Rajasthan unification’s 4th stage, Greater Rajasthan Construction. With the merger of Mewar, the rest native states merger became easy and certain. In Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer states the process about merger and unification grew faster. Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer states, the process about had boundaries with the Pakistan border from where the fear of aggression remained.
From the perspective of transportation and communication facilities, this region was very backward and their development was beyond the economic capacity of these states. The leader of Samajwadi Party, Dr. Jai Prakash Narayan on 9th November 1948 AD in a public meeting demanded the construction of Greater Rajasthan without delay.
On the All India Level, ‘Rajasthan Movement Committee’ was formed and the president Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia demanded unification of Rajasthan. The Secretary of Province department, Shri V. P. Menon started talks with related rulers. On 11th January 1949, he went to Jaipur and talked to Jaipur Maharaj.
Jaipur Maharaja after much hesitation and pursuation was prepared for Greater Rajasthan but the condition was laid that Jaipur king be made the hereditary Royal King of Greater Rajasthan and Jaipur be made the capital of Rajasthan. Shri Menon after much negotiation on the conditions of merger gave his acceptanace.
On 14th January 1949, Sardar Patel in an ordinary gathering in Udaipur declared the formation of Greater Rajasthan’. The Maharaja of Mewar was declared lifetime ‘Maharaj Pramukh’ or ‘Royal King’. The ruler of Jaipur ‘Raj Pramukh’or Head King’, rulers of Jodhpur and Kota Senior Vice Head King and the rulers of Bundi and Dungarpur Junior Vice Head King, Head King and his council of ministers was placed in symbolic control of central government.
Head King had to sign on new amalgamation letter and accept treaty and concurrent list as per the stipulations of the Constituent Assembly. Sardar Patel inaugurated the new organised unit on 30th March 1949 that is celebrated as Rajasthan Day in present form.
Shri Hiralal Shastri took charge of leadership on 4th April 1949 AD in which Shri Sidhraj (Jaipur), Prem Narain Mathur (Udaipur), Bhure Lal Bhaya (Udaipur), Phool Chand Bapana (Jodhpur), Narsingh Kachwaha (Jodhpur), Rao Raja Hanumant Singh (Jodhpur), Raghuwar Dayal Goyal (Bikaner) and Vedpal Tyagi (Kota) were included.
Jaipur ruler received Rs. 18 lacks, Jodhpur ruler Rs. 17.5 lacks, Bikaner ruler Rs. 15 lacks, Jaisalmer ruler Rs. 2.8 lacs in the form of privy purse. Jaipur was declared as capital and to maintain the importance of large cities, some government offices of state level i.e., High Court in Jodhpur, education department in Bikaner, mining department or mineral department in Udaipur and agriculture department in Bharatpur were established.
The Fifth Stage in the unification of Rajasthan: The merger of Matsya organisation in Greater Rajasthan – During the formation of Matsya organisation the four state rulers of Matsya organisation had made it clear that in future this organisation would be merged either with Rajasthan or Uttar Pradesh.
Though Matsya organisation was working in, independent form but government was gripped in financial problems. The agitation of Mevs was a question before the governient. Bharatpur Farmer Assembly and Citizen Assembly had undertaken anti – government movement that was at its peak. Bharatpur Farmer Assembly demanded a seperate identity for Bharatpur and Dholpur by the name Brij state.
The hope became known that Matsya Organisation’s division need not happen. For this, a meeting was called on 10th May 1949 AD in Delhi. The point to be viewed was whether the state would merge with close by Uttar Pradesh or with Rajasthan. Where Alwar and Karoli were in favour of merger with Rajasthan, Bharatpur and Dholpur desired to merge with Uttar Pradesh.
For the solution of the problem a committee was formed under Shri Shankar Rao Dev’s presidentship a committee was formed. According to the recommendation of the committee, the public opinion of Bharatpur and – Dholpur was in favour of merger in Rajasthan.
On 15th May 1948 AD, Matsya Organisation joined Rajasthan. Pt. Hira Lal Shastri became the Prime Minister of Rajasthan and Shri Shoba Ram Shastri as the Prime Minister of Matsya organisation were included in the ministry. In this manner, Matsya organisation became a part of Rajasthan.
