Chapter 4: The Flame of Awakening - Political Awakening in Rajasthan
Chapter 4: The Flame of Awakening - Political Awakening in Rajasthan
Exam relevance: RPSC / RSSB / REET / Board Exam
SECTION 2: Core Idea
The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought a wave of social, religious and political awakening to Rajasthan. It laid the foundations for the Prajamandal movement and the freedom struggle. Freedom fighters faced a dual struggle: against oppression by jagirdars and feudal rulers, and against British rule.
Key terms: Arya Samaj, Rajasthan Seva Sangh, Hadoti Seva Sangh, Marwar Seva Sangh, public awakening, newspapers.
Question frequency varies by examination and year.
SECTION 3: DISTRICT-WISE CONTRIBUTION
| District | Contribution | Key person | Year | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajmer | Spread of Arya Samaj and reform activities | Swami Dayanand Saraswati | Nineteenth century | Ajmer |
| Jaipur | Jaipur Prajamandal and newspapers | Kapurchand Patni | 1931 | Jaipur |
| Ajmer | Headquarters of Rajasthan Seva Sangh | Vijay Singh Pathik | 1920 | Ajmer |
| Udaipur | Mewar Prajamandal | Manikyalal Verma | 1938 | Udaipur |
| Kota | Hadoti Seva Sangh and Kota Prajamandal | Pandit Nayanuram Sharma | 1939 | Kota |
| Jodhpur | Marwar Seva Sangh and Marwar Lok Parishad | Jaynarayan Vyas | 1934 | Jodhpur |
| Bikaner | Bikaner Prajamandal | Magharam Vaidya | 1936 | Bikaner |
| Sikar | Peasant movement | Kunwar Panne Singh | 1923 | Sikar |
| Alwar | Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association conference | Pandit Harinarayan Sharma | 1944 | Alwar |
| Bundi | Bundi Prajamandal | Kantilal Jain | 1931 | Bundi |
| Kishangarh | Kishangarh Prajamandal | Kantilal Chauthani and Jamal Shah | 1939 | Kishangarh |
SECTION 4: Origin / Introduction
- Meaning of public awakening: Development of political, social and educational awareness among the people.
- Main causes: British rule, the spread of Arya Samaj, newspapers and expanding education.
- Major organizations: Arya Samaj (1875), Rajasthan Seva Sangh (1919), Marwar Seva Sangh (1920) and Hadoti Seva Sangh.
- Major newspapers: Rajasthan Samachar, Tarun Rajasthan, Naveen Rajasthan, Lokvani and Prajamitra.
- Impact: Prajamandal movements, peasant movements and the freedom struggle.
Background of the Prajamandal Movement
The All India States Peoples' Conference was founded in Bombay in 1927. At the Congress Haripura session in 1938, a resolution supported the freedom struggle conducted by the people of the princely states. This gave moral support to Prajamandal movements in Rajasthan.
SECTION 5: Key Persons and Years
| Person | Birth year | Role | Major contribution | Starting year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swami Dayanand Saraswati | 1824 | Founder of Arya Samaj | Founded Arya Samaj in Bombay | 1875 |
| Vijay Singh Pathik | 1882 | Peasant leader | Establishment of Rajasthan Seva Sangh | 1919 |
| Manikyalal Verma | 1887 | Prajamandal leader | Establishment of Mewar Prajamandal (24 April 1938) | 1938 |
| Pandit Nayanuram Sharma | 1896 | Social reformer | Public awakening in Kota and Hadoti Seva Sangh | 1920s |
| Jaynarayan Vyas | 1899 | Political leader | Marwar Lok Parishad (16 May 1938) | 1934 |
| Kunwar Panne Singh | - | Peasant leader | Sikar peasant movement | 1923 |
| Chandmal Surana | - | Social worker | Establishment of Marwar Seva Sangh | 1920 |
| Kapurchand Patni | - | Prajamandal leader | Founder of Jaipur Prajamandal | 1931 |
| Balwant Singh Mehta | - | Prajamandal leader | Co-founder of Mewar Prajamandal | 1938 |
| Magharam Vaidya | - | Prajamandal leader | Bikaner Prajamandal (4 October 1936) | 1936 |
SECTION 6: Key Places and Institutions
| Place / Institution | District / Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Arya Samaj | Bombay (foundation); Ajmer (spread) | Founded in 1875; contributed to social awakening in Rajasthan |
| Rajasthan Seva Sangh | Wardha; later Ajmer | Founded in 1919; moved to Ajmer in 1920 |
| Marwar Seva Sangh | Jodhpur | Established in 1920 by Chandmal Surana |
| Marwar Lok Parishad | Jodhpur | Established on 16 May 1938 |
| Hadoti Seva Sangh | Kota | Established by Pandit Nayanuram Sharma |
| Mewar Prajamandal | Udaipur | Established on 24 April 1938 |
| Bikaner Prajamandal | Bikaner | Established on 4 October 1936 |
| Kishangarh Prajamandal | Kishangarh | Established in 1939 |
| Bundi Prajamandal | Bundi | Established in 1931 |
| Lokvani | Jaipur | Published from 1943; described as the first Hindi daily of the princely states |
SECTION 7: Important Dates - Timeline
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1875 | Establishment of Arya Samaj in Bombay | By Swami Dayanand |
| 1919 | Establishment of Rajasthan Seva Sangh | Vijay Singh Pathik; Wardha; moved to Ajmer in 1920 |
| 1920 | Establishment of Marwar Seva Sangh | Chandmal Surana |
| 1923 | Sikar peasant movement | Kunwar Panne Singh |
| 1927 | All India States Peoples' Conference | Established in Bombay |
| 1931 | Establishment of Jaipur Prajamandal | Kapurchand Patni |
| 1934 | Establishment of Marwar Prajamandal | Jaynarayan Vyas |
| 1936 | Establishment of Bikaner Prajamandal | Magharam Vaidya |
| 24 April 1938 | Establishment of Mewar Prajamandal | Manikyalal Verma and Balwant Singh Mehta |
| 16 May 1938 | Establishment of Marwar Lok Parishad | Jaynarayan Vyas |
| 1939 | Establishment of Kota State Prajamandal | Pandit Nayanuram Sharma |
| 1939 | Establishment of Kishangarh Prajamandal | Kantilal Chauthani and Jamal Shah |
| 1943 | Publication of Lokvani | Hindi newspaper from Jaipur |
| 1944 | Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association conference | Alwar |
| 1947 | Independence | Culmination of political awakening |
SECTION 8: Practice Questions
Q1. Who founded Rajasthan Seva Sangh?
Answer: Vijay Singh Pathik Explanation: Rajasthan Seva Sangh was founded in Wardha in 1919 and moved to Ajmer in 1920.
Q2. Where was Arya Samaj founded?
Answer: Bombay Explanation: Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875.
Q3. Who was associated with the founding of Marwar Lok Parishad?
Answer: Jaynarayan Vyas Explanation: Marwar Lok Parishad was founded in Jodhpur on 16 May 1938.
Q4. Who founded Mewar Prajamandal?
Answer: Manikyalal Verma Explanation: Manikyalal Verma and Balwant Singh Mehta established Mewar Prajamandal on 24 April 1938.
Q5. Who founded Bikaner Prajamandal?
Answer: Magharam Vaidya Explanation: Bikaner Prajamandal was established on 4 October 1936.
SECTION 9: Quick Revision
| Topic | Recall point |
|---|---|
| Arya Samaj | 1875, Bombay, Swami Dayanand |
| Rajasthan Seva Sangh | 1919, Wardha; Ajmer from 1920; Vijay Singh Pathik |
| Marwar Seva Sangh | 1920, Jodhpur, Chandmal Surana |
| Marwar Lok Parishad | 1938, Jodhpur, Jaynarayan Vyas |
| Mewar Prajamandal | 1938, Udaipur, Manikyalal Verma |
| Bikaner Prajamandal | 1936, Bikaner, Magharam Vaidya |
| Kota Prajamandal | 1939, Kota, Nayanuram Sharma |
| Lokvani | 1943, Jaipur, Hindi daily |
SECTION 10: EXTRA EXAM NOTES
Memory aids:
- "Arya - Rajasthan - Marwar - Lokvani" identifies the main organizations and newspaper.
- 1875 = Arya Samaj (Bombay).
- 1920 = Marwar Seva Sangh (Jodhpur).
- 1919 = Rajasthan Seva Sangh (Wardha; Ajmer from 1920).
- 1938 = Mewar Prajamandal (Udaipur).
Commonly confused facts:
- Arya Samaj (1875) and Brahmo Samaj (1828) are different organizations.
- Rajasthan Seva Sangh (1919) and Marwar Seva Sangh (1920) are distinct.
- Marwar Prajamandal (1934) and Marwar Lok Parishad (1938) are distinct.
- Lokvani (1943) and Prajamitra are different newspapers.
Locations on the map:
- Ajmer (central): Spread of Arya Samaj.
- Ajmer (central): Headquarters of Rajasthan Seva Sangh.
- Jodhpur (west): Marwar Seva Sangh and Marwar Lok Parishad.
- Udaipur (south): Mewar Prajamandal.
- Jaipur (central): Jaipur Prajamandal and Lokvani.
- Kota (southeast): Kota Prajamandal.