March 1949, the Fourth and most important stage, where the USR was joined with the largest states of Rajputana - Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Jodphur. ‘Greater Rajasthan’ was thus formed.

Arguably, the unification of these states proceeded smoothly, thanks to the efforts of ministers and the rajahs creating no difficulty for any special rights or regulations. Nevertheless, it was a tiring and complex process, and for the first time since the history of Rajputana was it peacefully united by its own accord (albeit with the Government of India playing a key role.)

The fifth stage was the joining of the Matsya Union, later in May, and the Sixth and Seventh stages would join Abu and Delwara, and the states reorganization act of 1956. This gave Rajasthan as we know it today.