The Prajamandal Movement and the Native States’ People’s Councils in Rajasthan are an important topic in the history of Rajasthan. The Prajamandal Movement’s significance, the major Prajamandals in Rajasthan (such as Jaipur, Marwar, Mewar, Bharatpur, Kota, etc.), and the key institutions established during the independence movement are studied. This movement strengthened public awareness, political consciousness, and the demand for responsible governance in the native princely states. This topic is helpful in understanding Rajasthan’s role in the freedom struggle.
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Prajamandal Movement in Rajasthan and Princely State People’s Council
All India States People’s Conference (AISPC)
- Establishment – 1927 AD
- Place of Establishment – Bombay (Mumbai)
- President – Diwan Ramachandra Rao
- Vice-President – Vijay Singh Pathik
- Secretary of Rajputana and Central India – Ramnarayan Chaudhary
Rajputana Deshi Rajya Lok Parishad
- Establishment – 1928 AD
- First Session – 1931 AD, Ajmer
- President of the First Session – Ramnarayan Chaudhary
Haripura Session (1938) –
- In the Haripura session of 1938, the Congress gave support to the Prajamandal movement.
- In 1938, Subhash Chandra Bose was the President of the Congress.
Importance of the Prajamandal Movement in Rajasthan
- Political Importance –
- Establishment of responsible government
- Development of political consciousness
- National unity was strengthened
- Monarchy ended, democracy established
- Peaceful integration of Rajasthan
- Social Importance –
- Social evils decreased
- Eradication of untouchability
- Women empowerment
- Spread of education
- Opposition to civic inequality
- Economic Importance –
- Promotion of indigenous (Swadeshi) goods
- Support to peasant movements
- Farmer’s right over the land
- End of Jagirdari and Begar (forced labour) systems
Major Prajamandals of Rajasthan
Jaipur Prajamandal
- Establishment: 1931 AD
- Founder: Kapurchand Patni
- Princely State: Jaipur
- Reorganization (1936-37): By Jamnalal Bajaj
- President (1936-37): Chiranjilal Mishra
- Secretary (1936-37): Hiralal Shastri
- 1936: Supported Shekhawati Farmer Movement
- 5 April 1931: Motilal Day celebrated in Jaipur
- First Session:
- Date: 8–9 May 1938
- Location: Nathmal ka Katla
- President: Jamnalal Bajaj
- 10 May 1938: Kasturba Gandhi addressed the women’s assembly
- Jaipur State banned Prajamandal; Satyagraha held against ban; Jamnalal Bajaj arrested
Gentlemen’s Agreement (17 Sept 1942):
- Agreement between: Mirza Ismail (PM, Jaipur) and Hiralal Shastri
- Conditions:
- Establishment of responsible government
- Will not help the British
- Will not arrest rebels
- Permission for peaceful movement
- Prajamandal will not participate in Quit India Movement
- Jaipur Road: MI Road (Named after Mirza Ismail)
- Azad Morcha:
- Formation: Led by Baba Harishchandra
- Participated in Quit India Movement
- Other Leaders: Ramkaran Joshi, Daulatmal Bhandari, Gulabchand Kasliwal
- 1945: Merged with Jaipur Prajamandal
- Devi Shankar Tiwari:
- 1943: Published ‘Lokwani’ newspaper
- Became President of Jaipur Prajamandal
- 1946: Became Minister of Jaipur State
- First non-government Minister of Rajasthan
Bundi Prajamandal
- Establishment: 1931 AD
- Founders: Nityanand, Kantilal, Rishidutt Mehta
- Rajasthan Newspaper:
- Started: 1923 AD, Beawar
- Weekly paper
- Published news of Hadoti region
- Bundi Deshi Rajya Lok Parishad:
- Rishidutt Mehta’s organization
Marwar Prajamandal
- Establishment: 1934 AD
- President: Bhanwarlal Saraf
- 1918: Marudhar Hitkarini Sabha – Chandmal Surana
- 1923: Reorganized by Jai Narayan Vyas
- 1920: Establishment of Marwar Seva Sangh
- 1932: Chhaganraj Chopasniwala hoisted the Tricolor in Jodhpur
- Weight (Taul) Movement:
- Reason: Reducing 1 Seer from 100 Tolas to 80 Tolas
Marwar Deshi Rajya Lok Parishad:
- Establishment: 1929 AD
- Founder: Jai Narayan Vyas
- Leaders: Jai Narayan Vyas, Anandraj Surana, Bhanwarlal Saraf
First Session:
- Year: 1931
- Location: Pushkar (Ajmer)
- President: Chandkaran Sharda
- Participants: Manilal Kothari, Kaka Kalelkar, Kasturba Gandhi
Marwar Youth League:
- Establishment: 10 May 1931
- Founder: Jai Narayan Vyas
- Later Name: Bal Bharat Sabha
- Krishna Day (1936, Bombay): Observed against the Krishna abduction case
- Education Day (1936, Jodhpur): Against the increase in school fees
- Jai Narayan Vyas: Special Facts
- 1936: General Secretary of All India States Peoples’ Conference
- Ban: Entry into Jodhpur was prohibited
- Quit India Movement: Under house arrest in Siwana Fort
- Books: Marwar ki Avastha
- Popabai ki Pol
- March se Sangharsh Kyon?
- Newspapers:
- Akhand Bharat: Hindi (Bombay)
- Peep: English (Delhi)
- Tarun Rajasthan: Hindi (Beawar)
- Aangibaan: Rajasthani (Beawar) – First Rajasthani political paper
- Key Incidents:
- Chandawal Incident (Pali): 28 March 1942 – Lathicharge on farmers’ meeting
- Dabda Case (Nagaur): 13 March 1947
- Martyrs: Motiram, Chunnilal
- Injured: Mathuradas Mathur
- Vijayalakshmi Pandit:
- Visited Jodhpur in 1938 with Subhash Chandra Bose
Hadoti Prajamandal
- Establishment: 1934 AD
- Founders: Nayunuram Sharma, Haji Faiz Mohammed
- Movement: Anti-Begar (forced labor) movement
Bikaner Prajamandal
- Establishment: 1936 AD, Calcutta (Kolkata)
- Founders: Vaidya Magharam, Laxmi Devi Acharya, Mukta Prasad, Raghubar Dayal Goyal
- 26 October 1944: Bikaner Anti-Repression Day
- 1 July 1946: Raisinghnagar Firing Incident; Martyr: Birbal
- Birbal Branch: A branch of the Indira Gandhi Canal in Jaisalmer
- Sarvahitkarini Sabha (1907, Churu):
- Founders: Kanhiyalal Dhoondh, Swami Gopaldas
- Institutions: Kabir Pathshala, Putri Pathshala
- 26 January 1930: Hoisted the Tricolor in Churu
- Bikaner Conspiracy Case (1932):
- Arrested: Swami Gopaldas, Chandanmal Bahad, Satyanarayan Saraf, Khubaram Saraf
- Farmer Movements in Bikaner State:
- Udrasar (1937): Leader – Jivanram
- Mahajan (1938)
- Dudhwa Khara (1944): Leader – Hanuman Singh Arya
- Kangar (1946): Leader – Megh Singh Arya
- Gang Canal (1930–31): Leaders – Darbar Singh, Kartar Singh
- Abiana: Irrigation Tax
Dholpur Prajamandal
- Establishment: 1936 AD
- Founders: Jwala Prasad Jigyasu, Krishnadutt Paliwal
- Tasimo Incident: 11 April 1947
- Martyrs: Pancham Singh, Chhattar Singh
Mewar Prajamandal (1938)
- President: Balwant Singh Mehta
- Vice President: Bhurelal Baya
- General Secretary: Manikya Lal Verma
- Place of Establishment: Sahitya Kutir (Udaipur)
- First Satyagrahi: Ramesh Chandra Vyas
- Sarada Fort: Known as the “Kala Pani” of Mewar
- First Session (1941):
- Location: Udaipur
- President: Manikya Lal Verma
- 7th All India States Peoples’ Conference (1946):
- Location: Saletia Ground
- President: Jawaharlal Nehru
Shahpura Prajamandal (1938)
- Founders: Laduram Vyas, Ramesh Chandra Ojha
- Achievement: First responsible government in Rajasthan
- Prime Minister: Gokul Lal Asava
Alwar Prajamandal (1938)
- Founder: Hari Narayan Sharma
- Note: Did not participate in the Quit India Movement
- First Session (1944):
- President: Bhawani Shankar Sharma
Bharatpur Prajamandal (1938)
- Establishment: Rewari
- President: Gopilal Yadav
- Jugal Kishore Chaturvedi: Known as the “Nehru of Rajasthan”
- Newspaper: Vaibhav
- Japan Day: 16–17 August 1945
- Indonesia Day: 28 October 1945
Karauli Prajamandal (1938)
- Founders: Trilokchand Mathur, Chiranjilal Verma, Kunwar Madan Singh
Kota Prajamandal (1939)
- Founders: Nayunuram Sharma, Abhin Hari, Tansukh Lal Mittal
- First Session: 1939, Mangrol
- Second Session: 1940, Kota
Kishangarh Prajamandal (1939)
- Founders: Kanti Lal Chauthani, Jamal Shah
Sirohi Prajamandal (1939)
- Founders: Gokulbhai Bhatt, Vriddhishankar
- Gokulbhai Bhatt: Known as the “Gandhi of Rajasthan”
- Established in: Bombay (Mumbai)
Kushalgarh Prajamandal (1942)
- Founder: Bhanwarlal Nigam
Banswara Prajamandal (1943)
- Founders: Manishankar Nagar, Dhulji Bhai Bhavsar, Bhupendranath Trivedi
- Vijaya Bahin Bhavsar: Established the Mahila Mandal (Women’s Wing)
Dungarpur Prajamandal (1 August 1944)
- Founders: Bhogilal Pandya, Haridev Joshi, Gaurishankar Upadhyay
- Bhogilal Pandya: Known as the “Gandhi of Vagad”
- Rastapal Incident (19 June 1947):
- Martyrs: Nana Bhai, Kalibai
- Kalibai Award: Given for girls’ education
Jaisalmer Prajamandal (1945)
- Founder: Mithalal Vyas
- Established in: Jodhpur
Pratapgarh Prajamandal (1945)
- Founders: Amritlal Payak, Chunnilal Prabhakar, Thakkar Bapa
Jhalawar Prajamandal (1946)
- Founders: Mangilal Bhavya, Maqbool Alam, Kanhiyalal Mittal, Ratanlal
- Ruler: Rajrana Harishchandra
- Achievement: Responsible government established
Other Important Facts
- Ashok Gehlot: Known as the “Gandhi of Marwar.”
- Haridev Joshi: The only leader who served as Chief Minister → Governor → and Chief Minister again.
Major Prajamandals of Rajasthan
| Prajamandal | Year | Founder / Key Leader | Special Facts |
| Jaipur Prajamandal | 1931 | Kapur Chand Patni | Reorganized in 1936–37 by Jamnalal Bajaj. |
| Bundi Prajamandal | 1931 | Nityanand, Kantilal, Rishidutt Mehta | “Rajasthan” Newspaper (1923). |
| Hadoti Prajamandal | 1934 | Pt. Nayanuram Sharma | Anti-forced labor (Begar) movement. |
| Marwar Prajamandal | 1934 | Jai Narayan Vyas | Famous for the “Taul” (Weight) movement. |
| Sirohi Prajamandal | 1939 | Gokulbhai Bhatt | Gokulbhai is known as the “Gandhi of Rajasthan.” |
| Bikaner Prajamandal | 1936 | Magharam Vaidya | 1944 – Anti-Repression Day observed. |
| Kota Prajamandal | 1939 | Nayanuram Sharma | First session held at Mangrol. |
| Mewar Prajamandal | 1938 | Manikya Lal Verma | Sarada Fort known as the “Kala Pani of Mewar.” |
| Alwar Prajamandal | 1938 | Harinarayan Sharma | Did not participate in the Quit India Movement. |
| Bharatpur Prajamandal | 1938 | Gopilal Yadav | Jugal Kishore known as “Nehru of Rajasthan.” |
| Shahpura Prajamandal | 1938 | Ladhuram Vyas | First to establish responsible governance. |
| Dholpur Prajamandal | 1938 | Jwala Prasad Jigyasu | Tasimo Incident – 1947. |
| Karauli Prajamandal | 1938 | Trilok Chand Mathur | — |
| Kishangarh Prajamandal | 1939 | Kantilal Chauthani | — |
| Kushalgarh Prajamandal | 1942 | Bhanwarlal Nigam | — |
| Dungarpur Prajamandal | 1944 | Bhogilal Pandya | Known as the “Gandhi of Vagad.” |
| Banswara Prajamandal | 1943 | Bhupendranath Trivedi | Women’s wing led by Vijaya Behen. |
| Jaisalmer Prajamandal | 1945 | Mithalal Vyas | Established in Jodhpur. |
| Pratapgarh Prajamandal | 1945 | Amritlal Payak | — |
| Jhalawar Prajamandal | 1946 | Mangilal Bhavya | Implemented responsible governance. |
Major Organizations Established in Rajasthan (Freedom Movement Era)
| Organization | Year | Location | Founder / Related Person |
| Jain Shiksha Pracharak Samiti | 1905 | Jaipur | Arjun Lal Sethi |
| Abhinav Bharat Samiti | 1907 | Jaipur | Arjun Lal Sethi, Gopal Singh, Kesari Singh |
| Sarvahitkarini Sabha | 1907 | Churu (Vrind) | Kanhaiya Lal Dhund, Swami Gopal Das |
| Vardhman Vidyalaya | 1907 | Jaipur | Arjun Lal Sethi |
| Achar Sudharini Sabha | 1910 | Dholpur | Yamuna Prasad Sharma |
| Veer Bharat Sabha | 1910 | Ajmer | Kesari Singh Barhath, Gopal Singh |
| Marudhara Hitkarini Sabha | 1915 | Jodhpur | Jai Narayan Vyas & Bhanwar Lal |
| Rajputana Madhya Bharat Sabha | 1918 | Delhi | Jamnalal Bajaj & Vijay Singh Pathik |
| Rajasthan Seva Sangh | 1919 | Wardha (later Beawar/Ajmer) | Vijay Singh Pathik |
| Rajput Seva Sangh | 1920 | Jodhpur | Jai Narayan Vyas |
| Amar Seva Samiti | 1922 | Chirawa | Pt. Pyare Lal Gupta |
| Harijanoddhar Sabha | 1925 | Kota | Nand Lal Sharma |
| All India States Peoples’ Conference | 1927 | Mumbai (Bombay) | Bahadur Ramachandra Rao |
| Rajputana Deshi Rajya Lok Parishad | 1928 | Ajmer | Vijay Singh Pathik, Ramnarayan Chaudhary |
| Nagrik Pracharini Sabha | 1934 | Dholpur | Jwala Prasad Jigyasu |
| Untouchability Eradication Union | 1923 | Alwar | Hari Narayan Sharma |
| Rajasthan Charkha Sangh | 1925 | Ajmer | Jamnalal Bajaj |
| Khadi Ashram | 1934 | Dungarpur | Manikya Lal Verma |
| Rajasthan Sevak Mandal | 1935 | — | Bhogilal Pandya |
| Rajasthan Seva Mandal | 1935 | — | Bhogilal Pandya |
| Dungarpur Seva Sangh | 1938 | Dungarpur | Bhogilal Pandya |
