Integration Crisis and The Unique Partition Of Sirohi (1947–1956)

Abstract

The integration of princely states was one of the major political tasks faced by India after independence in 1947. Most princely states were merged into Indian provinces or into newly created unions. The case of Sirohi was different. Sirohi was a small princely state in the south-western part of present-day Rajasthan, located close to the Gujarat region and including the important hill station of Mount Abu. After the end of British paramountcy, the future of Sirohi became a matter of political disagreement. The Government of India first arranged for the administration of Sirohi through the Government of Bombay. At the same time, strong opinion in Rajasthan demanded that Sirohi should be included in Rajasthan. The matter became more difficult because of the location, language, administrative links and importance of Mount Abu.

The final arrangement did not give Sirohi a single and simple merger. In January 1950, the decision was made to divide the former state. The larger part was integrated with Rajasthan, while the Abu Road and associated Abu–Dilwara/Mount Abu area was administered with Bombay. The Constituent Assembly debates of November 1949 show that the proposed division was controversial and that several members objected to the lack of a normal covenant with the minor ruler. The issue was finally settled in a different direction by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. From 1 November 1956, Abu Road taluka, which had been part of Bombay State, was transferred to Rajasthan and included in Sirohi district. Thus, Sirohi passed through several territorial arrangements between 1947 and 1956.

This paper argues that the Sirohi case is important because it shows that the integration of princely states was not always a straight movement from a princely state to a modern state. In Sirohi, questions of regional identity, administrative convenience, popular opinion, geography and national political decision-making came together. The 1950 division was therefore an unusual form of post-independence territorial adjustment, while the 1956 settlement brought the separated territory back into Rajasthan.