An Inspirational Update on Mount Abu

Mount Abu was reverted back to Rajasthan in 1956

For years Abuites were aware of the dispute that existed between the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat for this Abode of the Gods. While reading the newspaper on the 1stNovenber, I came across an article posted by “Ashish Vasi” TNN. The extract below is taken from the Times of India Ahmedabad edition. His reflection on Mount Abu has brought forth Forgotten Truths.

Nakki Lake in  Mount Abu

Nakki Lake in Abu

Yes, Sardar, whose birthday fell on Monday, wanted Mt Abu to be part of Gujarat. Before the integration of Indian States, Mt Abu was part of Abu-Sirohi state, with a large Gujarati-speaking population. Bombay and Rajasthan states wanted the mountain peak to be a part of their respective territories. “Until 1300, rulers from Gujarat ruled Mt Abu. However, subsequently, it became a part of Sirohi. Sardar Patel argued that the region belonged to Gujarati rulers and reflected its ethnicity,” says Maharao of Sirohi, Raghuvir Singh. Knowing that the move could trigger protests, Sardar Patel sent his trusted lieutenant VP Menon for a primary assessment. Based on Menon’s feedback, Patel bifurcated Sirohi and merged Abu-Delwada with Bombay in 1949. However, post-merger in 1949, Sardar wrote a letter to one of his colleagues, Kalyanji Mehta, saying he has handed over the whole mountain of Abu to Gujarat and that keeping its possession as well as benefiting out of it was the look-out of the Bombay government. “But soon local people started an agitation. Prime Minister Nehru appointed a commission to solve such issues nationwide. The commission visited Mount Abu and discussed the matter with my father Maharao Abhay Singhji. They also asked me if Gujarati was the mother tongue of the royal family,” recalled Raghuvir Singh. When Sardar died in 1950, the Praja Mandal of Sirohi intensified the agitation and there was no strong voice from Bombay, to decisively fight for Abu. On the basis of the commission’s report, Mount Abu was reverted back to Rajasthan in 1956. Thankfully, some would say.