Rajasthan Day

Rajastan Day

Maharana Bhupal Singh saw Mewar through the period up to and including Indian independence from British rule. His signature on the Instrument of Accession, ceding Mewar to the Union of India, encouraged the other large Rajput states (Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer) to follow suit. As a result, the state of Rajasthan was created and its formation is commemorated on Rajasthan Day.

Numerous photographs portray Maharana Bhupal Singh with the popular leaders and influential political figures of his time. There are formal group photographs taken during deliberations amongst the Rajput rulers on the future of their states, as well as more relaxed, spontaneous images that show the Maharana with the various distinguished visitors who came to Udaipur. The visits continued after independence, with Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar at the helm.

Timeline of the formation of the state of Rajasthan 

4th November 1946: Discussions on the merger of the twenty two princely states of Rajasthan into the Union of India begin.  

15th August 1947: India gains independence from British rule.  

18th April 1948: In the presence of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of free India, the Instrument of Accession was signed at The Durbar Hall, Fateh Praksh Palace, Udaipur; first among the other rulers by Maharana Bhupal Singh, by which Mewar joins the Union of India. Maharana Bhupal Singh was honoured as  the ‘Raj - Pramukh’ (Governor) of the State of Rajasthan and Udaipur was the Capital city.   

14th January 1949: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, visits Udaipur to express his gratitude to Maharana Bhupal Singh for his assistance in the formation of the state of Rajasthan.  

30th March 1949: The new state of Rajasthan is formed after the other large princely states, following Mewar’s lead, sign the Instrument of Accession. The capital  of Rajasthan was then shifted to Jaipur and Maharaja Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur was appointed as the Raj-Pramukh of Rajasthan and Maharana Bhupal Singh was elevated to the post of Maharaj-Pramukh for his life time.

Hence, 30th March is celebrated as Rajasthan Day.