Most princely states were ruled by Rajputs, and after merger with independent India, it was natural for these ex-rulers to have a say in the political developments of their states. But the Congress party was not interested in sharing power and prime minister Nehru had threatened to withdraw the Privy Purse if any member of Royalty stood for election. Some of Nehru's measures, like the Hindu code bill, also alienated the conservative population of the princely states.
In response the Ram Rajya Parishad was formed by Swami Karpatri and Thakur Madan Singh Danta. The Thakur served as Captain in the Sawai Man Guards, and later served in the Rajendra Hazari Guards, and his estate of Danta was in Shekhawati region of Jaipur princely state. In their manifesto, the Ram Rajya Parishad promised:
Mostly the Rajpoot rulers had an inborn loathing for politics and a natural instinct for serving in the army. But Hanwant Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur was then only 24 and peeved at the promises to Jodhpur state broken by Congress. He formed his own party in the Marwar region, and made an alliance with the Ram Rajya Parishad and Jan Sangh known as the Samyukta Dal. It was predicted that Congress, which ruled India and also ran the interim government of Rajasthan, would easily sweep the state elections. Local bodies like the Marwar Kisan Sabha merged with the Congress on the eve of the elections. Hanwant Singh was undeterred and gave a new life and focus to the Ram Rajya Parishad.
The Maharaja's party swept the Marwar region, and the Ram Rajya Parishad did well in the other parts of Rajasthan. But just before the results were announced the Maharaja died in a mysterious crash of his private plane. Sabotage was suspected by the Jodhpur people who rioted and came for the Congressman Vyas, who had lost the election in Jodhpur to Hanwant Singh.
Had Maharaja Hanuwant Singh lived, he would have taken the Ram Rajya Parishad to victory in the other parts of Rajasthan, and could have even posed a challenge to the Nehru Congress at the center. But because of Hanwant Singh's death this became a mere dream and the Ram Rajya Parishad dwindled down over the years and finally the anti-Congress forces rallied around the Swatantra Party, this time under the leadership of the Royal Family of Jaipur.
Thakur Madan Singh of Danta continued to lead the Ram Rajya Parishad as president. He owned a fort in Danta with 30 acres of land, and he owned another house in the city of Jaipur. Despite these resources he found it tough going as most of the intellectual, mercantile, and agrarian/labouring classes supported the Congress party. The Thakur had to sell land to finance the Ram Rajya Parishad, which had no other source of funds than contributions of its own members.
In response the Ram Rajya Parishad was formed by Swami Karpatri and Thakur Madan Singh Danta. The Thakur served as Captain in the Sawai Man Guards, and later served in the Rajendra Hazari Guards, and his estate of Danta was in Shekhawati region of Jaipur princely state. In their manifesto, the Ram Rajya Parishad promised:
Right to bear arms
Right to own property
Formation of Akhand Bharat
Protection of Hindu shastra laws
Protection of cows
Compensation for land taken away by government
Mostly the Rajpoot rulers had an inborn loathing for politics and a natural instinct for serving in the army. But Hanwant Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur was then only 24 and peeved at the promises to Jodhpur state broken by Congress. He formed his own party in the Marwar region, and made an alliance with the Ram Rajya Parishad and Jan Sangh known as the Samyukta Dal. It was predicted that Congress, which ruled India and also ran the interim government of Rajasthan, would easily sweep the state elections. Local bodies like the Marwar Kisan Sabha merged with the Congress on the eve of the elections. Hanwant Singh was undeterred and gave a new life and focus to the Ram Rajya Parishad.
The Maharaja's party swept the Marwar region, and the Ram Rajya Parishad did well in the other parts of Rajasthan. But just before the results were announced the Maharaja died in a mysterious crash of his private plane. Sabotage was suspected by the Jodhpur people who rioted and came for the Congressman Vyas, who had lost the election in Jodhpur to Hanwant Singh.
Had Maharaja Hanuwant Singh lived, he would have taken the Ram Rajya Parishad to victory in the other parts of Rajasthan, and could have even posed a challenge to the Nehru Congress at the center. But because of Hanwant Singh's death this became a mere dream and the Ram Rajya Parishad dwindled down over the years and finally the anti-Congress forces rallied around the Swatantra Party, this time under the leadership of the Royal Family of Jaipur.
Thakur Madan Singh of Danta continued to lead the Ram Rajya Parishad as president. He owned a fort in Danta with 30 acres of land, and he owned another house in the city of Jaipur. Despite these resources he found it tough going as most of the intellectual, mercantile, and agrarian/labouring classes supported the Congress party. The Thakur had to sell land to finance the Ram Rajya Parishad, which had no other source of funds than contributions of its own members.
Hindi bio राजऋषि ठाकुर श्री मदन सिंह जी, दांता by Ratan Singh Shekhawat
Madan Singh also founded the Bhuswami Sangh, led the anti-cow slaughter movement, and was president of the Jan Sangh in the 1960s. He later joined the Swatantra Party. At the time of the Indo-China war he donated what was left of his land and money to the country. This act made him a great hero and patriot but it left him without resources. Thakur Madan Singh lived out the rest of his days on the meager pension of a Rajasthan assembly MLA.
