Rajasthan

State (pop., 2008 est.: 64,641,000), northwestern India.

Ancient Period, upto 1200 AD
Rajput clans eer!ed and held their swa" o#er di$erent parts o% Rajasthan %ro
a&out '00 (). *e%ore that, Rajasthan was a part o% se#eral repu&lics. It was a part
o% the +aur"an ,pire. -ther ajor repu&lics that doinated this re!ion include
the +ala#as, (rjun"as, .audh"as, /ushans, Sa0a Satraps, 1uptas and 2unas.
3he Rajput clans ascendanc" in Indian histor" was durin! the period %ro the ei!hth
to the twel%th centur" (). 3he 4ratihars ruled Rajasthan and ost o% northern India
durin! '5061000 (). *etween 100061200 (), Rajasthan witnessed the stru!!le %or
supreac" &etween 7halu0"as, 4arars and 7hauhans.
Medieval Period, 1201 - 1707
(round 1200 () a part o% Rajasthan cae under +usli rulers. 3he principal
centers o% their powers were 8a!aur and (jer. Ranthan&hor was also under their
su9eraint". (t the &e!innin! o% the 1:th centur" (), the ost proinent and
power%ul state o% Rajasthan was +ewar.
Modern Period, 1707 - 1947
Rajasthan had ne#er &een united politicall" until its doination &" +u!hal ,peror
6 (0&ar. (0&ar created a uni;ed pro#ince o% Rajasthan. +u!hal power started to
decline a%ter 1'0'. 3he political disinte!ration o% Rajasthan was caused &" the
dise&erent o% the +u!hal ,pire. 3he +arathas penetrated Rajasthan upon
the decline o% the +u!hal ,pire. In 1'55 the" occupied (jer. 3he &e!innin! o%
the 1<th 7entur" was ar0ed &" the onslau!ht o% the 4indaris.
In 181'618 the *ritish 1o#ernent concluded treaties o% alliance with alost all the
states o% Rajputana. 3hus &e!an the *ritish rule o#er Rajasthan, then called
Rajputana.
Post Independence
3he erstwhile Rajputana coprised 1< princel" states and two chie%ships o% =a#a
and /ushal!arh and a *ritish adinistered territor" o% (jer6+erwara. Rajasthan
State was hetero!eneous con!loeration o% separate political entities with di$erent
adinistrati#e s"stes pre#ailin! in di$erent places. 3he present State o% Rajasthan
was %ored a%ter a lon! process o% inte!ration which &e!an on +arch 1', 1<48 and
ended on 8o#e&er 1, 1<56. *e%ore inte!ration it was called Rajputana> a%ter
inte!ration it cae to &e 0nown as Rajasthan. (t present there are :: districts
(includin! the new district o% 4ratap!arh) in the State.
!"
#
Ite$ %ear &nit Particulars
1 Area 7ensus
2001
S?./. :422:<
2 Population 7ensus
2001
8o. 5650'188
(i) @r&an A A 1:214:'5

(ii) Rural A A 4:2<281:

(iii) SeB Ratio (8o. o% Ceale
per 1000 o% +ales)
A 8o
perD000
<21

(i#) )ensit" (4er s?. /.) A A 165
' (ities ) *o+ns 7ensus
2001
8o. 222
4 ,illa-es 7ensus
2001
A 41:5:
. "et area so+n 200'608 2ect. 1'0<56'2
/ Area so+n $ore than once A A 511261<
7 0ross area irri-ated 1P2 A A 8088455
3 Irri-ated Area o4
(i) Cood!rains 200'608 A :8208<8

(ii) -il seeds A A 25'54:<

(iii) 7otton A A :5:812

(i#) Su!arcane A A 100:5
9 Production
(i) Cood!rains 200'608 +.3onnes 160844:5

(ii) -il seeds A A 422<:46

(iii) 7otton (=int) A A 1465'6

(i#) Su!arcane A A 5<4056
10 5ivestoc6 1P2 200660' D 000 8o. 4<1:6
(4)
11 (o-operative ocieties 200660'
(4)
8o 26:04
12 Me$7ership o4 (o-operative
ocieties
200660'
(4)
D 000 8o. <':881<
1' ale value o4 $inerals
8
200660' la0hs 1:8865.:<5
14 Re-istered I &nits 200860< =ac 8o. :.2
1. *otal 9ner-: availa7le 200'608
1P2
+@ :6'16.'12
1/ Roads 200'608 /s. 182460
17 9ducational Institutions 200860< 8o. 11<'<0
13 0ovt! Medical Institutions

1i2 Modern Medicines

2ospitals 200860< 8o. 12'

727 A A :6'
)ispensaries A A 1<<

(id 4ost A A 1:

+7E 7entres A A 118

4riar" 2ealth 7entres

Rural 427 A A 150:

@r&an 427 A A :'

Cail" Eel%are 7entres A A 2<:

Su&67entres A A 10<51

1ii2
A:urvedic;&nani;<o$eopath
ic and Pra6riti6 Institution


2ospitals A A 114

)ispensaries A A :841

+o&ile @nits A A 14

19 (o$$unications
(i) 3elephone ,Bchan!es 200860< 8o. 2::4

(ii) 4ost -Fces A A 10:16

(a) Rural A A <64:
6':
(&) @r&an A A '84 (4)

(iii) 3ele!raph -Fces A A 5

(i#) 4u&lic 7all -Fces

(a) =ocal 47- A A 6<<6

(&) S3) 47- A A 4844<

(c) Gilla!e 43S A A :<2:8

20 ,illa-e Pancha:ats 2004 8o. <168
21 Pancha:at a$ities 2004 A 24<
22 "et tate Do$estic Product=
>


(i) (t constant price
(*ase 1<<:6<4) 200'608 7r Rs. 1110'0

(ii) (t current prices A A 14''14
2' Revenue Receipts 1R92 200860< 7r Rs. 4:6::.<<
24 Revenue 9?penditure 1R92 200860< 7r Rs. :4666.2
2. 9leventh @ive %ear Plan
#utla: 12007-122 Aud-eted
2007-12
200'612 7r Rs. '1':1.<8
(4) 4ro#isional
R, Re#ised ,stiates
H Huic0 ,Btiates
Source o% in%oration : )irectorate o% ,conoics I Statistics
<is 9?cellenc: *he 0overnor h! hivraj Patil
<onB7le (hie4 Minister h! Asho6 0ehlot
(a7inet
(hie4 Minister
!" "a$e Depart$ent
o!
1 Sh. (sho0 1ehlot
)epartents o% Cinance and 3aBation,
4lannin!, 4olic" 4lannin!, 4ersonnel,
(dinistrati#e Re%ors and
7oordination, 4arliaentar"
Secretariat, Rajasthan State
In#esti!ation *ureau, 7i#il (#iation,
Social Justice and ,powerent, /hadi
and 1raod"o!, 1eneral
(dinistration )epartent
7a&inet +inisters
!"
o!
"a$e Depart$ent
1 Sh. (iaduddin (had K)uru +i"anK
+edical I 2ealth, Cail" Eel%are,
("ur#eda, +edical ,ducation.
2 St. *eena /a0
3ouris, (rt, 7ulture and (rcheolo!",
Eoen and 7hild )e#elopent,
4rintin! and Stationer".
' Sh. *harat Sin!h Rural )e#elopent and 4ancha"ati Raj.
4 Sh. *rij0ishore Shara
3ransport, Sans0rit ,ducation,
=an!ua!e and =in!uistic +inorities and
)e#asthan ((dditional 7har!e )
. Sh. 2arji Ra *urda0
(!riculture, (nial 2us&andr",
Cisheries.
/ Sh. 2ea Ra 7haudhar" Re#enue, 7olonisation, Saini0 /al"an.
7 )r. Jitendra Sin!h
,ner!" I 8on 7on#entional ,ner!"
Source, In%oration 3echnolo!" I
7ounication, 2i!her ,ducation
((dditional 7har!e).
3 Sh. +ahendrajeet Sin!h +al#i"a
3ri&al (rea )e#elopent, 4u&lic
1rie#ances Redressal, 3echnical and
,n!ineerin! ,ducation ((dditional
7har!e).
9 Sh. +ahipal +aderna
Eater Resources, Indira 1andhi 7anal
4roject, 4u&lic 2ealth and ,n!ineerin!,
1round Eater, 7oand (rea
)e#elopent.
10 Sh. +aster *hanwar =al +e!hwal
=a&our and ,plo"ent, 4riar"
,ducation, Secondar" ,ducation.
11 Sh. 4arsadi =al +eena
7ooperati#es, Sall Sa#in!s and State
=otteries.
12 Sh. Rajendra 4aree0
Industries, 8on Resident Indians (8RI),
,conoics I Statistics and ,Bcise
((dditional 7har!e),4u&lic ,nterprises.
1' Sh. Shanti /uar )hariwal
2oe, 2oe 1uard I 7i#il )e%ence,
=aw and Justice, 4arliaentar" ($airs,
@r&an )e#elopent I 2ousin!, =ocal
Sel% *odies.
State +inisters
!"
o!
"a$e Depart$ent
1 Sh (in /han
Ea?% (Independent), Rural
)e#elopent I 4ancha"ati Raj.
2 Sh. (sho0 *airwa
In%orationKs I 4u&lic Relation
(Independent), State Insurance
(Independent), ,lection (Independent),
3raFc, Sans0rit ,ducation, =an!ua!e I
=in!uistic +inorities, )e#asthan.
' Sh. *a&ulal 8a!ar Cood and 7i#il Supplies, )air".
4 Sh. *harosi =al Jata#
,state (Independent), +otor 1ara!e
(Independent), (!riculture, (nial
2us&andr", Cisheries
. Sh. *rijendra Sin!h -la
)isaster +ana!eent I Relie%
(Independent), 7ooperati#e
/ St. 1ola )e#i
/hadi and 1raod"o!, 2oe 1uard I
7i#il )e%ence
7 Sh 1ureet Sin!h /unnar
(!riculture +ar0etin! (Independent),
Eater Resources, Indira 1andhi 7anal
4roject, 42,), 1round Eater,
7oand (rea )e#elopent
3 Sh. +an!i =al 1arasia
.outh a$airs I Sports (Independent),
4riar" ,ducation, Secondar"
,ducation, =a&our I ,plo"ent
9 Sh.+urari =al +eena
3echnical ,ducation ( (!riculture)
(Independent), Re#enue, 7oloni9ation,
Saini0 /al"an
10 Sh.4raod Jain K*ha"aK 4u&lic Eor0s )epartent.
11 Sh. Raj /uar Shara
Science I 3echnolo!" (Independent),
+edical I 2ealth, Cail" Eel%are,
("ur#eda, +edical ,ducation.
12 Sh. Rajendra Sin!h 1uda 4lannin! (+an 4ower)(Independent),
3ouris, (rt, 7ulture and (rcheolo!",
4rintin! and Stationer".
1' Sh. Ra0ishore Saini
Social Justice and ,powerent, Jail
(Independent).
14 Sh. Ra =al Jat
Corest I ,n#ironent, +ines
((dditional 7har!e)
4arliaent Secretar"
!"
o!
"a$e
1 Sh.*rahade# /uawat
2 Sh. )ilip 7haudhar"
' Sh. 1iriraj Sin!h +ilin!a
4 Sh. 8analal 8inaa
. Sh. Raesh 7hand +eena
/ Sh. Ra0esh +eena
*ordered &" 4a0istan and the states o% 4unja&, 2ar"ana, @ttar 4radesh, +adh"a
4radesh, and 1ujarat, it co#ers an area o% 1:2,1:< s? i (:42,2:< s? 0)> its capital
is Jaipur. (rchaeolo!ical e#idence shows continuous huan ha&itation %or a&out
100,000 "ears. In the 'thL11th centuries ce, se#eral Rajput d"nasties arose,
reachin! their hei!ht in the 16th centur". 3he eperor (0&ar &rou!ht the Rajput
states into the +u!hal ,pire. In the 1<th centur", the *ritish cae into control o%
the re!ion. (%ter Indian independence (1<4'), the area was or!ani9ed as the @nion
o% Rajasthan, then reor!ani9ed in 1<56. It is doinated &" the (ra#alli Ran!e and
the 3har )esert. 4redoinantl" an a!ricultural and pastoral state, it is one o% the
lar!est producers o% wool in India.
It is located in the northwestern part o% the su&continent. It is &ounded to the north
and northeast &" the states o% 4unja& and 2ar"ana, to the east and southeast &"
the states o% @ttar 4radesh and +adh"a 4radesh, to the southwest &" the state o%
1ujarat, and to the west and northwest &" 4a0istan. 3he capital cit" is Jaipur, in the
east6central part o% the state.
Rajasthan, eanin! M3he (&ode o% the Rajas,N was %orerl" called Rajputana, M3he
7ountr" o% the RajputsN (sons o% rajas OprincesP). *e%ore 1<4', when India achie#ed
independence %ro *ritish rule, it coprised soe two do9en princel" states and
chie%ships, the sall *ritish6adinistered pro#ince o% (jer6+erwara, and a %ew
poc0ets o% territor" outside the ain &oundaries. (%ter 1<4' the princel" states and
chie%ships were inte!rated into India in sta!es, and the state too0 the nae
Rajasthan. It assued its present %or on 8o#. 1, 1<56, when the States
Reor!ani9ation (ct cae into %orce. (rea 1:2,1:< s?uare iles (:42,2:< s?uare
0). 4op. (2008 est.) 64,641,000.
5and
3he (ra#alli ((ra#ali) Ran!e %ors a line across the state runnin! rou!hl" %ro 1uru
4ea0 (a&out 5,650 %eet O1,'22 etresP), near the town o% (&u (+ount (&u) in the
southwest, to the town o% /hetri in the northeast. (&out three6;%ths o% the state lies
northwest o% this line, lea#in! two6;%ths in the southeast. 3hese are the two natural
di#isions o% Rajasthan. 3he northwestern tract is !enerall" arid and unproducti#e,
althou!h its character shi%ts !raduall" %ro desert in the %ar west and northwest to
coparati#el" %ertile and ha&ita&le land toward the east. 3he area includes the 3har
(1reat Indian) )esert.
3he southeastern area lies at a soewhat hi!her ele#ation (::0 to 1,150 %eet O100
to :50 etresP) than its northwestern counterpart> it also is ore %ertile and has a
ore di#erse topo!raph". 3he hill" tract o% +ewar lies in the southern re!ion, while
a &road plateau stretches across the southeast. In the northeast a ru!!ed &adlands
re!ion %ollows the line o% the 7ha&al Ri#er. Carther north the countr" le#els out
into Qat plains that are part o% the allu#ial &asin o% the .auna Ri#er.
3he (ra#allis %or RajasthanDs ost iportant watershed. 3o the east o% this ran!e,
the 7ha&al Ri#erRthe onl" lar!e and perennial ri#er in the stateRand other
waterwa"s !enerall" drain toward the northeast. 3he principal tri&utar" o% the
7ha&al, the *anas, rises in the (ra#allis near the !reat /u&hal!arh %ort and
collects all the draina!e o% the +ewar plateau. Carther north, the *an!an!a, a%ter
risin! near Jaipur, Qows east toward the .auna &e%ore disappearin!. 3he =uni is
the onl" si!ni;cant ri#er west o% the (ra#allis. It rises near the cit" o% (jer in
central Rajasthan and Qows 200 iles (:20 0) west6southwest into the Rann o%
/achchh in the state o% 1ujarat. 8ortheast o% the =uni &asin is an area o% internal
draina!e characteri9ed &" salt la0es, the lar!est o% which is Sa&har Salt =a0e.
Carther to the west lies the true +arusthali (M=and o% the )eadN), the &arren
wastelands and areas o% sand dunes that %or the heart o% the 3har )esert.
oils
In the #ast sand" northwestern re!ion, soils are predoinantl" saline or al0aline.
Eater is scarce &ut is %ound at a depth o% 100 to 200 %eet (:0 to 60 etres). 3he soil
and sand are calcareous (chal0"). 8itrates in the soil increase its %ertilit", and
culti#ation is o%ten possi&le where ade?uate water supplies are ade a#aila&le.
3he soils in central Rajasthan are sand"> cla" content #aries &etween : and <
percent. In the east, soils #ar" %ro sand" loa to loa" sand. In the southeast,
the" are in !eneral &lac0 and deep and are well drained. In the south6central re!ion,
the tendenc" is toward a iBture o% red and &lac0 soils in the east and a ran!e o%
red to "ellow soils in the west.
(li$ate
Rajasthan has a wide ran!e o% cliate #ar"in! %ro eBtreel" arid to huid. 3he
huid 9one spans the southeast and east. ,Bcept in the hills, the heat durin! the
suer is !reat e#er"where, with teperatures in JuneRthe warest onthR
t"picall" risin! %ro the id680s C (a&out :0 S7) to nearl" 110 SC (low 40s 7) dail".
2ot winds and dust stors occur in the suer, especiall" in the desert tract. In
Januar"Rthe coolest o% the winter onthsRdail" aBiu teperatures ran!e
%ro the upper 60s to the id6'0s C (low to id620s 7), while iniu
teperatures are !enerall" in the id640s C (a&out ' S7). 3he western desert has
little rain, a#era!in! a&out 4 inches (100 ) annuall". In the southeast, howe#er,
soe areas a" recei#e alost 20 inches (500 ). Southeastern Rajasthan
&ene;ts %ro &oth the (ra&ian Sea and *a" o% *en!al &ranches o% the southwest
(suer) onsoon winds, which &rin! the &ul0 o% the annual rain%all.
Plant and ani$al li4e
3he predoinant #e!etation o% Rajasthan is scru& jun!le. 3oward the west there are
t"pical arid69one plants, such as taaris0 (!enus 3aariB) and %alse taaris0
(!enus +"ricaria). 3rees are scarce, liited ostl" to sall, scattered %orest areas in
the (ra#allis and in the eastern part o% the state. =ess than 10 percent o% Rajasthan
is under %orest co#er.
( nu&er o% nota&le lar!e aals are re!ular residents o% Rajasthan. 3i!ers are
%ound priaril" in the (ra#allis. =eopards, sloth &ears, Indian sa&ar (dar0 &rown
Indian deer), and chital (spotted deer) occur in the hills and %orests. 8il!ais
(&lue&uc0s> lar!e antelope) are also %ound in parts, and &lac0&uc0s are nuerous in
the plains. 7oon &irds include snipes, ?uail, partrid!es, and wild duc0s> the"
occur e#er"where eBcept in the desert. 3he northwest is well 0nown %or se#eral
species o% sand!rouse.
8uerous sanctuaries and wildli%e par0s ha#e &een esta&lished in the state. (on!
the ost iportant o% these are the Saris0a 8ational 4ar0 (esta&lished in 1<55),
near (lwar in the northeast, and the )esert 8ational 4ar0 (esta&lished in 1<80),
near Jaisaler in western Rajasthan.
Population co$position
+ost o% RajasthanDs population consist o% Indians o% #arious social, occupational, and
reli!ious &ac0!rounds. 3he Rajputs (#arious clans o% landownin! rulers and their
descendants), thou!h representin! onl" a sall percenta!e o% RajasthanDs
residents, are perhaps the ost nota&le section o% the population> indeed, the state
draws its nae %ro this counit". In ters o% caste structure, the *rahans
(hi!hest caste) are su&di#ided into an" !otras (linea!es), while the +ahajans
(tradin! caste) are su&di#ided into a &ewilderin! nu&er o% !roups. In the north and
west the Jats (peasant caste) and 1ujars (herdin! caste) are aon! the lar!est
a!ricultural counities.
(&ori!inal (tri&al) peoples constitute ore than one6tenth o% the population o%
Rajasthan. In the eastern part o% the state, these !roups include the +ina (and the
related +eo), ost o% who are %arers> the *anjara, who ha#e &een 0nown as
tra#elin! tradesen and artisans> and the 1adia =ohar, another historicall" itinerant
tri&e, who traditionall" ha#e ade and repaired a!ricultural and household
ipleents. 3he *hil, one o% the oldest counities in India, !enerall" inha&it
southern Rajasthan and ha#e a histor" o% possessin! !reat s0ill in archer". 3he
1rasia and /athodi also lar!el" li#e in the south, ostl" in the +ewar re!ion.
Sahari"a counities are %ound in the southeast, and the Ra&ari, who traditionall"
are cattle &reeders, li#e to the west o% the (ra#allis in west6central Rajasthan.
2indi is the oFcial lan!ua!e o% the state, and to soe de!ree it has o#ershadowed
the local lan!ua!es o% Rajasthan. +uch o% the stateDs population, howe#er,
continues to spea0 Rajasthani lan!ua!es, which coprise a !roup o% Indo6(r"an
lan!ua!es and dialects deri#ed %ro )in!al, a ton!ue in which &ards once san! o%
the !lories o% their asters. 3he %our ain Rajasthani lan!ua!e !roups are +arwari
in western Rajasthan, Jaipuri or )hundhari in the east and southeast, +al#i in the
southeast, and, in the northeast, +ewati, which shades o$ into *raj *hasa (a 2indi
dialect) toward the &order with @ttar 4radesh.
2induis, the reli!ion o% the #ast ajorit" o% the population, is !enerall" practiced
throu!h the worship o% *raha, Shi#a, Sha0ti, Gishnu, and other !ods and
!oddesses. 3he town o% 8athdwara, in southern Rajasthan, is an iportant reli!ious
centre %or the Galla&hachar"a school o% /rishna worshippers. 3here are also
%ollowers o% (r"a Saaj, a t"pe o% re%ored 2induis that stes %ro the late 1<th
centur".
Isla, the stateDs second lar!est reli!ious counit", eBpanded in Rajasthan with
the con?uest o% the cit" o% (jer and the surroundin! area &" +usli in#aders in
the late 12th centur". /hwTjah +uUn al6)Un 7hishtU, the +usli issionar" and
"stic, had his head?uarters at (jer, and +usli traders, cra%tsen, and soldiers
settled there.
Jainis is also iportant> it has not &een the reli!ion o% the rulers o% Rajasthan &ut
has %ollowers aon! the tradin! class and the wealth" section o% societ". 3he towns
and teples o% +aha#irji, Rana0pur, )hule#, and /arera are the chie% centres o%
Jaina pil!ria!e. (nother iportant reli!ious counit" is %ored &" the
)adupanthis, the %ollowers o% the 16th6centur" saint )adu, who preached the
e?ualit" o% all en, strict #e!etarianis, total a&stinence %ro intoBicatin! li?uor,
and li%elon! celi&ac". 3he stateDs population o% 7hristians and Si0hs is sall.
ettle$ent patterns
Rajasthan is one o% the least densel" populated states in India, with rou!hl" three6
%ourths o% its residents li#in! in rural settleents. 3raditional rural houses are huts
with ud walls and roo%s thatched with straw. 3he" ha#e a sin!le door &ut no
windows or #entilators. 3he houses o% ore6aVuent %arers and artisans in lar!er
#illa!es ha#e ore than one roo. 3he" are roo%ed with tiles and ha#e a #eranda
and lar!e court"ard, whose ain door will adit a loaded &ull cart. 3he earthen
Qoors are coated with ud and dun!.
3he stateDs ur&an population has &een !rowin! %aster than the rural population
since the late 20th centur". Jaipur is &" %ar the lar!est cit" o% Rajasthan. -ther ajor
ur&an centres include Jodhpur, /ota, *i0aner, (jer, and @daipur. Eith the
eBception o% Jodhpur and *i0aner, all lie to the east o% the (ra#alli Ran!e.
A-riculture
3he a!ricultural sector is the ainsta" o% RajasthanDs econo", eplo"in! a&out
two6thirds o% the stateDs wor0in! population. )espite scant and scattered rain%all,
nearl" all t"pes o% crops are !rown, includin! pearl illet in the desert area,
sor!hu around /ota, and ainl" corn (ai9e) around @daipur. Eheat and &arle"
are %airl" well distri&uted (eBcept in the desert area), as are pulses (such as peas,
&eans, and lentils), su!arcane, and oilseeds. Rice is !rown in the irri!ated areas o%
&oth the southeast and the northwest. 7otton and to&acco are iportant cash
crops. Rajasthan has a lar!e li#estoc0 population and is a ajor wool6producin!
state. It also is a source o% caels and dra%t anials o% #arious &reeds.
Rajasthan needs eBtensi#e irri!ation to &e a!riculturall" producti#e. 3he state
recei#es uch water %ro the ri#ers o% 4unja&, %ro the Eestern .auna 7anal in
2ar"ana and the (!ra 7anal in @ttar 4radesh, and %ro the Sa&arati and 8arada
Sa!ar projects in 1ujarat and +adh"a 4radesh, respecti#el". )esert land in
northwestern and western Rajasthan is irri!ated &" the Indira 1andhi 7anal
(%orerl" called the Rajasthan 7anal), which carries water soe 400 iles (640 0)
%ro the *eas and Sutlej ri#ers in 4unja&. Rajasthan shares the *ha0ra 8an!al
project with 4unja& and 2ar"ana and the 7ha&al Galle" project with +adh"a
4radesh> &oth are used to suppl" water %or irri!ation and %or drin0in! purposes.
Resources and po+er
Rajasthan is an iportant producer o% lead and 9inc concentrates, eeralds, and
!arnets. ( ajor portion o% the countr"Ds !"psu and sil#er ore also are produced in
Rajasthan. ,lectricit" supplies are o&tained ostl" %ro nei!h&ourin! states and
%ro the 7ha&al Galle" project. 4ower is !enerated priaril" %ro h"droelectric
stations and !as6;red theral plants. 3he state also draws a portion o% its ener!"
%ro wind %ars and %ro a nuclear power plant at Rawat&hata, near /ota.
Manu4acturin-
3eBtiles, #e!eta&le oil, wool, inerals, and cheicals are aon! the ajor
anu%actures o% Rajasthan. 2owe#er, handicra%ts, such as leather !oods, ar&le
wor0, jewelr", potter", and e&ossed &rass, ha#e earned uch %orei!n eBchan!e.
/ota, which is the industrial capital o% the state, has a n"lon %actor" and a precision6
instruents %actor", as well as plants %or the anu%acture o% calciu car&ide,
caustic soda, and ra"on tire cord. 3here is a 9inc selter plant near @daipur.
(onstitutional 4ra$e+or6
3he structure o% RajasthanDs !o#ernent, li0e that o% ost other states in India, is
deterined &" the national constitution o% 1<50. 3he chie% eBecuti#e is the
!o#ernor, who is appointed &" the president o% India %or a ;#e6"ear ter. 3he
!o#ernor has adinistrati#e, le!islati#e, ;nancial, and judicial powers. Rajasthan
has a unicaeral =e!islati#e (sse&l" (Gidhan Sa&ha)> e&ers are elected &"
uni#ersal adult %ranchise, althou!h soe seats are reser#ed %or representati#es o%
tri&al !roups and other traditionall" disad#anta!ed counities.
3he state is di#ided into ore than :0 districts. In each district the collector, who is
also the district a!istrate, is the principal representati#e o% the adinistration. 3he
collector %unctions in close cooperation with the superintendent o% police to
aintain law and order in the district and also ser#es as the principal re#enue
oFcer. Cor adinistrati#e purposes, each district is split into a %ew su&di#isions,
which are di#ided into saller units called tehsils, which, in turn, contain a nu&er
o% #illa!es.
Rajasthan was the ;rst state to eBperient at the #illa!e le#el with pancha"at raj
(rule &" pancha"at, or #illa!e council), ha#in! enacted in 1<5< the le!islation
necessar" to ipleent this &old eBperient in deocratic decentrali9ation. 3he
s"ste, e&racin! 1andhian concepts o% the iportance o% traditional #illa!e
institutions in Indian societ", created three le#els o% local !o#ernent within the
state &ased on elected #illa!e pancha"ats. Gilla!es were !rouped into
adinistrati#e units called counit" de#elopent &loc0s, each ha#in! a
pancha"at saiti (&loc0 council) coposed o% the chairen o% the pancha"ats,
appointees, and eB oFcio e&ers. 3here were also district6le#el councils (9ila
parishads), coposed o% the chairen o% the pancha"at saitis, alon! with
representati#es o% special6interest !roups (such as woen and disad#anta!ed social
classes) and local e&ers o% the state and national le!islatures. 3he 0e" le#el in
this or!ani9ation was the counit" de#elopent &loc0, which was assi!ned the
responsi&ilit" o% plannin! and ipleentin! a wide ran!e o% counit" and
de#elopent pro!ras. 4ancha"at raj initiall" achie#ed a considera&le easure o%
success, &ut, with increasin! politici9ation o% the s"ste and conQictin! interests
with state6le#el de#elopent a!encies, the s"ste has &ecoe less e$ecti#e.
<ealth and education
Rajasthan has an" hospitals and dispensaries speciali9in! in allopathic (Eestern)
edicine, as well as nuerous institutions o$erin! ("ur#edic (traditional Indian),
@nanU (a edicinal s"ste usin! prescri&ed her&s and shru&s), and hoeopathic
treatent. 3he state participates in the ajor national health pro!ras to control
tu&erculosis, #arious #ector6&orne diseases, lepros", iodine de;cienc", and
&lindness.
3here are a nu&er o% institutions o% hi!her education in Rajasthan. State
uni#ersities are located in Jaipur, @daipur, Jodhpur, *i0aner, and (jer. -ther
proinent tertiar" institutions include the -pen @ni#ersit" in /ota and the *irla
Institute o% 3echnolo!" and Science in 4ilani.
*he arts and 5iterature
Rajasthan has a rich tradition o% &oth oral narrati#e and written literature. 3he ost
%aous son! is /urja, which tells the stor" o% a woan who wishes to send a
essa!e to her a&sent hus&and &" a 0urja (a t"pe o% &ird), who is proised a
priceless reward %or his ser#ice. In the literar" tradition 7hand *ardaiDs epic poe
4rith#iraj Raso (or 7hand Raisa), the earliest anuscript o% which dates to the 12th
centur", is particularl" nota&le.
Dance
3he t"pical dance o% Rajasthan is the !hooar, which is per%ored on %esti#e
occasions onl" &" woen. -ther well60nown dances include the !eer, which is
per%ored &" en and woen> the panihari, a !race%ul dance %or woen> and the
0acchi !hori, in which ale dancers ride du" horses. 4er%orances o% 0h"al, a
t"pe o% dance6draa coposed in #erse with cele&rator", historical, or roantic
thees, also is widel" popular.
Arts and architecture
Rajasthan a&ounds in o&jects o% anti?uarian interest. ,arl" *uddhist roc0
inscriptions and car#in!s are %ound in ca#es in the southeastern district o% Jhalawar>
the area around (jer has a nu&er o% +usli os?ues and to&s, the oldest o%
which dates to the end o% the 12th centur"> and *i0aner, in the northwest, has a
spectacular 15th6centur" Jaina teple. Splendid princel" palaces, an" ela&oratel"
decorated with wall paintin!s, are scattered throu!hout the state.
@estivals
7ultural li%e in Rajasthan is characteri9ed &" nuerous reli!ious %esti#als. (on!
the ost popular o% these cele&rations is the 1an!or %esti#al, durin! which cla"
ia!es o% +ahade#i and 4ar#ati (representin! the &ene#olent aspects o% the 2indu
other !oddess) are worshipped &" woen o% all castes %or 15 da"s and are then
ta0en out to &e iersed in water. (nother iportant %esti#al, held at 4ush0ar near
(jer, ta0es the %or o% a iBed reli!ious %esti#al and li#estoc0 %air> 2indu pil!ris
coe see0in! sal#ation durin! the cele&ration, while %arers %ro all corners o% the
state &rin! their caels and cattle to show and sell. 3he to& o% the WX%U "stic
/hwTjah +uUn al6)Un 7hishtU at (jer is one o% the ost sacred +usli shrines in
India. 2undreds o% thousands o% pil!ris, an" %ro %orei!n countries, #isit the
shrine on the occasion o% the saintDs urs (death anni#ersar").
<istor:
(rchaeolo!ical e#idence indicates that earl" huans li#ed alon! the &an0s o% the
*anas Ri#er and its tri&utaries soe 100,000 "ears a!o. 3he Indus (2arappan) and
post6Indus ci#ili9ations (:rdL2nd illenniu &ce) are tracea&le at /ali&an!an in
northern Rajasthan, as well as at (har and 1ilund, &oth near the cit" o% @daipur in
the south. 4otter" %ra!ents at /ali&an!an date to 2'00 &ce. 3he disco#er" near
*airat (in north6central Rajasthan) o% two roc0 inscriptions %ro the :rd centur" &ce
indicate that the area was at that tie under the rule o% (sho0a, the last !reat
eperor o% the +aur"an d"nast" o% India. 3he whole or parts o% present6da"
Rajasthan were ruled &" *actrian (Indo61ree0) 0in!s in the 2nd centur" &ce, the
Sha0a satraps (Sc"thians) %ro the 2nd to the 4th centur" ce, the 1upta d"nast"
%ro the earl" 4th to the late 6th centur", the 2ephthalites (2unas) in the 6th
centur", and 2arsha (2arsha#ardhana), a Rajput ruler, in the earl" 'th centur".
Se#eral Rajput d"nasties arose &etween the 'th and 11th centuries, includin! that
o% the 1urjara64ratiharas, who 0ept the (ra& in#aders o% the Sindh area (now in
southeastern 4a0istan) at &a". @nder *hoja I (or +ihira *hoja> 8:6L885), the
territor" o% the 1urjara64ratiharas stretched %ro the %oothills o% the 2iala"as
southward to the 8arada Ri#er and %ro the lower 1an!es (1an!a) Ri#er #alle"
westward to Sindh. Eith the disinte!ration o% this epire &" the late 10th centur",
se#eral ri#al Rajput clans cae to power in Rajasthan. 3he 1uhilas, %eudal lords o%
the 4ratiharas, asserted their independence in <40 and esta&lished control o% the
re!ion around +ewar (present6da" @daipur). *" the 11th centur" the 7hauhans
(7hahaanas), with their capital at (jer and later at )elhi, had eer!ed as the
ajor power in the eastern re!ion. In the %ollowin! centuries other clans, such as
the /achwahas, *hattis, and Rathors, succeeded in esta&lishin! independent
0in!dos in the area.
3he second o% a series o% encounters 0nown as the *attles o% 3araori (3arain), %ou!ht
near )elhi in 11<2, initiated a new period in RajasthanDs histor". +uYaad 1hXrUDs
#ictor" o#er a Rajput ar" under 4rith#iraja III not onl" led to the destruction o%
Rajput power in the Indo61an!etic plain &ut also ;rl" esta&lished the +usli
presence in northern India. (s +usli %orces pushed south and then west alon! the
traditional routes to the /athiawar 4eninsula (Saurashtra> now part o% the state o%
1ujarat), the Rajput 0in!dos o% what is now Rajasthan were encircled. 3he neBt
%our centuries saw repeated, thou!h unsuccess%ul, attepts &" the central power
&ased in )elhi to su&due the Rajput states o% the re!ion. 3he Rajputs, howe#er,
despite coon historical and cultural traditions, were ne#er a&le to unite to inQict
a decisi#e de%eat on their opponents.
Rajput stren!th reached its 9enith at the &e!innin! o% the 16th centur" under Rana
San!a (Rana San!ra Sin!h) o% +ewar, &ut he was de%eated in a ;erce &attle &"
the +u!hal in#ader *T&ur, and the &rie% splendour o% a united Rajput polit" waned
rapidl". It is lar!el" %ro this period o% RajasthanDs histor" that the roantic #iew o%
the Rajput as a #aliant warrior is deri#ed.
3oward the end o% the 16th centur", the +u!hal eperor (0&ar was a&le to achie#e,
throu!h diploac" and ilitar" action, what his predecessors had &een una&le to
accoplish &" %orce alone. +ilitar" capai!ns were still underta0en &" iperial
+u!hal %orces, and Rajput stron!holds, such as Rantha&hor and 7hittaur!arh
(7hitor), were &esie!ed and destro"ed (156'L68), &ut (0&ar also entered into a
series o% alliances with nuerous Rajput rulin! houses, arran!in! arria!es with
Rajput princesses %or hisel% and %or his heirs. (0&arDs son and successor, JahTn!Ur
(ruled 1605L2'), as well as JahTn!UrDs third son and &uilder o% the 3aj +ahal, Shah
JahTn (ruled 1628L58), were &oth &orn o% Rajput others. +u!hal6Rajput arria!es
continued until the earl" 18th centur", &rin!in! an" Rajput states (alon! with their
not insu&stantial ilitar" resources) into the iperial %old without costl" ilitar"
su&ju!ation. Curtherore, soe Rajput rulers, such as +an Sin!h o% (&er (Jaipur)
and Jaswant Sin!h o% +arwar (Jodhpur), ser#ed with lo"alt" and distinction in the
iperial +u!hal %orces. @nder (0&ar, the Rajput states o% the re!ion were !rouped
to!ether under the Su&a o% (jer, an adinistrati#e unit o% the +u!hal ,pire.
(%ter the death o% the eperor (uran!9e& in 1'0', the Rajput state o% *haratpur
was de#eloped &" a Jat (peasant caste) con?ueror, &ut &" 180: ost o% the
surroundin! states paid tri&ute to the +aratha d"nasties o% west6central India. =ater
in the 1<th centur" the *ritish su&dued the +arathas and, ha#in! esta&lished
paraountc" in the re!ion, or!ani9ed the Rajput states into Rajputana pro#ince. 3he
!o#ernent o% India was represented in Rajputana &" a political oFcer, with the
title o% a!ent to the !o#ernor6!eneral, who was also chie% coissioner o% the sall
*ritish pro#ince o% (jer6+erwara. @nder hi were residents and political a!ents
who were accredited to the #arious states.
It was durin! this period that the idea o% Indian nationalis was &orn. In @daipur,
)a"ananda Saras#ati wrote his Sat"arath 4ra0ash> intended to restore 2induis to
its pristine purit", the wor0 created a %erent in Rajputana. Iportant o#eents
o% thou!ht also occurred aon! the Jaina sadhus (hol" en) and scholars. (jer
was the centre o% political acti#it", and nationalist leaders included (rjun =al Sethi,
+ani0 =al Gara, 1opal Sin!h, and Jai 8arain G"as.
(%ter India &ecae independent in 1<4', the princel" states and chie%ships o%
Rajputana were inte!rated &" sta!es into a sin!le entit". 3he" were ;rst !rouped
into sall unions, such as the +ats"a @nion and the Rajasthan @nion, which were
er!ed with the reainin! Rajput states to create 1reater Rajasthan in 1<4<. Ehen
the new constitution o% India cae into %orce in 1<50, the state o% Rajasthan
&ecae an inte!ral part o% India. 3he Rajput princesRthou!h retainin! a reco!nition
o% their ori!inal title, soe special pri#ile!es, and a pri#" purseRsurrendered their
political powers to the central !o#ernent. Ehen the States Reor!ani9ation (ct was
ipleented in 1<56, Rajasthan ac?uired the shape that it has toda". 3he pri#ile!ed
status !i#en to rulers o% the %orer princel" states was discontinued in 1<'0.
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