History

Praja Mandal Movement in Rajasthan

In 1927, the All India States People’s Conference was held in Bombay after which the congress allowed people from different Princely States to join the party and the Indian freedom Struggle. In 1927 itself, the Akhil Bhartiya Desi Rajya Lok Parishad or All India Native States Public Council was established in Bombay and Vijay Singh Pathik became its chairperson. In Rajasthan, Rajputana Desi Lok Parishad or Rajputana Native States Public Council was established. These councils laid the foundation for Praja Mandal movement in Rajasthan.

  1. The people of Praja Mandal fought against the Feudalism and colonialism.
    1. The people of Praja Mandal movement fought against their feudal princes and the British administration simultaneously for their rights.
    2. The main demand of the Praja Mandal movements was the democratic (fundamental) rights.
    3. The people of the Praja Mandal Movements implemented the constructive programmes of the Indian National Movement in their princely states.
    4. They established schools, used khadi, encouraged cottage industries and started agitation against the Untouchability.
Contribution of Praja Mandal:

The Praja Mandal movement not only created a political awakening among the people in the Indian States but also fought for their rights, their share in the government and their dynamic participation in the future political set up of the country. Other contributions included:

  • Improvement in Education
  • Rise of social equality
  • The most important contribution of these organisations was to break the insularity of the peasant movements by linking them with one another in different princely states, as well as with peasant movements in British India.