AjmerMerwara

Ajmer–Merwara, historically also known as Ajmir Province and later Ajmer–Merwara–Kekri, was a directly administered province of British India situated in the heart of the Rajputana region. Unlike the neighbouring princely states that acknowledged British suzerainty while retaining internal autonomy, Ajmer–Merwara was governed directly by British officials. The territory consisted principally of the districts of Ajmer and Merwara, which together formed a small enclave surrounded by the princely states of Rajputana. The province held a distinctive administrative and geographical identity from its establishment in the early nineteenth century until its integration into the modern state of Rajasthan after Indian independence.

Historical Formation and Early Administration

The origins of Ajmer–Merwara as a British possession lie in the political realignments of the early nineteenth century. On 25 June 1818 Daulat Rao Sindhia of Gwalior ceded the Ajmer region to the British as part of a treaty settlement. In 1823 the Merwara tract was ceded by the rulers of Udaipur, further extending British jurisdiction in central Rajputana. Initially placed under the Bengal Presidency, the territory transferred in 1861 to the North-Western Provinces.
In 1871 Ajmer–Merwara was separated from the North-Western Provinces and established as a distinct province under a chief commissioner. Throughout these administrative transitions the region served as a strategic British possession amidst a constellation of princely states. British administrators oversaw revenue collection, law enforcement and public works directly, while coordinating with the Governor-General’s agent for the Rajputana Agency.
During the early decades of British rule the districts were occasionally combined or separated for administrative convenience. Ajmer and Merwara were placed under a unified commissioner in 1842, separated in 1856 and thereafter supervised under the East India Company until 1858. Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, powers of the Company transferred to the Crown, and direct British governance continued until independence.

Geo-Environmental Setting

The geography of Ajmer–Merwara is dominated by the Aravalli Range, one of India’s oldest mountain systems. The town of Ajmer stands on a plateau that constitutes a high point in the plains of northern India. The surrounding hills create a natural basin from which the land slopes in all directions, shaping drainage patterns linked to the subcontinent’s major river systems.
A significant geographical feature is the continental watershed located between Ajmer and Nasirabad. Rainfall on the southeastern slopes descends through tributaries to the Chambal River and eventually into the Bay of Bengal. On the northwestern slopes, precipitation drains into the Luni River system, which flows towards the Rann of Kutch. These contrasting drainage networks underscore the transitional climatic character of the province.
Ajmer–Merwara lies at the boundary of India’s arid zone, in an area influenced variably by both the southwestern and northeastern monsoons. The southwestern monsoon brings moisture from the Narmada valley and the Chambal basin, though the Aravalli hills intercept much of the rainfall. Conversely, the northeastern monsoon rarely penetrates beyond the longitude of Ajmer. As a result, the region experiences substantial variability in rainfall patterns. Historically this inconsistency made agricultural livelihoods precarious, with farmers unable to depend on successive good harvests.

British Administrative Structure

Governance of Ajmer–Merwara followed a highly centralised model. A succession of superintendents, agents and chief commissioners administered the region, reporting formally to the British authorities overseeing Rajputana. These officials were responsible for civil administration, judicial matters, revenue oversight and relations with surrounding princely states.
From 1871 the chief commissioner held primary authority. Several notable administrators served in this capacity, managing public order, overseeing famine relief and supervising development projects such as roads, irrigation works and communications. Although much smaller than major provinces elsewhere in British India, Ajmer–Merwara functioned as a stable administrative outpost with distinctive responsibilities due to its enclave status within Rajputana.

Economic and Social Conditions under British Rule

The local economy rested on agriculture, pastoral activity and trade, but climatic unpredictability often produced hardship. Periods of drought were common, reflecting the region’s position between monsoon systems. The province was also exposed to wider disturbances, including the famines that struck several parts of India during the nineteenth century.
The British administration introduced land revenue reforms and infrastructure improvements, though these measures had varying effects. Ajmer, as the central town, became a centre for trade, administration and education. The influence of the wider Rajputana region meant that social life remained intertwined with the customs of both Rajput and non-Rajput communities.

Transition to Indian Independence

With the end of British rule in 1947 the province became part of the Dominion of India. It remained a separate administrative unit until 1950, when it was reorganised as Ajmer State. Subsequent nation-wide efforts to rationalise state boundaries culminated in the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, through which Ajmer State was merged into the newly formed state of Rajasthan. This integration marked the end of Ajmer–Merwara’s existence as a distinct administrative entity.
In independent India, land reforms significantly reshaped agrarian relations. The Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act of 1952 and the Rajasthan Tenancy Act of 1955 played pivotal roles in eliminating jagir tenures and strengthening tenant rights. These reforms altered the distribution of land ownership, with communities such as the Jats emerging as major landholders in many parts of the region.

Cultural and Social Legacy

Ajmer–Merwara’s historical role influenced cultural migration patterns. Communities such as the Mer, originally found in parts of Gujarat and central India, trace aspects of their ancestry to migrations from Ajmer–Merwara and neighbouring regions of Rajputana. Similar connections exist with groups in the Punjab region, reflecting centuries-old movements of people across northwestern India.
The legacy of British administration, combined with the region’s broader Rajputana identity, contributes to Ajmer’s contemporary cultural significance. Today Ajmer remains an important city within Rajasthan, historically shaped by its unique position as a directly administered enclave in colonial India and by its long-standing interactions with the princely states surrounding it.