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in Rajasthan’s War of Independence and Unification by (67.5k points)

Explain în brief the activities of Praja Mandal in Mewar, Marwad and Bikaner?

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In 1938 AD in Congress’ Haripura.convention, Congress amended a proposal in which native provinces handled by people about independence struggle got support. This proposal of Congress that was passed gave moral support to the war of independence that ran in native provinces. Praja Mandals were established that demanded for responsible administration under control of native rulers.

Mewar Praja Mandal: In Rajasthan, the most respected or popular state was Mewar. After the Haripura Conference of Congress, Manohar Lal Verma and Balwant Singh Mehta on 24th April 1938 formed the Mewar Praja Mandal. On 11th May 1938 AD, this organisation was declared illegal and Vermaji was expelled.

Vermaji went to Ajmer and continued with the activities and published a book named Mewar’s present ruler’ that strongly criticised the ruler. In February 1939 when he came to Udaipur, he was made captive and beaten up. On 18th February 1939.

Gandhiji spoke about this incident taking a tough stand. Manikya Lal Verma was given imprisonment of two years. Later on in 1941 AD, the restriction on Praja Mandal was removed. As a result, its branches were established in all parts of state. On 25 – 26 November 1941 for the first time the convention was held under the leadership of Vermaji and to participate in it, Acharya Kriplani and Vijay Laxmi Pandit came to Udaipur.

In the convention, the demand for responsible ruler in Mewar was placed. Before the ‘Quit India Movement, Vermaji participated in the meet of province representatives from Bombay. On 21st August 1942 AD, Vermaji was arrested again. The entire Udaipur went on strike and arrests were made.

In the movement, students joined and the movement spread to Nathdwara, Bhilswara and Chittor. 1942 AD Movement in Rajasthan was different from the movements in other parts of the country. The leaders of this movement believed the movement to be of ‘All India Level’.

The change in perspective of Indian policies led Praja mandal leaders to leave and in 1945, the restrictions were lifted from it. To expand political awareness, Prabhat Pheri or early morning chanting while walking and rememberance on birthdays and the death days of leaders of national importance, began to be celebrated.

In 1946 AD, Maharana formed the ‘Constitutional Assembly, in which elected members of Praja Mandal also participated. In 1946, Verma called for the seventh convention of All India Nationalist State Public Council in Udaipur. The report was not accepted by Praja Mandal.

The new constitution was declared on 2nd March 1947 AD as unacceptable by Praja Mandal. Shri. K. M. Munshi drafted a new constitution in May 1947 that was also rejected. In this manner, the progressive religious revolt moved on.”Udaipur agreed to join in Indian confederation and joined democratic system.

Marwad Praja Mandal : The political activities had begun in 1918 AD in Jodhpur when Chandmal Surana founded the ‘Marwad Welfare Assembly’. In 1920 AD, Jai Narayan Vyas founded ‘Marwad Service Organisation’. In 1923 AD, Marwad Welfare Assembly tried to get rebirth.

On October 1929 AD, that Vyasji founded ‘Marwad Public Council’. From available activities, it is clear that the political consciousness adjustable propagation was more in Jodhpur, than in other areas. In 1934 AD, Jodhpur state founded Praja Mandal whose president was Bawar Lal Saraf. Its motive was to establish responsible government and secure the safety of citizens.

In 1936 AD, the organisation was declared unconstitutional. The Jodhpur unit of All India Nationalist State Public Council named as ‘Marwad State Public Council’ regulated the political activities in active form. Especially after Jodhpur Praja Mandal was declared unsuccessful, the public council kept the struggle intact for constitutional rights and responsible administration.

The council demanded the election to be held on regional basis rather than on of communal basis. In March 1940 AD after the council was declared illegal, the members concentrated on peaceful demonstrations. Their leaders like-Ranchor Dass Ghaini, Mathura Dass Mathur, Kanhaiya Lal, Indermal Jain, Anandraj Surana, Bawarlal Saraf focussed on making the council ideology popular.

There the government gave acceptance to the demands of political rights on a struggle between council and feudal lords. In 1942 AD, public council raised voice against the atrocities and worked for the responsible government. Vyasji disbanded attention on council and declared himself first convener and regulated ‘Quit India Movement in Jodhpur.

Main leaders were arrested and hunger strike was observed in which Bal Mukund Bina died. On 4 November 1947 AD the council celebrated legislative Assembly Revolt Day. In 1948 AD after signature on merger letter, the responsible government was formed.

Bikaner Praja Mandal : The initial leaders of Bikaner region were Kanhaiya Lal Phoondh and Swami Gopal Dass. They founded ‘All Welfare Assembly or “Sarva Hitkarini Sabha” at Churu. They opened ‘Daughter School’ or ‘Putri Pathsala’ to make people aware of their rights. Majaraja was doubtful towards this constructive work. He sensed a conspiracy and banned all activities.

When the Maharaja went to London in 1932 to participate in Round Table Conference, the pamphlets named ‘Bikaner a Mega Vision’ or ‘Bikaner Digdarshan’ were distributed in which the realistic suppressive policies were revealed. After he came back, he enforced the public safety law. Swami Gopal Dass, Chandal Mal Bahad, Satya Narayan Saraf were arrested under the pretext of ‘Bikaner Conspiracy Case’.

The opposition of this black law remained there. On 4th October 1936 main leaders we quickly exiled. These included Vakil Mukta Prasad, Magh Ram Vaid, Laxmi Dass etc. Raghuvar Dayal on 22nd July 1942 founded the Bikaner Praja Parishad whose purpose was to install a responsible government in the leadership of Maharaja. On 26th October 1944 AD ‘Bikaner anti – Suppressive Daywas celebrated.

This was the first public demonstration in state. The farmers of Dudhwahbhara started a movement against the oppression of the land lords with the support of Praja Parishad. In 1940, Press Act was passed and the press was banned. In the meantime, political activities rose and Maharaja announced the formation of a responsible rule.

On 30th June 1946, police opened fire on a conference of ‘Public Council’ being held in Rai Singh Nagar. Seeing the changed circumstances and the indications of power transfer, the office of public council was again re-established. In 1946, two committees were formed

1. Constitutional Committee 

2. Adult Franchise Committee

The report to be implemented was assured but no tangible action was taken and the demands of responsible government remained half done. On 16th March, 1948, a ministerial council was formed under the leadership of Jaswant Singh Dausar, which was rejected by the Praja Mandal and its ministers resigned. On 30th March 1939 with the formation of Greater Rajasthan state, Raghubar Dayal was included in the Ministerial Council of Hiralal Shastri:

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