View source for Ajmer-Merwara

{{Short description|Former province of British India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
|native_name = 
|conventional_long_name =Ajmer-Merwara Province<br/>Ajmer-Merwara
|common_name =Ajmer-Merwara
|nation = [[British India]]
|status_text = [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|Province of British India]]
|era = 
|year_start = 1818
|date_start = 
|event_start= Ceded to the British
|year_end = 1947
|date_end = 
|event_end= Merger of the [[Central Provinces]] and Berar Province
|event1 = 
|date_event1 = 
|p1 =Maratha Empire
|s1 =Ajmer State
|flag_p1 = Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg
|flag_s1 = Flag of India.svg
|image_flag =British Raj Red Ensign.svg
|flag_type=[[Star of India (flag)|Flag]]
|image_coat = 
|image_map =Rajputana 1909.jpg
|image_map_caption = [[Rajputana Agency]] and Ajmer-Merwara province, 1909
|stat_area1 =7021 
|stat_year1 =1881
|stat_pop1 = 460722  
}}

'''Ajmer-Merwara''' (also known as '''Ajmir Province''',<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/geographyofindia00adtf/geographyofindia00adtf_djvu.txt Geography of India]</ref> and '''Ajmer-Merwara-Kekri''') was a former province of [[British India]] in the historical [[Ajmer region]]. The territory was ceded to the British by [[Daulat Rao Sindhia]] by a treaty on 25 June 1818. 
It was under the [[Bengal Presidency]] until 1861 when it became part of the [[North-Western Provinces]].<ref>''[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]'', Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1908-1931</ref> Finally on 1 April 1871, it became a separate province as Ajmer-Merwara-Kekri. 
It became a part of [[independent India]] on 15 August 1947 when the [[British Empire|British]] left India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm |title=Provinces of British India |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114041325/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The province consisted of the [[district]]s of [[Ajmer district|Ajmer]] and [[Merwara]], which were physically separated from the rest of British India forming an [[enclave]] amidst the many [[princely state]]s of [[Rajputana]]. Unlike these states, which were ruled by local nobles who acknowledged British [[suzerainty]], Ajmer-Merwara was administered directly by the British.

In 1842, the two districts were under a single commissioner, then they were separated in 1856 and were administered by the [[East India Company]]. Finally, after 1858, by a chief commissioner who was subordinate to the [[Governor-General of India]]'s agent for the [[Rajputana Agency]].

==Extent and geography==
The area of the province was {{convert|2710|sqmi|km2}}. The plateau, on whose centre stands the town of [[Ajmer]], may be considered as the highest point in the plains of [[North India]]; from the circle of hills which hem it in, the country slopes away on every side - towards river valleys on the east, south, west and towards the [[Thar Desert]] region on the north. The [[Aravalli Range]] is the distinguishing feature of the district. The range of hills which runs between Ajmer and [[Nasirabad, Ajmer|Nasirabad]] marks the watershed of the continent of [[India]]. The rain which falls on the southeastern slopes drains into the [[Chambal River|Chambal]], and so into the [[Bay of Bengal]]; that which falls on the northwest side into the [[Luni River]], which discharges itself into the [[Rann of Kutch]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Ajmere-Merwara|volume=1|page=453}}</ref>

The province is on the border of what may be called the [[arid zone]]; it is the debatable land between the north-eastern and south-western [[monsoon]]s, and beyond the influence of either. The south-west monsoon sweeps up the [[Narmada River|Narmada]] valley from [[Bombay]] and crossing the tableland at [[Neemuch]] gives copious supplies to [[Malwa]], [[Jhalawar]] and [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]] and the countries which lie in the course of the Chambal River.<ref name="EB1911"/>

The clouds which strike [[Kathiawar]] and [[Kutch]] are deprived of a great deal of their moisture by the hills in those countries (now the majority of this region is in [[Gujarat]] state within independent [[India]]), and the greater part of the remainder is deposited on [[Mount Abu]] and the higher slopes of the Aravalli Range, leaving but little for Merwara, where the hills are lower, and still less for Ajmer. It is only when the monsoon is in considerable force that Merwara gets a plentiful supply from it. The north-eastern monsoon sweeps up the valley of the [[Ganges]] from the Bay of Bengal and waters the northern part of [[Rajasthan]], but hardly penetrates farther west than the longitude of Ajmer. The rainfall of the district depends on the varying strength of these two monsoons. The agriculturist of Ajmer-Merwara could never rely upon two good harvests in succession.<ref name="EB1911"/>

===British rule===
Part of the [[Ajmer region]], the [[territory]] of the future province was ceded to the British by [[Daulat Rao Sindhia]] of [[Gwalior State]] as part of a treaty dated 25 June 1818. Then in May 1823 the Merwara (Mewar) part was ceded to Britain by [[Udaipur State]]. Thereafter Ajmer-Merwara was administered directly by the British [[East India Company]]. After the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], in 1858 the powers of the company were transferred to the British Crown and the [[Governor-General of India]]. His administration of Ajmer-Merwara was controlled by a chief commissioner who was subordinate to the British agent for the [[Rajputana Agency]].<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V05_145.gif Ajmer Merwara] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429173414/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V05_145.gif |date=29 April 2023 }} [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]], 1909, v. 5, p.&nbsp;137-146.</ref>

====Superintendents for Ajmer ====
* 9 Jul 1818{{snd}}17 Jul 1818  Nixon
*18 Jul 1818{{snd}}15 Dec 1824  Francis Boyle Shannon Wilder       (1785–1849) 
*16 Dec 1824{{snd}}21 Apr 1825  Richard Moore (1st time)
*22 Apr 1825{{snd}}23 Oct 1827  Henry Middleton
*24 Oct 1827{{snd}}28 Nov 1831  Richard Cavendish
*29 Nov 1831{{snd}}1 Jul 1832  Richard Moore (2nd time)
* 2 Jul 1832{{snd}}16 Apr 1834  Alexander Speirs
*17 Apr 1834{{snd}}30 Jun 1836  George Frederick Edmonstone        (1813–1864)
* 1 Jul 1836{{snd}}25 Jul 1837  Charles E. Trevelyan               (1807–1886)
*26 Jul 1837{{snd}}Feb 1842     J.D. Macnaghten

====Superintendents for Merwara (from Feb 1842, Ajmer-Merwara)====
*1823{{snd}}1836                Henry Hall                         (1789–1875)
*1836{{snd}}1857                Charles George Dixon               (died 1857)

====Agents of the Governors-general for the Rajputana agency==== 
*1832{{snd}}29 Nov 1833         Abraham Lockett                    (1781–1834)
*29 Nov 1833{{snd}}Jun 1834     Alexander Speirs
*Jun 1834{{snd}}1 Feb 1839     Nathaniel Alves  
* 1 Feb 1839{{snd}}1839         John Ludlow (acting)               (1788–1880)
*Apr 1839{{snd}}Dec 1847        James Sutherland                   (died 1848)         
*Jan 1844{{snd}}Oct 1846        Charles Thoresby                   (died 1862) (acting for Sutherland)
*Dec 1847{{snd}}Jan 1853        John Low                           (1788–1880)
*25 Jun 1848{{snd}}19 Nov 1848  Showers (acting for Low)
* 8 Sep 1851{{snd}}1 Dec 1851  D.A. Malcolm (acting for Low)
*1852{{snd}}1853                George St. Patrick Lawrence        (1804–1884) (1st time)  
* 5 Mar 1853{{snd}}Feb 1857     Henry Montgomery Lawrence          (1806–1857) 
*15 Mar 1857{{snd}}Apr 1864     George St. Patrick Lawrence        (s.a.)  (2nd time) 
*10 Apr 1859{{snd}}24 Nov 1860  William Frederick Eden             (1814–1867) (acting for Lawrence)
*Apr 1864{{snd}}1867            William Frederick Eden             (s.a.) 
*1867{{snd}}1870                Richard Harte Keatinge             (1825–1904) 
*15 Jun 1870{{snd}}1 Apr 1871  John Cheap Brooke                  (1818–1899) (acting for Keatinge)

====Chief Commissioners====
{{See also|List of Chief Commissioners of Ajmer-Merwara}}
* 1 Apr 1871{{snd}}21 Jun 1873  Richard Harte Keatinge             (s.a.) 
* 1 Apr 1871{{snd}}21 Jun 1873  John Cheape Brooke                 (s.a.)  (acting for Keatinge)
*21 Jun 1873{{snd}}6 Apr 1874  Sir Lewis Pelly (1st time)         (1825–1892)  (acting to 6 Feb 1874)
* 6 Apr 1874{{snd}}6 Jul 1874  [[Sir William George Lawrence Beynon|William H. Beynon]] (acting)         ({{circa|lk=no|1826}}{{snd}}1903)
* 6 Jul 1874{{snd}}12 Nov 1874  Sir Lewis Pelly (2nd time)         (s.a.)  
*12 Nov 1874{{snd}}18 Aug 1876  Alfred Comyns Lyall (acting)       (1835–1911) 
*18 Aug 1876{{snd}}5 Mar 1877  Charles Kenneth Mackenzie Walter   (1833–1892)  (1st time)(acting)
* 5 Mar 1877{{snd}}12 Dec 1878  Sir Lewis Pelly (3rd time)         (s.a.)  
*12 Dec 1878{{snd}}27 Mar 1887  Edward Ridley Colborne Bradford    (1836–1911)  (1st time)
*17 Mar 1881{{snd}}28 Nov 1882  Charles Kenneth Mackenzie Walter   (s.a.)  (2nd time) (acting)
*28 Nov 1882{{snd}}27 Mar 1887  Edward Ridley Colborne Bradford    (s.a.) (2nd time)
*27 Mar 1887{{snd}}20 Mar 1890  Charles Kenneth Mackenzie Walter   (1833–1892) (3rd time)(acting to 1 Apr 1887)
*20 Mar 1890{{snd}}27 Aug 1891  George Herbert Trevor (1st time)   (1840–1927) 
*27 Aug 1891{{snd}}2 Dec 1891  P.W. Powlett (acting)
* 2 Dec 1891{{snd}}22 Nov 1893  George Herbert Trevor (2nd time)   (s.a.)        
*22 Nov 1893{{snd}}11 Jan 1894  William Francis Prideaux (acting)  (1840–1914)
*11 Jan 1895{{snd}}20 Mar 1895  George Herbert Trevor (3rd time)   (s.a.)    
*20 Mar 1895{{snd}}10 Mar 1898  Robert Joseph Crosthwaite          (1841–1917) 
*10 Mar 1898{{snd}}1 May 1900  Arthur Henry Temple Martindale     (1854–1942) (1st time)
* 1 May 1900{{snd}}1 Apr 1901  William Hutt Curzon Wyllie (acting)(1848–1909)
* 1 Apr 1901{{snd}}3 Feb 1902  A.P. Thornton (acting)
* 3 Feb 1902{{snd}}1 Apr 1905  Arthur Henry Temple Martindale     (s.a.) (2nd time)     
* 1 Apr 1905{{snd}}4 Jan 1918  [[Elliot Graham Colvin]]               (1861–1940) 
* 4 Jan 1918{{snd}}22 Dec 1919  John Manners Smith                 (1864–1920) 
*22 Dec 1919{{snd}}7 Aug 1925  Robert Erskine Holland             (1873–1965) 
* 7 Aug 1925{{snd}}18 Mar 1927  Stewart Blakeley Agnew Patterson   (1872–1942) 
*18 Mar 1927{{snd}}14 Oct 1932  [[Leonard William Reynolds]]           (1874–1946) 
*14 Oct 1932{{snd}}28 Oct 1937  [[George Drummond Ogilvie]]            (1882–1966) 
*28 Oct 1937{{snd}}1 Dec 1944<!-- Check end date -->  [[Arthur Cunningham Lothian]]          (1887–1962) 
*May 1939{{snd}}Oct 1939        Conrad Corfield                    (1893–1980) (acting for Lothian)
* 1 Dec 1944{{snd}}15 Aug 1947  Hiranand Rupchand Shivdasani       (1904–1949)

===Post-independence===
From the date of [[partition of India|partition]] and independence in 1947 until 1950, Ajmer-Merwara remained a province of the new [[Dominion of India]]. In 1950 it became [[Ajmer State]], which on 1 November 1956, was merged into the state of [[Rajasthan]].

The Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act, 1952 was the landmark in the legal history of land reforms in Rajasthan which was followed by Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 that became applicable to the whole of Rajasthan. The overriding effect of this Act provided relief to the existing tenants and the rights accrued to tenants accordingly.

==See also==
*Rawat Rajputs
*The [[Mer (community)]] are a [[Hindu caste]] from the Gujarat and Central India who emigrated hundreds of years ago from Ajmer-Merwara and the surrounding regions of Rajputana.
*[[Mair Rajputs]] of [[Punjab region|Punjab]] are a [[Hindu caste]] who emigrated hundreds of years ago to Punjab from Ajmer-Merwara and the surrounding regions of Rajputana.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Coord|26.45|N|74.64|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}
{{Presidencies and provinces of British India}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Provinces of British India]]
[[Category:Historical Indian regions]]
[[Category:History of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Ajmer district]]
[[Category:1818 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:1936 disestablishments in British India]]
[[Category:History of Ajmer]]