Discuss the role of the Prajamandal Movements in the Princely States. How did the Congress's policy toward these states evolve over time?

The Prajamandal Movements (People’s Councils) were nationalist uprisings in the Princely States of India, where people fought against the dual oppression of the British and the local autocratic Rulers. While the Indian National Congress initially maintained a policy of non-interference, the growing intensity of these popular movements eventually forced the Congress to integrate the Princely States into the nationalist mainstream.

1. Role and Nature of the Prajamandal Movements

These movements were organized to demand democratic rights and social justice within the states:

  • Democratization: The primary demand was for Responsible Government and the establishment of representative legislative councils to limit the absolute power of the Rajas and Maharajas.
  • Social and Economic Justice: They campaigned against forced labor (Bethi), illegal cesses, and high land revenue. In the Odisha Garhjats (Princely States), the movements were particularly fierce against the feudal exploitation.
  • AISPC (1927): The All India States People’s Conference was formed to coordinate these regional struggles on a national level, acting as a sister organization to the Congress.

2. Evolution of Congress Policy

The relationship between the Congress and the Princely States evolved through three distinct phases:

  • Phase I: Non-Intervention (Before 1920): The Congress feared that interfering in the internal affairs of the states would alienate the rulers and invite British repression. They focused strictly on British India.
  • Phase II: Moral Support (1920–1937): At the Nagpur Session (1920), Congress permitted residents of Princely States to become members, but only in their individual capacity. They offered moral sympathy but no active organizational support.
  • Phase III: Active Integration (1938 Onward): The Haripura Session (1938), under Subhash Chandra Bose, was a turning point. Congress declared that the "Purna Swaraj" goal included the Princely States. By 1939, Jawaharlal Nehru became the President of AISPC, fully merging the two struggles.

3. Impact in Odisha (The Garhjat Movement)

Odisha was one of the most active centers for the Prajamandal movement:

  • Nilgiri and Talcher: The movement in Nilgiri (1938) led to the first instance of a state being merged into a province. In Talcher, thousands of people migrated to Angul to protest against the king's tyranny.
  • Sarala Devi and Malati Choudhury: These leaders organized the Orissa States People's Conference, linking the Garhjat struggle with the Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Prajamandal Movements bridged the gap between the subjects of the Princes and the citizens of British India. The evolution of Congress policy from isolation to integration ensured that the movement for independence became truly pan-Indian. This unity was crucial during Independence, as it provided Sardar Patel with the popular mandate required for the integration of 562 Princely States into the Indian Union.