MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

                    Economic Difficulties in Garhwal

          British Administration in Garhwal   -10         
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -26
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -864
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
            The families those ran away from their villages in Gurkha Regime started returning back in their native after British rule started. There were land that became wasteland or follow land in Gurkha time. Farmers returned and started correcting the situation.  That land was called ’navavad’ (newly occupied). Trail levied lowest possible tax  on newly occupied land.  In past, Trail levied low tax on land because there was no exact information. When Trail got information about various villages he levied reasonable tax.
     British government offered extra land as Padhanchari or Jithauna (Jithauna = elder) to Padhan (village chief) and also offered them nominal commission from tax collection as compensation to Padhans. Trail levied tax on the production assessment of the villages.
              The second settlement was for three years. Padhan were unable signing the for agreement (Kaul Karr Patta )  more than three years (Atkinson). The main reason was that farmers used to migrate from one village to other freely. The farmers were less and land was more. Whenever there was human or animal epidemic in the village the villagers used to migrate from that village. In such condition, it was difficult for Padhan for collecting taxes from farmers. There was no provision for tax exemption in Trail period.
   There was vast difference between Garhwal and Kumaon from agricultural and non agro land. In Garhwal, agro land was always lesser than non agro land as compared to Kumaon. Therefore, there was less population density in Garhwal than Kumaon. Tax earning in Garhwal was lesser than Kumaon. British spent scanty money in Garhwal than Kumaon for development or services for people. British did not establish army camps, hospitals in Garhwal as British established in Kumaon. British did not pay attention on transport facilities in Garhwal. Therefore, there was no export facilitation from Garhwal. In 1821, the buying rate for wheat was one rupee per twenty ser (app Kilo) and in Garhwal, the wheat selling rate was eighty ser per rupee. There was better situation on Pilgrim rout as farmers could sell their products to pilgrims.
  There was demand for hemp in Gurkha regime. British stopped Kashipur hemp fiber factory and there was no demand for hemp fibers too.  There was no economic improvement in Garhwal but Trail could increase tax.  Slowly, Population increased and people became habitual of stable staying in their villages.
  Atkinson offred following tax details in Trail time-
Samvat  1872--- Farukabadi Rs. 37506
Samvat 1873------F. Rs. 44224
Samvat 1874-76------F. Rs. 47828 annual
Samvat 1877-79------F. Rs. 58511
 In Samvat 1880 (1823 AD), trail wrote in his report about land settlement that there was less tax collection increase from Shrinagar Garhwal (F Rs. 55600) than Kumaon. Trail explained about less tax collection due to inferior economic condition, bad transportation facilities affecting export from Garhwal.
 The first agreement of British government was with ‘Sayanas’ in Nagpur division and second settlement agreement was with village chiefs (padhan).
 Till 1822, there was forest taxation system in Patalidun and agreement on yearly basis. 




Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 1/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -865
*** History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun, (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli) Garhwal (1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
XX   
References   
 1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page 158-159
2-Atkinson, Himalayan Districts, Vol. 3, page 285-287

      Xx
History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system,  over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies Revenue system  over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Dehradun , Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, ,Revenue system  over Bageshwar  Kumaon, Uttarakhand;
History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;

                   
                      Banning the Malgujar Resigning   -1     
                   British Administration in Garhwal   -12         
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -28
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -866
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

        The Kaul-Karar-Patta (Agreement paper) offers lights on various aspects of administration and social norms.  Initial land settlements by British government have various flaws. The historians can easily guess about land settlement system of Garhwal from the land settlement system in Indian plains.
 The Kamin of Patti (Taluka or region) used to present before commissioner. The Kamin/Thokdar was getting tax free land and he had right on Hak Dastur for his service for tax collection from farmers.  That person (Kamin etc) used to offer the details of land tax paid for each village of last year to commissioner. Kamin used to suggest the name of a person for Karar Patta for collecting tax from the village.  Commissioner used to call all those candidates suggested by Kamin before him. The commissioner used to enquire from the candidates about their capabilities and that could  pay highest tax. Commissioner used to have agreement with the highest bidder for paying tax (Dharma Bhanu page 46). It clearly shows that Commissioner used to auction the villages for tax collection. The agreement with a person was not done on the capability but n the basis of tax payment (Dharma Bhanu-46)
   Since, the agreement was done on the highest bidding basis, it was difficult for assessing the land fertility and agro productivity of villages. In directly, the commissioner used to sign agreement with adventurous and cruel person in collecting taxes from villagers.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 5/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -867
*** History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun, (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli) Garhwal (1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
XX   
References   
 1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page 161- 65
2- Dharma Bhanu, History and Administration of North West Provinces (page 46- 48)
     

                       Banning the Malgujar Resigning   -3     
                   British Administration in Garhwal   -14         
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -30
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -868
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
           Trail was strict in collecting tax from Malgujar. On the last land settlement, Trail experienced that quite a few Padhan of Lobha Patti were not depositing tax in time and villages were becoming baron.  The village chiefs reported that the villages were surrounded by dense forests and wild animals harm the farming. Therefore, the villagers were leaving villages. However, Trail was of opinion that villagers were lazy. Trail assumed that the Malgujar wanted exemption from tax. Mostly, the Jamindar /Malgujar of that region got land for their defense services in Garhwal Kingdom and Gorkha rule. Trail cancelled the Patta of Lobha region. Trail did an agreement for many villages of Lobha Patti with ‘Thepdu’ from Khetsar Patti of Kumaon adjacent to Lobha Patti (Batten). He ordered that the Lobha Patti is handed over to Thepdu from Lobha Jamindar. Trail did not place written order.  Trail appointed Thepdu as Patwari of Lobha too for increasing his power. Thepdu neither could settle villagers in the villages nor could he collect tax from the region. Ultimately, Thepdu had to return his region in Kumao.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 7/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -869
*** History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun, (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli) Garhwal (1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
XX   
References   
 1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page 161- 65
2- Atkinson, Himalayan districts vol.3 page 238
3-Batten, Settlement reports of District Garhwal in the province of Kumaon page 536
Xx
History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system,  over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies Revenue system  over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Dehradun , Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, ,Revenue system  over Bageshwar  Kumaon, Uttarakhand;
History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;
 

                   
                       
           Eighth Land Settlement

                   British Administration in Garhwal   -16         
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -32
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -870
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
      British government changed little bit tax in some cases from seventh settlement and in some cases; there was no change in the eighth land settlement.   The land settlement of 1832, in Chandpur was same as of seventh settlement. The tax was reduced in Lobha region because of a few villages became humanly baron  by villagers leaving the villages and two Malgujar expired. There was annual income for Rs 69254 before ninth settlement conducted by Baton.
                       


Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 9/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -871
*** History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun, (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli) Garhwal (1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
XX   
References   
 1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page 161- 65
2- Atkinson, Himalayan districts vol.3 page 144
3- Hamilton, Description of Hindustan vol. 2, page 658
4- Asiatic Researches vol. 16. 3-49
Xx
History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system,  over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies Revenue system  over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Dehradun , Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, ,Revenue system  over Bageshwar  Kumaon, Uttarakhand;
History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;
 

     

                   
                       Bhotia Mhalas Settlement
                   British Administration in Garhwal   -18         
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -34
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -872
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

  Trail executed an exclusive tax settlement as ‘Bhotia Mhalas’ for Bhotia regions adjacent to Tibet boarder. Trail changed the name of Tax from Tax on Business Profit to ‘Agriculture produce Tax’.  That new tax was additional to land tax.
 The new Bhotia Mhalas taxes were as follows on Bhotia villages adjacent to border -
Valley------------- Kanch--------------Masha---------- Rati
Juhar Kumaon ------398------------- 5-------------------6
Darma Kumaon ------- 42 -----------7-------------------
Neeti (Garhwal) ---------62.5 (125 Dumaula)
 In Neeti region Mhalas tax was exclusive from land tax on Joshimath and Painkhanda.
 The material cost came down in Tibet. Trail exempted 25 % levies of the half tax from business category. In 1818, other taxes as weaving tax were stopped but forest product taxes remained as it was.
 The planned tax  for Bhotia regions were as follows-
Valley------------- Kanch---------Masha---------- Rati – Rate Rs. – Total ------Revenue in Rs.
Juhar Kumaon -----365 ---------- 3-----------------3----------6--------- 5313-------- Rs.2200
Darma Kumaon ----353  --------3 -----------------4----------4 ------------3409------1400
Vyas Kumaon--------71----------9-----------------0-----------4-------------695----------280
Chaudans Kumaon –49-----------9----------------4-----------5-------------532----------250
Neeti (Garhwal) ---------87.50 (175 Dumaula) -------------2.5----------1005---------440
 The above planned tax system was remained same for another year too.
There was increase in next biyearly taxation settlement as Bhotia who had fled at Gurkha time started returning to their native places. It was difficult for dividing the tax village wise. There was another problem the cut throat competition and mistrust among Bhotia traders. (Atkinson) 

 


Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 11/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -873
*** History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun, (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli) Garhwal (1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
XX   
References   
 1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page 168-69
2- Atkinson, Himalayan districts vol.3 page 147
Xx
History of British Rule, Administration , Policies, Revenue system,  over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule , Administration , Policies Revenue system  over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Dehradun , Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, ,Revenue system  over Bageshwar  Kumaon, Uttarakhand ;
History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;