MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

Change of Political Agent for Tehri Kingdom 

Disputes between Sudarshan Shah and Saklani Family -7
History of King Sudarshan Shah of Tehri Riyasat – 115
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 115
  History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1344 

  By:  Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
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 Dr. Dabral (1) states that From 1815 to 1825, the Kumaon commissioner was working as Agent for Political Affairs of Governor General for Tehri Kingdom too. The office of Political affairs Agent was far from Tehri Garhwal. It was difficult to send Kingdom representatives to Kumaon Commissioner in Almora for pity matters of those were against law and order or rules by Kingdom.
Frazer already suggested to Governor General for keeping an exclusive Agent for Political Affairs in Tehri that the said officer could look after administration in Jaunsar region too. On that time the executing committee of Governor General did not take that suggestion (2).
 In 1825, Major Young was the Commanding officer of Dehradun region and was looking after defence subject about Dehradun and adjacent Jaunsar Babar (that under British rule) . East India Company handed over the charge of Political Affairs of Garhwal Kingdom to Major Young. (3)
Sudarshan Shah too requested for Young as Political Affair agent (4). Sudarshan Shah  met Young , his wife , daughter and son in law (4) .
 Dr Dabral explains (1) that by coming authority to a defence official, Sudarshan Shah got suitable opportunity for downing the activities of rebellions. Now, the problems of sending Kingdom representatives to far way Almora was solved. However, the dissatisfied and  notorious citizens  go easy  opportunities for complaining  against the Kingdom .

References –
1-Dabral, Shiv Prasad, (2009, Their Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 1, (2nd edition) Veer Gatha Press, Garhwal India, page 102, 103
2- English pre-mutiny records Kumaon . Pau .Pe series 1Garhwal raj , Letter of Co secretary to trail 31st July 1815
The above is available on Internet archive .org/stream/handbooktoenglisoodewauoft/handbooktoenglisdewauoft._djvu.txt
3- English pre-mutiny records Kumaon. Pau .Pe series 1Garhwal raj pages 460-462 were kept in Archive Records of Tehri Kingdom at Tehri
4- English pre-mutiny records Kumaon . Pau .Pe series 1Garhwal raj ain Archives of Record room of Tehri Kingdom register no 4 page 170
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bjukreti@gmail.com
History of Tehri Garhwal; History of Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Ghansali, Tehri Garhwal; History of Bhatwari ,  Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Tehri, Tehri Garhwal; History of Rajgarhi Uttarkashi Garhwal;  History of Narendranagar,  Tehri Garhwal; History of Dunda ,  Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Dhantoli, Tehri Garhwal; History of Chinyalisaur Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Pratapnagar , Tehri Garhwal; History of  Mori, Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Devprayaga, Tehri Garhwal; History of  Puraula, Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Jakhanikhal Tehri Garhwal; History of Gangotri- Jamnotri Uttarkashi Garhwal to be continued …

Revolt in Saklana Jagir

Disputes between Sudarshan Shah and Saklani Family -9
History of King Sudarshan Shah of Tehri Riyasat – 117
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 117
  History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1346 

  By:  Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
-
  Due to suppressive acts and increment in taxes on Sakalana Subjects by Saklani Muafidar , Kamin, Sayana of Saklani  Jagir  and a few people the supporters of king Sudarshan Shah decided to take the matter to Major Young (2) . The people were with chilam, sattu , Jhaba or Kandi on their back and a stick on hand reached in a group to Political Agent Office in Dehradun.
 On 9th April 1835, Political Agent Major Young wrote a letter to Metcalf (3) stating “  a group of around 300 people of Suganiana (Saklana ) entered into Court on second week of April 1835 “
  The group handed over a letter stating as follows-
“Muafidar (Saklani Jagirdar) takes so many taxes from us. Within short period, the Muafidar increased taxes that we are unable for paying all those taxes. We had to come before higher officials for taking our matter”
 Major Young write furrier (3)- “ there are 32 hill villages under Saklana talluka and there are 292 families those pay taxes. The total revenue is   Rs. 730. Muafidar takes more tax as tin 1835 the additional tax amount was Rs. 1300. That is the reason that those people came to my office”
 Major Young informed to Metcalf the agent of Governor General.  Major Young also wrote letter to Muafidar and asked them to manage Jagir properly. (1)
 After getting reply from Metcalf, Major Young wrote again to Munafidar (Saklani) Ray Hariram and Ray Devidatta. By that time,  British government awarded both the Saklanis as Roy due to loyalty to East India  Company  . Major wrote again “the  Government (British official) also agree that the Jagirdar (Muafidar) should look after people and it was in benefits of Muafidar.  Please look into  the matter seriously and I did inform to the subjects athat you will satisfy them and informed that in future this office will not hear their complains” (1)




References –
1-Dabral, Shiv Prasad, (2009, Their Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 1, (2nd edition) Veer Gatha Press, Garhwal India, page104
2-Raturi H.K, Garhwal Ka Itihas page 462,
3- Letter to Metcalf by Major Young on 9th April 1835 , English pre- Mutiny Record, Pau, le. Series, 3, , 1825-1835, Vol. 48

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bjukreti@gmail.com

Conspiracies by Govind Singh Bisht of Ravain -1

History of King Sudarshan Shah of Tehri Riyasat – 119
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 119
  History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1348 

  By:   Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
-
   Dabral explained (1) In 1825, British Government (Company) handed over Ravain Pargana to Sudarshan Shah. For satisfying the Ravain faunjdar Govind Singh Bisht, the King offered Barsari, Nandganv and other villages to him. Pradyumna Shah made Govind Shah as Ravain Faunjdar for rewarding him for his state services. Govind Singh Bisht and Shiv Datt were inhabitants of Shrinagar. Gorkha retained his position as that was in Garhwal Kingdom.       
         Sudarshan Shah appointed Govind Singh as Thanedar of Ravain. Thanedar of Ravain had same rights as of Tahsildar in British rule. Later on, Sudarshan Shah appointed Shiv Datt as assistant of Govind Singh (2). They both got friends and secretly for years , started increasing their wealth and power parallel to King (2).
 Encouraged by success of Kashiram, Govind Singh Bisht started rampaging acts too. Govind Singh by help of order of Pradyumna Shah and Gorkha rulers tried for getting free Jagir of Ravain. Govind Singh got collusion with Munshi Wakar Ali  an executive officer in Major Young Office..(1)
  Wakar Ali advised Govind Singh for having collusion with Subedar Jawan Singh in Sirmaur Battalion (1) .Major Young was Commander of Sirmaur Battalion and political agent for Their in Dehradun.   Major Young used to follow the advices of  Jawan Singh and Wakar Ali . Most probably, both the above persons assured Govind Singh that he will get free Riyasat by showing past state orders. (1)

  References
1-Dabral, Shiv Prasad, (2009, Their Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 1, (2nd edition) Veer Gatha Press, Garhwal India, page106
2-English Pre Mutiny Kumaon Records, Pau.Le.received series 2, vol. 1, 1831-1836

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bjukreti@gmail.com

Complaints against King by Govind Singh and Gang

Conspiracies by Govind Singh Bisht of Ravain -3
History of King Sudarshan Shah of Tehri Riyasat – 121 
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 121 
  History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1350   

  By:   Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
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  Dabral informs that Govind Singh Bisht , Shiv Datta and a few personalities from Ravain sent a complaint letter or request letter to Major Young  the political agent on  17 Novemeb2r 1832 accusing the king. (1) .
The wordings of such complaint letter was as follows (2)-
  “  In Gorkha Rule, the tax revenue for Ravain Pargana ( Region ) was fixed  for Kaccha Rupees seven –eight annually. When in 1811, Gorkha officials increased the planned tax revenue for Rs. 12000 annually, the Kamin Jamindar opposed ver badly the increased revenue and Gorkha regime kept the planned tax for 8000 only.
  In 1815, British regime kept the tax for Ravain for Rs. 8000 annually only. When the rule came under the Their King, the king increased the tx from 8000 annually to 10000and also increased an miscellaneous   amount for Rs.1000 annually. The King had been collecting eleven thousands annually from Ravain region (2) for last eight years
In 1832, the King increased the tax amount up to for 12300 annually.  The King assured on that tome that there would no increase in further tax .However, he increased other taxes again the total tax amount reached  for Rs 14000 annually. (2)
The king collected Tooli –Patha tax for Rs. 300, He proposed  taxes as  Hadkar (tax at funeral) and Mundkar (birth tax)  The Kingdom people harassed those were unable for paying axes and such people are taking shelter under British regime (in Dehradun etc). Now, the King is auctioning the properties of such people”

References
1-Dabral, Shiv Prasad, (2009, Their Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 1, (2nd edition) Veer Gatha Press, Garhwal India, page107-108
2-English Pre Mutiny Kumaon Records,  Pau.Le. Received series 2, vol. 1, 1831-1836
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bjukreti@gmail.com
History of Their Garhwal to be continued in next chapter …

Ravain Land Settlement and thereafter

Conspiracies by Govind Singh Bisht of Ravain -5
History of King Sudarshan Shah of Tehri Riyasat – 123 
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 123 
  History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1352   

  By:   Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

 After getting permission from British authorities, Major Young started land settlement in Ravain on 22nd August 1833.  By then young was Lieutenant Colonel. Colonel Young sent a report to the Agent of Governor General after competition of land settlement on 11 November 1833 (1).Young prepared the report as per advice of Munshi Wakar Ali (2). Colonel wrote that the behaviour of King towards Govind Singh Bisht and Shivdata is unjustly. Young suggested higher authorities that there must be arrangement or order that the rights of Govind Singh, Shiv Datta are protected and the King would not be able to take Jagir of Govind Singh (2).
    The King Sudarshan Shah was against the land settlement in Ravain as suggested by Young. Sudarshan Shah sent a couple of letters to British authorities complaining the partial behaviour of Colonel Young. Higher authorities used to send copies of those letters to Col. Young for suitable reply.
    On 4th July 1835, the Agra government Secretary Scout sent a letter to Colonel Young (21). Scout showed satisfaction over land settlement report by Young and agreed the same. However, Scout cautioned Colonel Young that it was not proper to lessen the rights of the King without any proper reasons. Scout further clarified,” Governor General did not accept  your request to hand over Jagir of Govind Singh free from the king. The king has all rights to rule the Jagir as per his rule. The King has rights to take back Jagir from Govind Singh”( 2) .
  Scout suggested that Govind Singh and Shiv Datta should pay tax on their authorised Jagir as per past custom but they should pay tax  for other land,  as other Kamin etc. were paying.  Scout clarified that Govind Singh and  Shiv Datt had to obey the rules of Kingdom. (1)
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References
1-Dabral, Shiv Prasad, (2009, Their Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 1, (2nd edition) Veer Gatha Press, Garhwal India, page 109
2- Saxena. B.P. Historical Papers relating to Kumaon (1809-42) Allahabad( 1956) P 225 
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bjukreti@gmail.com
History of Their Garhwal to be continued in next chapter …