British Appointing Edward Gardner for Capturing Kumaon
Anglo Nepalese War with Reference to Gurkha Rule over Uttarakhand & Himachal -33
History of Gorkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) -153
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -675
By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)
Governor General handed over the charge of Capturing Kumaon to Edward l Gardner. Gardner was well conversant with Indian Languages and Persian. Gardner was calm man. Edward Gardner used to have mustache as Hindus and did not take beef. Edward was supposed to be more diplomatic caliber man than Hearsay and Frazer.
To block Gurkha soldiers marching from Nepal to west (Himachal) it was necessary to block them in Kumaon.
Hearsay informed that the Kumaon Gurkha resident was no happy with Nepal Court and could be with British.
On 23rd October 1814, The Company asked Edward Gardner to reach Moradabad and collect information about Bam Shah was willing to support British. East India High Command (Adam the company Secretary) ) through letter, provided much relevant information about Kumaon (handed over copies of letter of Rutherford and names of influential persons of Kumaon).
Company asked Edward Gardner to know from Bamshah’s intention and if he was ready to hand over Kumaon without war what would be his price. Bamshah was getting Rs 12000 salary and commission on trade in Kumaon.
Company informed Edward Gardner that the resident Hastidal Chautaria was brother of Bamshah Doti was brother of Bamshah and Doti was the bordering region of Kumaon. Hastidal was unhappy with Nepal Court. Garder ws asked to meet Hastidal and find out of Hastidal wanted Doti region or not after war was finished.
Gardner was suggested to communicate with Bamshah from Moradabad and assured him for benefits for him and his family and relatives. Gardner was asked to lure Bamshah that he would be made King of Doti. However, Gardner was asked that final decision would be of Governor General.
Adam through letter suggested that due to long border it was not easy to have big army and it was better that Kumaon was captured by diplomatic method. He we told that if Bamshah agrees the Company would send reasonable army cadres for capturing Kumaon.
Initially, the Company wanted to make Bamshah the King of Kumaon. However, later on it was thought that Kumaon was an easy buffer region to reach and trade with Tibet. Therefore, it was decided that Kumaon would be under Company only.
Edward Gardner was also asked for getting knowledge about intention of Lal Singh. He was cautioned that in case Lal Singh was made Kumaon King the Kumaon citizens would not be happy. Edward Gardner was clarified that the Company could not treat Lal Singh as other Kings being treated. Adam wrote that by taking help from Lal Singh the company would lose than gain. Edward Gardner was instructed that by knowing the intention of the Company Lal Singh would make hurdles. Therefore, with the help of known Company officials of Lal Singh, Gardner had to see that Lal Singh would not become hurdles.
(*Based on Jon Premble, Sanwal, Saxena )
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 24/7/2015
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -676
*** History of Gorkha/Gurkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) to be continued in next chapter
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
XX Reference
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Colnol Kirkpatrik 1811, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal
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Gorkhavansavali, Kashi, Bikram Samvat 2021
Derek J. Waller, The Pundits: British Exploration of Tibet and Central Asia page 172-173
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Captain Thomas Smith, 1852,Narrative of a Five Years Residence at Nepal Vol.1
Maula Ram/Mola Ram , Ranbahadurchandrika and Garhrajvanshkavya
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Shyam Ganguli, Doon Rediscovered
Minyan Prem Singh, Guldast Tabarikh Koh Tihri Garhwal
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Saxena , historical papers related to Kumaon
XXX
History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Sirmour Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Kangara Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Baghat Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Tehri Garhwal, Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Punar Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Uttarkashi Garhwal, Bageshwar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Nahan Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Dehradun Garhwal, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History Himachal;
Nepal Itihas, Garhwal Itihas, Kumaon Itihas, Himachal Itihas; Gurkha/Gorkha ka Kumaon par Adhikar Itihas , Gurkha/Gorkha Garhwal par Shasan Itihas; Gurkha/Gorkha Rule in Kumaon, Garhwal Uttarakhand; History Gurkha/Gorkha Rule in Himachal,
