The Indian public was tyrannized by the bureaucracy. Besides, the tyranny of the feudal, the jagirdars and the rulers were in no way less than the cruelty of the British rule. The heavy taxes at three levels, the lag-bag and the back – breaking forced labour had made the lives of the peasant class miserable.
When the Congress demanded a responsible government in the states of the kings and the nawabs, the national movement took a new turn. The Congress declared to give the Indian states full help in establishing fully responsible government in their states. So, praja mandals were established to give a responsible administration to the people.
Following were the purposes of establishing Praja Mandals:
1. In the administration, public representative should be included.
2. Local self government should be fully entrusted to the people.
3. In the state, freedom of speech, freedom of making an organization and freedom of writing should be given.
4. There should be no ban on holding a satyagraha.
5. The imprisoned fighters of freedom and political prisoners should be released without any terms and conditions.
6. Freedom should be given to unfurl the national flag and to enchant the national anthem.
The praja mandals established in Rajasthan are as follows:
Marwar Praja Mandal was established in Jodhpur state in 1934. Its purpose was to establish a responsible government under the guardianship of the Maharaja. It was declared illegal, in 1937, and in May 1938, Marwar Public Conncil was established.
The political institutions of Marwar carried out many movements for the establishment of responsible rule in the state in 1932, 1940, 1942 – 44. The chief leader of Marwar Praja Mandal and Marwar Public Council was Jai Narayan Vyas. In Bikaner, for the first time, Magharam Vaidya established the Praja Madal in 1936. But Maharaja Ganga Singh banished Magharam Vaidya for six years to nip the newly – formed Praja Mandal.
Later, Raghuvar Dayal established the Praja Mandal in 1942. Other important members of Praja Mandal were Kumbha Ram Arya and Deen Dayal Acharya. In Udaipur, Praja Mandal was established in 1938 under the presidentship of Balwant Singh Mehta. Its prime Minister was Manikyalal Verma. In Jaipur state, for the first time, in 1931,Praja Mandal came into existence by the efforts of Kapoor Chand Patni.
Later, in 1937, with the inspiration of Jamnalal Bajaj, it was re – organized. Under the presidentship of Jamna Lai Bajaj, the first annual session of Praja Mandal was held at Jaipur. The state of Jaisalmer was the center of autocratic feudalism. In jail, Sagarmal Gopa was subjected to untold tortures and tyranny (1941 – 46), Meethalala Vyas established Jaisalmer State Praja Mandal at Jodhpur in 1945.
In Alwar, Praja Mandal was established by the joint efforts of Hari Narayan Sharma and Kunj Bihari Lai Modi.
In Bharatpur state, in December 1938, Praja Mandal was established. Its chief leaders were Gopilal Yadav, Thakur Desraj, Master Adityendra and Rajbahadur etc. Bhogilal Pandya established the Praja Mandal in Dungarpur in January, 1944.
In Sirohi State, Gokul Bhai Bhatt established the Praja Mandal in January, 1939. Bundi (1944), Dholpur (1938),Karanli (1939) Praja Mandals were established at these places. The establishment of the Praja Mandal in Rajasthan led to the establishment of responsible integrated government in the state of Rajasthan, merger of the state into one Rajasthan and its ultimate merger in India.
