Today’s history: Rajasthan was formed 73 years ago, it took 8 years 7 months 14 days to unite 22 princely states of Rajputana

Today is Rajasthan Day. On this day in the year 1949, Rajasthan was formed by merging 22 princely states. It is the largest state in the country in terms of area, while it is the seventh largest state in terms of population. Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, was settled by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

Rajasthan shares its western borders with Pakistan. Before independence, Rajasthan was known as Rajputana. There were 19 princely states and 3 bases in the whole of Rajputana. After the integration of these princely states and bases, Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949. The integration of these princely states was completed in seven phases. In this it took about 8 years 7 months 14 days.

At the time of India’s independence, it was being thought that making Rajasthan a province of independent India and merging the then part of Rajputana with India would be a difficult task. With the declaration of independence, there was a competition among the chiefs of the princely states of Rajputana to retain their power in the independent state as well.

Out of the 22 princely states and bases here, except one princely state Ajmer Merwara province, all were ruled by native kings and princes. The Ajmer-Merwara province was occupied by the British. Due to this, it would have come directly into independent India, but the remaining 21 princely states were to be merged to form ‘Rajasthan’.

The rulers of these princely states were demanding that they have been running the rule of their states for years, they have experience of this, due to this their princely state should be given the status of ‘independent state’. The book Freedom at Midnight by Collins and Dominic Lapierre also mentions the inclination of princely states like Jodhpur and Jaisalmer towards Pakistan. The book describes in detail the meeting of the kings of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer with Jinnah.

According to the book, Jinnah had offered both the kings to join Pakistan by giving them blank paper and writing their conditions. Ramachandra Guha in his book India After Gandhi has also mentioned Jodhpur’s desire to go with Pakistan. However, this could not happen due to the strategy of the then Indian princely state and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his secretary VP Menon. The process of unification of Rajasthan which started on 18 March 1948 was completed on 1 November 1956 in total seven phases.

Satyajit Ray honored with Oscar Lifetime Achievement

Filmmaker Satyajit Ray was awarded the Oscar Life Time Achievement Honorary Award on 30 March 1992. He was also awarded the Bharat Ratna in the same year. Satyajit Ray’s memorable films, who made a total of 37 films, included Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Apur Sansar and Charulata.

US President Ronald Reagan attacked

On this day in 1981, US President Ronald Reagan was assassinated in Washington. Just 69 days earlier, the assailant fired six shots at Reagan, who became president. The attack was inspired by Judy Foster’s film ‘Taxi Driver’ by a madman named John Hinckley Jr. About a month after the attack, President Reagan returned to work. He completed both his terms. Earlier, Abraham Lincoln, James Gardfield, William McNally and John Kennedy were also attacked as presidents, but all of them did not survive.

Other important events of 30 March in the country and the world –

2006: Anti-Terrorism Act came into force in Britain.

2005: Noted cartoonist and writer Ovi Vijayan passed away.

2003: Sri Guru Singh Sabha in London opened for Gurudwara Sangat. Thousands of people attended the ceremony. It was said to be the largest Gurudwara in the world outside India.

2002: Elizabeth-I, the mother of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth-II, has died at the age of 101.

2002: Renowned lyricist Anand Bakshi passed away. He wrote songs in films like Bobby, Amar Prem, Aradhana, Mera Gaon Mera Desh Se Mohabbatein, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Yaadein.

1997: Congress withdrew support to the 10-month-old HD Deve Gowda government at the Centre. After this, the Government of India changed for the third time in a year.

1982: NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia returned to Earth after completing the STS-3 mission.

1919: Mahatma Gandhi announced his opposition to the Rowlatt Act.