Following India’s independence in 1947, Maharana Bhupal Singh (reign 1930-1955) was made Maharaj Pramukh (~ Governor) of Rajasthan State 1952-1955 – the only post in Republic of India specially created for Mewar! Maharana Bhupal Singh was the first ruler to merge his state with independent India (18 April 1948). India’s first Union Home Minister (Loh Purush -the Iron Man) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel reprimanded the reluctant Hyderabad and other states saying that “...if any ruler in India had any right to claim of independence it was Mewar, which has gladly and readily merged with the Indian Union saying that it was fulfillment of 13 centuries of their mission...but for Mewar no other rulers has that right...” Even in the post-independent period, the Indian public, Indian Presidents, Prime Ministers and politicians irrespective of their political affiliation, continued their appreciation and reverence to the values of Mewar. The noted Indian freedom fighter, Union Minister and founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, and one of the great persons of literature of modern India, K. M. Munshi (1887–1971) has written,“ ...the Maharanas of Mewar represented the best and noblest in Hindu culture and polity...they translated into practice the Puranic concept of Ram Rajya...
Maharana Pratap has always been held in great esteem in India and was projected as a model of patriotism and freedom struggle against the Mughal rule in India. The names Pratap and Chetak, his stallion, are very famous and the Government of Republic of India has issued commemorative stamps (1967, 1998) and coins (2003) to honor this great Son of India. The grateful nation installed Pratap’s Chetak-mounted statue along with those of his more renowned associates—Jhala Maan, Bhilu Raja (the tribal chief), Bhama Shah, Hakim Khan Soor and an attendant-foot-soldier in front of the Parliament House in New Delhi on August 21, 2007.
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