32 | Ajmer State

Under British rule, Ajmer-Merwara was unique as it was the only part of Rajputana under direct British administration. It was a Chief Commissioner's province, unlike the surrounding princely states. In 1818, the British Government received Ajmer and other districts as part of a subsidiary alliance adjustment with Gwalior, and it remained under direct British administration. It was located almost centrally within the Rajputana Agency and the British had maintained it as a separate unit for strategic reasons. While the British grouped the Rajput states into the Rajputana Agency, they generally refrained from interfering in their internal administration, reserving direct control for territories like Ajmer-Merwara. (Europa Publications, 2024; Ramusack & Johnson, 2004).

Historically, parts of Ajmer, such as the pargana of Phulia, were considered ‘crown lands’ and were granted by Mughal emperors and predominantly ruled by Rajputs. This indicates its significance as a central administrative area even before British direct rule. Following the decline of Mughal power, Jodhpur temporarily regained control before losing the area to the Marathas. By the time of the transfer of power, Ajmer-Merwara remained a tiny, land-locked island of British Indian territory amidst the princely states of Rajputana (Europa Publications, 2024; Ramusack & Johnson, 2004).

On the eve of India's independence, the Rajputana Agency comprised 19 independent states, one chiefship, one estate, and the British-ruled Ajmer-Merwara province. Ajmer-Merwara, being a small British island surrounded by the Rajasthan states, became an anomaly once the unions began to form. There was an attempt, led by V.P. Menon, to include Ajmer directly into the new Rajasthan Union, but this was initially unsuccessful (Menon, 1956). 

The specific reasons for its continued separation were not explicitly detailed in the initial integration phases beyond the ‘strategic reasons’ cited by the British. However, the intention for its future integration was acknowledged. A provision was inserted into the covenant for the formation of the Rajasthan Union, allowing for the possibility of Ajmer-Merwara's inclusion later, on terms and conditions to be agreed upon by the Government of Rajasthan and the Government of India. This indicates that its separate status was considered a temporary arrangement, with the long-term goal being its merger into Rajasthan (Menon, 1956). 

Under the Constitution of 26 January 1950, the former Ajmer-Merwara province was designated as a 'Part C' state, known simply as Ajmer, and was directly administered by the Centre (Europa Publications, 2024). The idea of Ajmer's merger had been discussed since 1921, and by 1947, a representative from Ajmer on the Committee for Chief Commissioners' Provinces had already foreseen its integration with a contiguous unit (States Reorganization Committee, 1955). Eventually, it was merged into the Rajasthan state when the state boundaries were redrawn after the linguistic reorganization in 1956, when it became a district of Rajasthan. This decision respected Ajmer's linguistic, cultural, and geographical links with Rajasthan and was justified by the potential improvement in law and order through the elimination of dual control (States Reorganization Committee, 1955).

References: 

• Europa Publications. (2024). The Territories and States of India 2024 (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003476900

  
  

• Menon, V. P. (1956). The Story of Integration of the Indian states. Orient Blackswan.

  
  

• Ramusack, B. N., & Johnson, G. (2004). The Indian Princes and their States. Cambridge university press.

  
  

• States Reorganization Committee. (1955). Report of the States Reorganization Committee (p. 273). Government of India.