India 2018

642 India 2018
these, three heritage festivals at Amritsar, Patiala, Kapurthala are also
celebrated every year and are very popular among the tourists.
Government
Governor : Shri V.P. Singh Badnore Chief Secretary : Shri Karan Avtar Singh
Chief Minister : Shri Capt. Amarinder Jurisdiction of : Punjab, Haryana &
Singh High Court Chandigarh
Rajasthan
Area : 3,42,239 sq km Population : 6.86 crore
Capital : Jaipur Principal Languages : Hindi and Rajasthani
History and Geography
Rajasthan is the largest state in India area-wise. Prior to independence it was
known as Rajputana or Rajputs—a martial community who ruled over this
area for centuries. The history of Rajasthan dates back to the pre-historic times.
Around 3,000 and 1,000 BC, it had a culture akin to that of the Indus Valley
civilization. It were the Chauhans who dominated Rajput affairs from seventh
century and by 12th century they had become an imperial power. After the
Chauhans, it were the Guhilots of Mewar who controlled the destiny of the
warring tribes. Besides Mewar, the other historically prominent states were
Marwar, Jaipur, Bundi, Kota, Bharatpur and Alwar. Other states were only
offshoots of these. All these states accepted the British Treaty of Subordinate
Alliance in 1818 protecting the interest of the princes. This naturally left the
people discontented.
After the revolt of 1857, the people united themselves under the leadership
of Mahatma Gandhi to contribute to the freedom movement with the
introduction of provincial autonomy in 1935 in British India agitation for civil
liberties and political rights became stronger in Rajasthan. The process of uniting
scattered states commenced from 1948 to 1956 when the States Reorganization
Act was promulgated, first came Matsya Union (1948) consisting of a fraction
of states, slowly and gradually other states merged with this Union. By 1949,
major states like Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur. and Jaisalmer joined this Union
making it the United State of Greater Rajasthan. Ultimately in 1958, the present
state of Rajasthan formally came into being, with Ajmer state, the Abu Road
Taluka and Sunel Tappa joining it.
The entire western flank of the state borders with Pakistan, while Punjab
in north, Haryana in north-east, Uttar Pradesh in east and Madhya Pradesh in
south-east and Gujarat lies in south-west of the state.