Rajpramukh
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2021) |
Rajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Rajpramukhs were the appointed governors of certain Indian provinces and states.
Background
The
The hundreds of princely states varied greatly in size, from
After independence under the Dominion of India, 1947–1950
On 20 February 1947, the British government announced its intention to transfer power in British India to Indian hands by June 1948. However by 16 May 1947, the Cabinet Mission Plan had failed to evolve a constitution for India acceptable to all contending parties. Subsequently, the British government announced on 3 June 1947 its intention to partition British India into two dominions. On 15 July 1947, the House of Commons passed the Indian Independence Act 1947, to divide British India into the dominions of India and Pakistan. The House of Lords followed suit the next day. The Bill received the Royal assent on 18 July 1947. From this day the suzerainty of the British Crown over the Indian princely states lapsed as per 7(b) of the India Independence Act 1947, and with it all treaties between the British Crown and the Indian states also had a legal quietus. The rulers of the Indian States became sovereign rulers from 18 July 1947, and in principle they were free to accede to either of the two dominions or to remain independent. As per the provisions of the Act, on 15 August 1947 two independent dominions of India and Pakistan were established. The leaders in the Indian Independence movement put strong pressure on the Indian princes to accede their states to the Dominion of India. By 15 August 1947, virtually all of the rulers had signed an Instrument of Accession with the Governor-General of India, giving power to the dominion government to make laws on the three subjects of foreign policy, communication and defence, and otherwise they remained sovereign rulers. These rulers also signed another agreement known as the "Stand Still Agreement", to provide continuity to any existing agreements between British India and their States.
Three Indian states namely
In 1948 the Maharaja of
Rajpramukhs in the Republic of India, 1950–1956
In the intervening period the Dominion Government of India had set up a Constitution Assembly to formulate a new Constitution for India. Simultaneously each of the independent Indian rulers and Rajpramukhs of covenanting states had set up Constituent Assemblies for their respective states and also sent their representatives to the Constituent Assembly of India so as to make uniform laws for their respective states. The thinking among Indian leaders at that time was that each princely state or covenanting state would remain independent as a Federal state along the lines suggested originally by the 1935 Act. But as the drafting of the constitution progressed and the idea of forming a republic took concrete shape, it was decided that all the princely states/covenanting states would merge with the
As per Art.366 of the Indian Constitution (as it existed in 1950):
Art 366(21): Rajpramukh means-
(a) in relation to the State of Hyderabad, the person for the time being is recognised by the President as Nizam of Hyderabad.;
(b) in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir or the State of Mysore, the person who for the time being is recognised by the President as the Maharaja of that State;
and
(c) in relation to any other State specified in Part B of the First Schedule, the person who for the time being is recognised by the President as the Rajpramukh of that State, and includes in relation to any of the said States any person for the time being recognised by the President as competent to exercise Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), and Rajasthan.
Governing Rajpramukhs, 1948–1956
- Maharaja of Kapurthala, as the Uprajpramukh (Deputy Rajpramukh).
- United State of Kathiawar(Saurashtra) in 1948, was installed as Uprajpramukh (Deputy Rajpramukh) and he served as Acting Rajpramukh during the absence of the Rajpramukh.
- Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur (b. 1919 -d. 1974) as Rajpramukh. He continued as governor from 1 November 1956 to 4 May 1964. He held office as Governor of Madras State (present-day Tamil Nadu) from 4 May 1964 to 26 June 1966.
- Maharaja of Travancore, Bala Rama Varma II(b. 1912 -d. 1991) as Rajpramukh from 1 July 1949 – 31 October 1956.
- Maharaja of Gwalior, Sir Jiwajirao Scindia(b. 1916 -d. 1961) as Rajpramukh from 28 May 1948 to 31 October 1956.
- Udaipur was appointed Rajpramukh and Kota Naresh was appointed Up-Rajpramukh of the Union of many former princely states of Rajasthan, and subsequently Maharana Bhupal Singh of Udaipur was appointed the Maha-Rajpramukh and the Kota Nareshwas appointed the Up-Rajpramukh.
- Vindhya Pradesh had Rameshwar Prasad Singh, Maharaja of Singrauli as Rajpramukh but then he died, so Martand Singh the Maharaja of Rewa was appointed.
After 1956
On 1 November 1956, the
By 1956, the system of voluntary unions of states was dismantled and the position of Rajpramukh abolished. New states were created along linguistic and ethnic lines, which tore apart the traditional ties that existed in the former princely states. As the princely rulers died one by one more time was being taken before their successors were recognised by the Government of India. When they were recognised it was usually after they were persuaded to accept lower privy purses or reductions in privileges. But many influential Maharajahs and Maharanis were not content with being mere nominal title holders enjoying privileges. They started contesting in elections either as independents or by joining political parties. Growing popularity and success of many of the former royalty in the hustings particularly Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur and Rajmata of Gwalior, Vijaya Raje Sindhia among others was not to the liking of Mrs. Indira Gandhi who had become prime Minister by 1966.
By the year 1969 Indian National Congress had split into Congress (Organisational) and Congress (Requisitionist). Congress (R) was headed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi and to score public support she coined slogans like Garibi Hatao (Stop Poverty) which included promise to abolish the royal order. She de-recognized all the Maharajahs by a presidential order in 1969. But this was struck down by the Supreme Court of India. Eventually, the government by the 26th Amendment of the Constitution of India was successful in abolishing the Princely order. This process was completed by the end of 1971. Though a challenge to this amendment was mounted in the Supreme Court, the court neither heard the matter immediately nor gave any relief to the rulers. The case was ultimately decided against the rulers by as late as in 1993, by which time it had become fait accompli.
They have since only enjoyed their traditional styles and titles on a social basis and seem to have adapted well. Former royals like
References
- ^ "The Last Nizam - "Hero of his time"". Timesofindia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Fact Check: The Nizam of Hyderabad never fled as Yogi Adityanath claimed". Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.