Prajamandal Movements in Rajasthan
The Voice of the People: Prajamandal Movements in Rajasthan
Exam relevance: RPSC / RSSB / REET / State Competitive Exams
SECTION 2: Core Idea
The Prajamandal movement was a major vehicle for political awakening and the demand for responsible government in Rajasthan. These organizations mobilized the people of the princely states to raise their voices against British-supported rulers.
Key terms: Responsible government, public awakening, Princely States Workers' Association, Lokvani
Question frequency varies by examination and year.
SECTION 3: DISTRICT-WISE CONTRIBUTION
| District | Contribution | Key person | Year | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaipur | Establishment of Jaipur Prajamandal | Kapurchand Patni | 1931/1936 | Jaipur |
| Udaipur | Mewar Prajamandal, Bhil reform work | Manikyalal Verma, Balwant Singh Mehta | 1938/1941 | Udaipur |
| Bhilwara | Bhil Seva Ashram, peasant-Bhil unity | Thakkar Bapa | 1940s | Bhilwara |
| Chittorgarh | Schools for Bhil children | Prajamandal workers | 1945 | Magra region |
| Alwar | Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association | Workers' conference | 1944 | Alwar/Govindgarh |
| Kota | Joined the Rajasthan Union | Maharao of Kota | 1948 | Kota |
| Sikar | Participation in public awakening | Local workers | 1930s-40s | Sikar |
SECTION 4: Origin / Introduction
- Prajamandal means "an organization of the people".
- Objectives: Establishing responsible government in princely states and protecting civil rights.
- Beginnings: Small organizations in the 1920s developed into a widespread movement in the 1930s and 1940s.
- Major source: The Prajamandal newspaper Lokvani, published from Jaipur from 1938.
- First Hindi daily: Lokvani is described as "the first Hindi daily of the princely states".
SECTION 5: Key Persons and Years
| Person | Birth year | Role | Major contribution | Starting year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapurchand Patni | - | Founder of Jaipur Prajamandal | Public awakening and organization | 1931 |
| Manikyalal Verma | 1887 | Mewar Prajamandal leader | Bijolia movement and Bhil reform | 1930s |
| Balwant Singh Mehta | - | Patron of Bhil Vidyapeeth | Bhil awakening | 1940s |
| Bhurelal Baya | - | Prajamandal worker | Work in Bhil areas | 1944 |
| Parasram Goyal | - | Udaipur Prajamandal worker | Organizing the Bhils | 1940s |
| Jamnalal Bajaj | 1889 | Support for the peasant movement | Leadership of the Bijolia movement | 1920s-30s |
| Hiralal Shastri | - | Publisher of Lokvani | Journalism | 1938 |
SECTION 6: Key Places and Institutions
| Place / Institution | District | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Magra region | Chittorgarh/Udaipur | Bhil schools (12 schools by 1945) |
| Bhilwara | Bhilwara | Hostels for peasants and Bhil Seva Ashram |
| Udaipur | Udaipur | Hostel for Bhils and Mewar Industries |
| Bijolia | Bhilwara | Peasant hostel |
| Rikabdev | Udaipur | Branch of Mewar Industries |
| Alwar | Alwar | Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association conference (December 1944) |
| Govindgarh | Alwar | Workers' conference |
SECTION 7: Important Dates - Timeline
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Establishment of Jaipur Prajamandal | Initial organization |
| 1936 | Reorganization of Jaipur Prajamandal | Presidential leadership of Chiranjeelal Mishra |
| 1938 | Establishment of Mewar Prajamandal | In Udaipur |
| 1938 | Publication of Lokvani | First Hindi daily of the princely states (Jaipur) |
| 1941 | First annual session of Mewar Prajamandal | Attendance of Vijayalakshmi Pandit |
| 1944 | Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association conference in Alwar | Development of a provincial organization |
| 1944 | Establishment of Bhil schools | 12 schools in Magra, Chittor and Bhilwara |
| 1945 | Establishment of Bhil Vidyapeeth | Balwant Singh Mehta as patron |
| 1947 | Announcement of the Mewar Constitution | Draft prepared by K. M. Munshi |
| 1948 | Bhil Uplift Committee | On Thakkar Bapa's advice |
| 1948 | Backward Classes Welfare Department | Established after independence |
Other Princely States and the National Context
| State / Organization | Year | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Jaipur / Azad Morcha | 1942 | Baba Harishchandra |
| Marwar | 1934 | Jaynarayan Vyas; first president Bhanwarlal Saraf |
| Bikaner | 1936 | Magharam Vaidya; established in Calcutta |
| Bundi | 1931 | Kantilal |
| Kishangarh | 1939 | Kantilal Chauthani and Jamal Shah |
| Jhalawar | 1946 | Mangilal Bhavya, Kanhaiyalal Mittal, Maqbool Alam |
| Jaisalmer | 1945 | Mithalal Vyas; established in Jodhpur |
| Bharatpur | 1938 | Jugal Kishore Chaturvedi and Kishanlal Joshi |
| Dungarpur | 1944 | Bhogilal Pandya, Gandhi of Vagad |
| Sirohi | 1939 | Gokulbhai Bhatt |
| Banswara | 1945 | Bhupendranath Trivedi |
| Dholpur | — | Krishna Dutt Paliwal |
| Shahpura | — | Ramesh Chandra Ojha |
National context: The All India States Peoples’ Conference was founded in 1927. The 1938 Haripura resolution belonged to the Indian National Congress.
Peasant movement connection: Rawat Anup Singh of Begun was imprisoned in Udaipur; this episode belongs to the peasant movement.
SECTION 8: Practice Questions
Q1. Who attended the first annual session of Mewar Prajamandal?
Answer: Vijayalakshmi Pandit
Explanation: Vijayalakshmi Pandit attended the session held in Udaipur in 1941, where the Bhils gave her a guard of honour.
Q2. From where was the newspaper Lokvani published?
Answer: Jaipur
Explanation: Published from Jaipur from 1938, it is considered the first Hindi daily of the princely states.
Q3. What was Thakkar Bapa's contribution to Bhil reform associated with?
Answer: Service and uplift of the Bhils
Explanation: The Bhil Uplift Committee was formed on his advice in 1948; Prajamandal opened schools and hostels for the Bhils.
Q4. Where was the Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association conference held in December 1944?
Answer: Alwar
Explanation: The conference took place in Alwar in December 1944 and formulated a common political approach for the province.
Q5. How many schools had Mewar Prajamandal opened for the Bhils, according to the 1945 report?
Answer: 12
Explanation: According to the 1945 report, 12 schools were opened in the Magra, Chittor and Bhilwara divisions.
SECTION 9: Quick Revision
| Topic | Recall point |
|---|---|
| Meaning of Prajamandal | Organization of the people; demand for responsible government |
| Major newspaper | Lokvani (Jaipur, 1938) |
| Mewar Prajamandal | 1938, Udaipur, Manikyalal Verma |
| Bhil reform | 12 schools (1945), Bhil Vidyapeeth |
| Provincial organization | Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association (1944, Alwar) |
SECTION 10: EXTRA EXAM NOTES
Memory aids:
- "Lokvani = the voice of Jaipur" - Published from 1938; the first Hindi daily of the princely states.
- "Bhils + Prajamandal = 12 schools" - Magra, Chittor and Bhilwara.
- "Thakkar Bapa = service to the Bhils" - Bhil Uplift Committee, 1948.
Commonly confused facts:
- Jaipur Prajamandal (1931/1936) and Mewar Prajamandal (1938) were distinct organizations.
- Vijayalakshmi Pandit attended the Mewar Prajamandal session in 1941, not the Jaipur session.
- There were 12 Bhil schools in 1945, not 1948.
Locations on the map:
- Jaipur (north-central): Lokvani and Prajamandal.
- Udaipur (south): Mewar Prajamandal and Bhil Vidyapeeth.
- Bhilwara (central): Bhil service and peasant hostel.
- Alwar (northeast): Princely States Workers' Association conference.
SECTION 11: SECTION-WISE MCQs (Minimum 30)
Section 3 (District-wise) - 5 MCQs
1. Who founded Jaipur Prajamandal? A) Manikyalal Verma B) Kapurchand Patni ✅ C) Jamnalal Bajaj D) Hiralal Shastri
Explanation: Kapurchand Patni founded Jaipur Prajamandal in 1931.
2. Which district was the main centre of Mewar Prajamandal? A) Jaipur B) Bhilwara C) Udaipur ✅ D) Alwar
Explanation: Mewar Prajamandal was active in Udaipur.
3. In which areas had 12 schools for Bhil children been opened by 1945? A) Jaipur, Alwar and Kota B) Magra, Chittor and Bhilwara ✅ C) Udaipur, Dungarpur and Banswara D) Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer
Explanation: Prajamandal opened 12 schools in the Magra, Chittor and Bhilwara divisions.
4. Where was the Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association conference held in December 1944? A) Jaipur B) Udaipur C) Alwar ✅ D) Kota
Explanation: The conference was held in Alwar in December 1944.
5. Who was the patron of Bhil Vidyapeeth? A) Manikyalal Verma B) Balwant Singh Mehta ✅ C) Thakkar Bapa D) Bhurelal Baya
Explanation: Balwant Singh Mehta was the patron of Bhil Vidyapeeth.
Section 4 (Origin) - 5 MCQs
6. What is the literal meaning of Prajamandal? A) Organization of the king B) Organization of the people ✅ C) Government organization D) Military organization
Explanation: Prajamandal means an organization of the people.
7. What was the main objective of the Prajamandal movement? A) Establishment of responsible government ✅ B) Support for British rule C) Promotion of the jagirdari system D) Religious reform
Explanation: Prajamandals sought responsible government and the protection of civil rights.
8. When did Lokvani begin publication? A) 1930 B) 1935 C) 1938 ✅ D) 1942
Explanation: Lokvani was published from Jaipur from 1938.
9. What is Lokvani known as? A) The first English daily B) The first Hindi daily of the princely states ✅ C) The first weekly D) The first monthly
Explanation: Lokvani is considered the first Hindi daily of the princely states.
10. What is a major source for the Prajamandal movement? A) English newspapers B) Lokvani ✅ C) Royal court records D) Sanskrit texts
Explanation: Lokvani was a major medium for spreading the Prajamandal message.
Section 5 (Key Persons) - 5 MCQs
11. When was Manikyalal Verma born? A) 1880 B) 1887 ✅ C) 1890 D) 1900
Explanation: Manikyalal Verma was born in 1887.
12. In which year was Captain Durgaprasad Chaudhary born? A) 1900 B) 1903 ✅ C) 1910 D) 1915
Explanation: Captain Durgaprasad Chaudhary was born in 1903.
13. What was Jamnalal Bajaj's contribution to the Prajamandal movement? A) Establishing Bhil schools B) Leading the Bijolia movement ✅ C) Editing Lokvani D) Establishing Bhil Vidyapeeth
Explanation: Jamnalal Bajaj led the Bijolia peasant movement.
14. With which Prajamandal was Bhurelal Baya associated? A) Jaipur B) Alwar C) Udaipur ✅ D) Kota
Explanation: Bhurelal Baya was a worker of Udaipur Prajamandal.
15. What was Hiralal Shastri's connection with Lokvani? A) Publisher ✅ B) Editor C) Correspondent D) Printer
Explanation: Hiralal Shastri was the publisher of Lokvani.
Section 6 (Places) - 5 MCQs
16. Where was the peasant hostel for the Bhils opened? A) Udaipur B) Bijolia ✅ C) Jaipur D) Alwar
Explanation: A hostel for peasants was opened in Bijolia.
17. Where was the branch of Mewar Industries located? A) Bhilwara B) Rikabdev ✅ C) Chittorgarh D) Jaipur
Explanation: Mewar Industries of Udaipur had a branch in Rikabdev.
18. What took place in Govindgarh? A) Establishment of a Bhil school B) Workers' conference ✅ C) Establishment of a Prajamandal D) Peasant movement
Explanation: A conference of workers from Rajasthan and Central India was held in Govindgarh.
19. In which district was a hostel opened for the Bhils? A) Chittorgarh B) Bhilwara ✅ C) Udaipur D) Dungarpur
Explanation: A hostel for the Bhils was opened in Bhilwara.
20. In which district is the Magra region located? A) Udaipur B) Bhilwara C) Chittorgarh ✅ D) Banswara
Explanation: The Magra region lies in the Chittorgarh/Udaipur area.
Section 7 (Timeline) - 5 MCQs
21. When was Jaipur Prajamandal established? A) 1928 B) 1931 ✅ C) 1936 D) 1940
Explanation: Jaipur Prajamandal was established in 1931.
22. When was Mewar Prajamandal established? A) 1935 B) 1938 ✅ C) 1941 D) 1945
Explanation: Mewar Prajamandal was established in Udaipur in 1938.
23. When was the first annual session of Mewar Prajamandal held? A) 1938 B) 1939 C) 1941 ✅ D) 1944
Explanation: The first annual session was held in 1941.
24. When was the Bhil Uplift Committee formed? A) 1945 B) 1947 C) 1948 ✅ D) 1950
Explanation: The Bhil Uplift Committee was formed in 1948 on Thakkar Bapa's advice.
25. When was the Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association conference held? A) 1942 B) 1943 C) 1944 ✅ D) 1945
Explanation: The conference was held in Alwar in December 1944.
Section 8 (Practice) - 5 MCQs
26. To whom did the Bhils give a guard of honour at the Mewar Prajamandal session? A) Manikyalal Verma B) Vijayalakshmi Pandit ✅ C) Thakkar Bapa D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: The Bhils gave Vijayalakshmi Pandit a guard of honour in 1941.
27. What was the purpose of establishing Bhil Vidyapeeth? A) Awakening among the Bhils ✅ B) Helping peasants C) Trade D) Military recruitment
Explanation: Bhil Vidyapeeth was established to promote awakening among the Bhils.
28. With whose inspiration and support did the publication of Lokvani begin? A) Gandhiji B) Seth Jamnalal Bajaj ✅ C) Thakkar Bapa D) Manikyalal Verma
Explanation: Lokvani was published from Jaipur in 1938 through the efforts and support of Seth Jamnalal Bajaj. Seth Bajaj passed away in 1942, so describing it as founded "in his memory" is factually incorrect.
29. When did the Backward Classes Welfare Department come into existence? A) 1948 ✅ B) 1947 C) 1950 D) 1952
Explanation: The Backward Classes Welfare Department was established in 1948.
30. Under what name did Prajamandal workers open a shop? A) Bhil Seva B) Mewar Industries ✅ C) Rajasthan Handicrafts D) Jan Seva
Explanation: The shop was opened under the name Mewar Industries.
Additional MCQs (Match / Assertion / Chronology) - 3 MCQs
31. Match the following:
| Place | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1. Alwar | A. Lokvani |
| 2. Jaipur | B. Princely States Workers' Association conference |
| 3. Bhilwara | C. Bhil hostel |
A) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C B) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C ✅ C) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A D) 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
Explanation: Alwar - conference; Jaipur - Lokvani; Bhilwara - Bhil hostel.
32. Choose the correct chronological order:
- Establishment of Jaipur Prajamandal
- Establishment of Mewar Prajamandal
- Publication of Lokvani
- Rajputana conference
A) 1, 2, 3, 4 ✅ B) 1, 3, 2, 4 C) 3, 1, 2, 4 D) 1, 2, 4, 3
Explanation: 1931 (Jaipur) → 1938 (Mewar) → 1938 (Lokvani) → 1944 (conference).
33. Assertion (A): Prajamandal opened schools for the Bhils. Reason (R): The aim was to involve the Bhils in political awakening.
A) A is false; R is true B) A is true; R is false C) Both A and R are true, and R explains A ✅ D) Both A and R are false
Explanation: The purpose of the Bhil schools was to spread political awakening.
Supplementary Practice - Other States and National Context
34. With which Prajamandal was Azad Morcha associated? A) Mewar B) Kota C) Jaipur ✅ D) Bundi
Explanation: Azad Morcha belonged to the Jaipur movement. Led by Baba Harishchandra in 1942, it supported active participation in the Quit India movement.
35. When was Kishangarh Prajamandal established? A) 1934 B) 1936 C) 1938 D) 1939 ✅
Explanation: Kishangarh Prajamandal was established in 1939. Kantilal Chauthani and Jamal Shah were its principal founders.
36. Who was the principal founder of Marwar Prajamandal? A) Magharam Vaidya B) Jaynarayan Vyas ✅ C) Kantilal D) Mangilal Bhavya
Explanation: Marwar Prajamandal was formed in 1934 through the efforts of Jaynarayan Vyas. Bhanwarlal Saraf was its first president; distinguish it from Marwar Lok Parishad, formed in 1938.
37. Who founded Bikaner Prajamandal? A) Jaynarayan Vyas B) Magharam Vaidya ✅ C) Kantilal D) Jugal Kishore Chaturvedi
Explanation: Magharam Vaidya founded Bikaner Prajamandal in 1936. Established in Calcutta, the organization opposed autocratic rule in Bikaner.
38. When was Bundi Prajamandal established? A) 1928 B) 1931 ✅ C) 1934 D) 1936
Explanation: Bundi Prajamandal was established in 1931 under Kantilal. Distinguish this organization from the later Bundi State People’s Council.
39. When was Jhalawar Prajamandal established? A) 1942 B) 1944 C) 1946 ✅ D) 1948
Explanation: Jhalawar Prajamandal was established on 25 November 1946. Mangilal Bhavya, Kanhaiyalal Mittal and Maqbool Alam were its leading organizers.
40. Who founded Jaisalmer Prajamandal? A) Sagarmal Gopa B) Mithalal Vyas ✅ C) Bhogilal Pandya D) Gokulbhai Bhatt
Explanation: Mithalal Vyas established Jaisalmer Prajamandal in December 1945. It was founded in Jodhpur because of repression in Jaisalmer.
41. Who was among the principal leaders of Bharatpur Prajamandal? A) Jaynarayan Vyas B) Jugal Kishore Chaturvedi ✅ C) Magharam Vaidya D) Kantilal Chauthani
Explanation: Jugal Kishore Chaturvedi was a prominent Bharatpur Prajamandal leader. Kishanlal Joshi also played a role in organizing it in 1938; leadership and organizational roles should not be reduced to an undisputed sole-founder claim.
42. Which Dungarpur Prajamandal leader was known as the Gandhi of Vagad? A) Manikyalal Verma B) Bhogilal Pandya ✅ C) Gokulbhai Bhatt D) Jaynarayan Vyas
Explanation: Bhogilal Pandya was known as the Gandhi of Vagad. He was associated with Dungarpur Prajamandal, founded in 1944, and with tribal education and public awakening.
43. Where did the Mewar government imprison Rawat Anup Singh of Begun? A) Bikaner B) Jaipur C) Udaipur ✅ D) Jodhpur
Explanation: Rawat Anup Singh was imprisoned in Udaipur. This belongs to the Begun peasant movement and should not be confused with the founding of a Prajamandal.
44. With which Prajamandal was Gokulbhai Bhatt associated? A) Sirohi ✅ B) Kishangarh C) Bikaner D) Jhalawar
Explanation: Gokulbhai Bhatt was a leading figure of Sirohi Prajamandal. Remember the association of Sirohi, its 1939 organization and Bhatt.
45. The 1938 Haripura resolution concerning freedom for the people of princely states belonged to which organization’s session? A) Indian National Congress ✅ B) All India States Peoples' Conference foundation session (1927) C) Muslim League D) Jaipur Prajamandal
Explanation: Haripura 1938 was a session of the Indian National Congress, in which the freedom of the people of the princely states was recognized as part of the national objective. Congress recognized princely states as an integral part of India; do not identify it as a States Peoples' Conference session.
SECTION 12: PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH EXPLANATION
Q1. Who founded Jaipur Prajamandal?
Answer: Kapurchand Patni
Explanation: Kapurchand Patni founded it in 1931; Jamnalal Bajaj and Hiralal Shastri were associated with its later organizational expansion.
Q2. When did the newspaper Lokvani begin?
Answer: 1938
Explanation: Published from Jaipur in 1938, it was the first Hindi daily of the princely states.
Q3. Who was the patron of Bhil Vidyapeeth?
Answer: Balwant Singh Mehta
Explanation: Bhil Vidyapeeth was created to promote awakening among the Bhils.
Q4. Who attended the Mewar Prajamandal session?
Answer: Vijayalakshmi Pandit
Explanation: At the first annual session in 1941, the Bhils gave her a guard of honour.
Q5. Where was the Rajputana Princely States Workers' Association conference held?
Answer: Alwar
Explanation: The provincial conference was held in Alwar in December 1944.