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General Employees and Salary System in Garhwal Kingdom Court
Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -5

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -194       
   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -442 
 
                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)
 
                  The position names of employees in Garhwal Kingdom have been changing as per time and central leadership in India. Initially the position name might be Khas language vocabulary and slowly have changed as the language of Pataliputra, Kannayj, Ujjain and Delhi. Since old records are destroyed from Joshimath, Uttarkashi, Devalgarh and Shrinagar, we have only records of position names as were in Mughal period.
Chand-  Maularam mentioned ‘Chand’ in his Garhrajvansh Kavya . ‘Chand’ was postion for the person taking messages with fast mode.
Chakar- ‘Chakar’ means a general and low level servant
Chopdar- ‘Chopdar’ means that used to take a Silver rod before the King visiting anywhere in palace or outside of palace.
Khavas and Khavasin – These names were for palace servants. Khwas or Khavas is male and Khavasin or Khwasin is female version. 
Modi- Modi used to arrange food for the Kingdom guests at a regulated rate.
Vakil- Vakil means the Kingdom Representative in foreign country court.

                   Salary Pattern in Garhwal Kingdom

   There were no regular rules for appointing, training, salary system, promotion, demotion, retirement and pension for any employee.
 Depending upon getting or taking benefit of opportunity was the main system. There was daily allowance for day to day expenses from Kingdom side and main income of employees was from the land offered to them. The employees used to get Rukka or order from King and used to go to Parganashikari (Pargana officer) for getting slary that was in terms of grains and pulses, ghee etc.
              Due to indulging in crime or due to annoyance from King, the employee was dismissed (without any rule).

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 27/9/2014
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -443
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….
XX    
Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period   History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal;  Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district, History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty ,  to be continued
XX

              Capital Shrinagar in Pal / Shah Dynast in Garhwal

Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -7

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -196       
   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -444 
 
                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

   Shrinagar at Alaknanda bank was the capital of Garhwal Kingdom from Ajay Pal to Pradyuman Shah Period.
             The climate for health was not so conducive in summer and rainy season in Shrinagar. However, being on the main route of Haridwar –Badrinath; water availability, Alaknanda crossing facilities, fertile land in nearby regions, Garhwal Kings opted for Shrinagar as capital. The place e was also safe from all directions.
              The capital was 10-12 Feet above the Alaknanda River surface. The capital was in elliptical shape and had area of ¾ mile by ¾ mile.
          There was no planning at the time of establishing Shrinagar as capital. The houses were two stories building built by mud and stone and roofed by gray colored flat stones. There were shops and godown  on ground floors and people used to live in first or second floor. There was not much distinction among the archeological structure of houses. Stone balconies were on each house. The streets were very congested and two persons could not walk together.
 The Gadhi  was in east of Shrinagar. There was Gorakhnath Temple near Fort or Gadhi. Multistoried Palace was in the middle of Shrinagar.
 There were many temples as Kamleshwar, Shankarmath, Bhairav, Garud, Keshoray temple are still there in Shrinagar. Gorakhnath Temple, Jain Temple and other Math or temples flew away in a flood and the capital was totally destroyed in earth quake.
                             The Court in Shrinagar

       The multistoried building court was called ‘Darbar’.  The records and other offices were there in the court.
  The court in second floor, used to start at 9.30 AM till 3.30PM. Then there was evening session from evening till mid night. The second session used to be entertaining session for elite. King, Mukhtyar, Bisht, Raur, Negi, Ministers, Goldar , Dharmadhikari used to attend both the session.
       In entreating session or Majlish,  there used to be storytelling, poetry reading, song, dances and jokes.


Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 30/9/2014
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -445
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….
XX    
Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period   History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district, History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty ,  to be continued
XX

 Land Ownership (Khaikar, Kaini, Sirtan etc) in Garhwal Kingdom in Pal /Shah Period

Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -9

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -198       
   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -446 
 
                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)
    Broadly, the landowner was called Thatwan in Garhwal Kingdom (at least around Mughal Period and till British came).
Khaykar or Khaikar – The land cultivators or farmers who were settled on the land of Thatwan were called ‘Khaykar or Khaikar’. Till ‘Khaikar’ was able to pay tribute /tax to Thatwan could not disown the ownership of ‘Khaikar’.  Before, Thatwan used to come in process, farmers used to pay tax to the state and after Thatwan getting land from the government; Khaykar had to pay tax to Thatwan.
Besides, taxes, Padhan (village chief or main land owner)  and other owners used to offer personal tribute to Thatwan.
Khurni or Kaini- The Thatwan was also free to settle farmers in his own land. Those new farmers settled after Thatwan were called ‘Khurni o r Kaini’.  Kaini was in case servants or slave (?) of Thatwan. The Khurni or Kaini were supposed to do house works and many other personal works of Thatwan or Kbadjedar. Khaini had to shave his head in case there is death in the family of Thatwan. There was state punishment for Khaini in case of their disobedience of Thatwan.
                          Transfer of Land Ownership
  The court used to offer land on occasion of Relgious purpose (sankalp) , Raut ( Dfence personnel) or Jagir to Thatwan and used to have copper inscriptions for the purpose and court used to keep these orders in the treasury. King had right to dismiss the ownership of Thatwan. Raut or Jagir was temporary ownership and the King used to dismiss ownership after the Thatwan was of no use for the Kingdom.
       Usually, Kind avoided dismissing the land ownership of Sankalp.
         Many times, King used to disown the Thatwan’s position and Thatwan used to own the land but used to pay tax to the Kingdom.
 If any Thatwan was not interested to have Thatwan land (that was tax free), Thatwan used to come to court and used bring  soil and pebbles and used to keep an ana or Dhela on pebble for getting permission to be away from Thatwan position.
 Thatwan, Kanjedar were free to transfer their land to their daughter in law and Dharm Putra (adopted Son). 



Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 3/10/2014
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -447
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….
XX    
Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period   History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district, History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty ,  to be continued
XX

  Distribution/ Division of Land Ownership, Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty

Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -11 

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -200       
   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -448 

 
                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

                 Eldest brother used to be the owner on record books. Other younger brothers used to be the equal partners of the land. The land was divided according to number of brothers and not according to number of mothers. Where the wife or wives were same for all brothers, there land was divided by number of brothers too.  Such Land division was called ‘Bhai Bant’
      Many times, the person used to divide land equally among his wives and not according to numbers of sons and was called as ‘Sautiya Bant’.
    A special portion of land was offered to eldest son as ‘Jethali’. The right of onwenriship on land was offered to only sons of real Wife (Asal) and not sons (Kam Asal Putra) from keeps or lower caste wives.
             A little land was offered to son from kam Asal wife (widow, Dhanti, prostitute, Harijan). In Khas Rajput all sons were divided land whether they are from any wife.

                                  Land Revenue System
                   The main revenue for    Kingdom was land revenue. The tax was as per fertile and non fertile land.
 The revenue for Garhwal Kingdom was around two lakh Garhwali rupees.

                68 Types of Tax in Garhwal Kingdom
                     
  According to folklores, Garhwal Kingdom used to collect ‘Chhatis Rakam’ and Battis Kalam’ or taxes. That means there were sixty eight types of taxes. 
 In fact, all taxes were not collected annually but apart from annual tax, the King used to collect taxes in bad or good times too.
Rakam or Mamla land tax- This was land tax collected in cash.
Baikar tax- Baikar was taken in the form of grains.
Kut tax- Kut tax was in cash in exchange of grains.
                  Social Welfare Taxes
Katak Tax- Katak tax was taken for increasing or maintaining army.
Jhuliya tax – This tax was collected from those crossing rivers and using Jhula (Rope Bridge).
Khini Khapini Tax- This Khini Khapini or Kuli Begar tax was when Kingdom used to build any project or labor works.
Manga Tax- When the Kingdom used to be in danger, Kingdom used to collect Manga tax.
                             Taxes for Kingdom Offices

           Kaminchari or Sayanchari taxes- These taxes were for paying salaries to different top brass officers.
Garkha Negichari Taxes- This tax was for paying salaries to land management officers.
Sahu or Ratangali Taxes – This tax was collected for paying salaries of court /judges, record keepers, accountant etc.
                     Taxes for maintaining King Families
 Ghodiyalo Tax- This tax was collected for maintaining horses for King Families.
Kukaryalo Tax- Kukryalo tax was for the marinating the dogs of King and his families.
Bhukdiya Tax- Bhukdiya tax was for maintaining Kingdom horse wranglers
Bajniyan Taxe- The tax was collected for Dancers of the King
 There were other taxes time to time taken by Kingdom as Syundi Suppa kar, Chulha kar, Vitt Kar, had Kar, Hal Kar, Gaj Kar, Ain kar etc.



Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 5/10/2014
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -449
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….
XX    
Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period   History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district, History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty ,  to be continued
XX
Distribution of Land Ownership Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty in context Garhwal History; Distribution of  Land Ownership ,  Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty in context Haridwar, Garhwal History; Distribution of Land Ownership ,  Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty in context Pauri Garhwal History; Distribution of Land Ownership ,  Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty in context Chamoli Garhwal History; Distribution of Land Ownership ,  Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty in context Rudraprayag Garhwal History; Distribution of Land Ownership ,  Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty in context Tehri  Garhwal History; Distribution of Land Ownership ,  Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty in context Uttarkashi Garhwal History; Distribution of Land Ownership ,  Land Revenue System in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty in context Dehradun , Doon Valley Garhwal History;




 

                 Backward Mining Methods in Garhwal

Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -13 

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -202       
   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -450 

                        By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)
            Due to backwardness in mining in Garhwal in Pal /Shah Dynasty period, there was least productivity in mining thus low income.
          All the mines were on the hill slopes. The miners used to dig hole in such a way that rain water did not enter into the mines.  The mining holes were so narrow and low height that the mining worker did not have opportunity for standing. On the mine tunnel the roofs were covered by tree log, branches or sleepers but accident took place due to falling of mine debris.
   Miner labors had old types of   hoes, spades, hammers, drillers, etc. These old types of appliances were not able to mine hard rocks and mining from soft rocks was dangerous. The miner used to burn Chill (pine or other plant twig burning lamp) inside the mine for light.
  At the time of water logging the labor used to take out water with the help of wooden Parothi (container). The last person used to hand over water Parothi to other and Parothi was hand over one person to last person like that.
                              Ore Cleaning
 The mining labor (Agariya majdur) used to take animal bag (Goat etc) inside the mine. There he used to fill ores inside the animal bag and used to close there. He used to tie bag by rope and tied on his back. Then he used to pull the ore filled bag towards the opening.
 The ore was hit by Thath (hammaers) on a stone by women. Then stones were separated by women. The ore was taken to river bank and was washed there. This way stone, mud and other unnecessary material was separated.
                    Ore Smelting
           The cleaned ores were taken to the smelting factory (Ghansal or Ansal). The smelting workers were called Dhanoriya. Dhanoriya had factories inside normal hut and had pits inside the Ghasal. The ore was smelted by wood coal. The Dhanauriya had Dhankani to blow air.The ore smelt used to take around twenty nine hours. This way the metal round roll (Pind) was produced. Dhanoriya used to send Metal Roll to ‘Khateniya’ who used to convert Pind (roll) into ‘Fal’ or ‘Pai’(plates). The weight of a Fal or Pai was around a kilo. The ‘Fal used to be thick in the centre and thinnest towards the corner.
  By 930 Ser of ore (around .80 Kilo), 327 Ser of metal was extracted and then 82 Ser of pure iron was extracted. The productivity was 8.8 percent.
 The iron smith had two castes –Lohaar (those who used to make agro appliances and Bhadeliya who used to make iron house hold appliances.
                        Mining Contractors
  Mines were Kingdom properties. Kingdom used to give mines on contract for five –six or more years. The contractor used to pay half of the money of the metal value to the Kingdom. The contractors used to hire mining labor (Agriya or Chhora) on contract. Agriya used to do farming near mines land. Garhwal Kingdom used to get income for Rs 5000 (nepali ) from Nagpur copper mines. That means same way; there were incomes from other mines too.

                            Extracting Gold Dust 
     The gold dust was found in the river sands of Garhwal. Dhunar used to extract gold dust from river sand by washing sand into water. Dhunar used to take contract of river bank land. Each Dhunar used to deposit Rs 100/- annually in the treasury.
The following centers were for gold dust extraction –
Karnprayag region – Banks of Pindar and Alaknanda and other rivulets
Painkhanda –Alaknanda valley
Devprayag – Alaknanda and Bhagirathi valleys
Rishikesh –Ganga Banks
Haridwar – Ganga Bank
Lakadghat – Kalgarh at the Ramganga bank
Mandakini bank –Near Kedarnath
                     Miscellaneous Minerals in Garhwal
Sandstone was important mineral in Haridwar and Rishikesh. There were lead mines in Dashauli and Garhwal Kingdom used to mine lead from there. Garhwal Kingdom had given the land to Lead miners that whenever Kingdom needed lead the Dhunariya or Agariya would mine the Lead from mines. There was Mica, sulfur, Shilajit minerals too. Traders used to call Borax from  Tibet and used to supply in Indian plains.




Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 7/10/2014
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -451
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….
XX    
Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period   History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district, History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty ,  to be continued
XX
  Backward Mining Methods in Garhwal; Backward Mining Methods in Garhwal in context Haridwar, Garhwal History; Backward Mining Methods in Garhwal in context Dehradun Garhwal History; Backward Mining Methods in Garhwal in context Pauri Garhwal History; Backward Mining Methods in Garhwal in context Uttarkashi Garhwal History; Backward Mining Methods in Garhwal in context Chamoli Garhwal History; Backward Mining Methods in Tehri Garhwal in context Tehri  Garhwal History; Backward Mining Methods in Garhwal in context Rudraprayag Garhwal History;