MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

                   
                British Land Settlement in Bhabhar Garhwal
                   British Administration in Garhwal   -20         
       -
History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -36
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -874
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
      The land revenue settlement in Bhabhar Garhwal was different than Garhwal hills as exclusive was Bhotiya regions in Garhwali Kingdom and Nepal rules. Initially, British continued the system as it was.
        Bhuri Singh Negi Goldar was in charge of East Bhabhar (Pataldun to Kotdwara ) for land revenue settlement in King Jaikrit Shah time around 1783. His job was to collect land tax and for protecting border regions from enemies and dacoits and Negi was also to collect import and export taxes.  Bhuri Singh Negi used to pay soldiers salaries  from income from export and import (English Pre Mutiny).
       Bhuri Singh Negi encouraged tribal community as Boksa and other farmers for farming in his designated Bhabhar land. Garhwal King did not take revenues or tax from Bhuri Singh collected from farmers by Bhuri Singh.. Sayanas of Bungi, Paino, Bijlot Pattis used to take tax from cattle keepers those used to take their cattle for grazing to Pataldun or Bhabhar in winter. Bhuri Singh managed Pataldun and Bhabhar for 20 years till 1803 when Gurkha won Garhwal. It is said that Negi fled to plains and died there.(Atkinson , page 284) .
       Gurkha handed over the region Pataldun and Bhabhar to dSayanas of Bungi, Paino, Bijlot Patties for land revenue settlements time to time. The Gurkha conditions for settlement were same as with Negi by Garhwal Kingdom.
 In 1815, Lal Singh Negi the son and heir of Bhuri Singh Negi reached to Garhwal. He applied for getting back the rights of collecting taxes. British administration did not return him the job of collecting taxes. However, British administration offered him Pataldun region.
 The income in 1823 from Pataldun was as follows (Atkinson)-
Gold dust from rivers tax – Rs. 271
Kath –Bans (wood cutting ) Tax ----- Rs. 612
Land Tax--------------- Rs 701
 British government vanished export and import tax taken at Ghat in 1818 as per Traill suggestions.

 

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 14/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -875
*** 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 284
3- English Pre Mutiny Records, Settlement letters issued Vol.1, 1837-39
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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;   

                   
                     Traill determining Taxes for British Garhwal
 
                            British Administration in Garhwal   -22         
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -38
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -876
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
      Trail determined following land tax for British Garhwal as follows (Atkinson and Pauri report) in Rs.-
 Pargana—Malgujar Nos.-Villages Nos.---1815-- 1816—1817—1820—1823--1828—1833
Painkhanda*—24----------------45-----------1550---1550---922---1040—1091---1275—1304
Badhan----------167---------------321---------3571---4250—4657—5781—6422—6821—6948
Chandpur--------189---------------457--------5092----5916----6432---7850—8991---9345—9425
Tallasalan---------225-------------598---------3642---4146----4622----5385—6893—7113—7811
Nagpur-------------173-------------413----------3289—3980—4324 – 5281 – 6016 – 6176—6392
Gangasalan--------293-------------530----------5099—5609--- 6177 –7835—8957—9596—9649
Barasyun----------- 371-------------710----------5005---6142---6593--- 8151- 10102 -10423-10555
Devalgarh------------143-----------312-----------1696----2243-2869---3445---4207---4367---4442
Chaundkot-----------119------------241-----------2222----2603—2909---3269—3881—3950- 4052
Mallasalan------------ 175----------476----------4924-----5342—6043—6959—8341—8748—9076
Total-------------------1864---------4103--------35990--41781—45548-54996-64901-67725-69254
Bhabhar---------------6---------------29------------------------------------------6------990---952----815
Ujad (Left)-----------16--------------28---------84---------102----114------130-----116---116----129
Sadavart-------------------------------602
Muafi------------------------6
Grand Total ---------1913----------4768-----36074-41883-45662—55132—65977-68794--70198
(Atkinson and Pauri Settlement)

*Including Neeti and Mana Bhotiya regions
 
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 16/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -877
*** 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 174-75
2- Atkinson, Himalayan districts vol.3 page 289
3- Pauri Garhwal Settlement report page 57
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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;   

                   
                    Batten Settlement ignoring a couple of Issues
                Garhwal Land Settlements by J.H. Batten -2
 
                            British Administration in Garhwal   -24         
       -
History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -40
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -878
-
                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

            It was difficult for drawing village maps and measuring area. Batten was unable for land settlement as per Regulation -9 polices. Batten informed that he could not complete land measurement before two years. Batten informed too that the expenditure for land measurement would be more than tax collection. Batten also reported that in the absence of measurement, there will be always conflicts among stakeholders. (Batten, Pauri report). British Government postponed measurement because of expenditure and time.  Government instructed Batten that it was not important for tax increment but a stable settlement system for next twenty years was more important.
 Till 1833, numbers of Patwari were very less in Garhwal. Patwaris did not have exact farming land records (Fardfant). Batten prepared Fardfant (records for farming land). With difficulties, Batten prepared ‘Halatnama’ (Present situation) for each village. Batten prepared land settlement from 1820 to 1840 and he included following issues into settlement records (Atkinson, page 292)-
1-Village name and details
2-Names of Padhan (Village Chiefs) from 1820-1840
3- A village under a real Thok. That work was difficult
4- When the village was transferred from one real Thok (Dakhila Mauja) to other real Thok
5- Tax collected from last 7 settlements each
 Batten put the villages under the real Thok (dakhila) as it was. He accepted separation for a village only when the majority favored the change.
 Batten, then instructed ‘Padhan’ for agreement for coming twenty years (beesi) with new records. Batten prepared policies too.

 
 
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 18/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -879
*** 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 177-78
2-Batten (editor), 1851, Official reports on Province of Kumaon
3-Batten , 1843, Report on the settlement of the district of Pauri Garhwal in the province of Kumaon  56
4- Atkinson, Himalayan Districts vol.3, pages 292
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;   

                         
                   Incentivizing Farmers through Batten Land Settlement 
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               British Garhwal Land Settlements by J.H. Batten -4
                            British Administration in Garhwal   -26       
       -
History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -42
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -880
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
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               Batten had to pay attentions Traill for determining tax for a village. Batten got information about numbers of people, their economic conditions and land fertility of each village before land tax settlement. 
                     Lowering Down Land Taxes
          Garhwal Kings and Gurkha rulers were interested in tax collection but were least bothered for land reform. British administration took steps for encouraging farmers for taking farming a serious business.
            Batten kept low tax for the villages affected by wild animals destroying crops and killing human. (Batten page 529)
                        Incentivizing ‘Paykast’ Farmers
       ‘Paykast’ was very unique system in Uttarakhand.  There were villages where the farming was easy than other villages in a region. Many farmers after completing farm jobs in their villages used to take farming in other villages too. Many of such farmers were not owner of the land.  Batten kept low tax on low productive land in Chandpur, Badhan, Chopdakot and Tallasalan Parganas so that farmers become prosperous and increase farming through ‘Paykast’ in nearby villages too. Batten personally visited those regions (Batten page 529).
           Batten also offered new forest land for creating farms to ‘Paykast’ farmers. Batten wrote in his report that offering forest land for creating farm land would solve double objectives. First, the crop production will increase in new cultivated farms from forest land. Batten instructed that ‘Paykast’ could cultivate the Benami barren land (no owner of the land) of the village. Second objective was for reducing the forest land and reducing numbers of wild animals by occupying forest land for farming.
        Batten forecasted that by allowing farmers for occupying new forest land farming would increase farm land by ten times.
                  Tax Settlement in Bhotiya Regions
          Batten revised the tax pattern of Garhwal Kingdom and Gurkha System for tax in Bhotiya region. The tax on Bhotiya regions was more in Garhwal Kingdom and Gurkha System.  The tax was more than reasonable in the region. Batten reported that even in the Traill settlement the tax is on higher side on unproductive villages.  Batten suggested instead of Bees Nali system (seeds being sown) there should be tax on real business. Batten determined tax as per his new thinking of tax on real business. (Batten page 548)
                 Views of Batten for Joshimath Region
      According to Batten report, nearby villages of   Joshimath were more prosperous than other regions. Bhotiya used to purchase grains from Joshimath region for export or internal trading. By Hunting of Kasturi antipopes, the expert hunters used to get money. Kingdom and Gurkha had ‘Baj Bina’ tax on hunting by Baj bird.  Woolen business was also money making business in Joshimath region.
                Difficulties in Badhan Region
     Badhan had different problems. Epidemics were the main problems in whole region. The epidemic was fatal too.  The farm land was sufficient there but the human population was scanty. Sayanas offered wrong information to Traill settlement. (Batten, page 549)
                Geographical Beauty of Nagpur Region

    The geographical beauty of Nagpur attracted Batten. He reported that the geographical conditions and seasons of Nagpur region were equal to Europe. He mentioned that person cant forget the beauty of Snow bound Hills. Batten appreciated the region surrounding Mandakini River valley.  Batten spent a night at Devarital lake bank. Batten criticized the dirty habits of Nagpur inhabitants for putting on same woolen dress for the whole year. Batten reported that Nagpur inhabitants allow spiky shrubs and plants including wild hemp growing surrounding their houses in rainy season. Epidemics were again problems for Nagpur region.
  Batten kept the tax low as per the need of the region.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 23/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -881
*** 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 177-78
2-Batten, 1843, Report on the settlement of the district of Pauri Garhwal in the province of Kumaon 521, 529, 547, 548, 549
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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;   

                         
                                Bird Instructions
 
                            British Administration in Garhwal   -28       
       -
History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -44
            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -882
-
                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
 
   Bird was the chief of land settlement for Agra province. Batten was reporting to Bird. Batten  followed  instructions from Bird too. Therefore, historians don’t blame solely to Batten for the flaws in Garhwal land Settlement.  (Dabral, page 184)
        Before starting land settlement, Bird studied agriculture status, income sources and possibilities, flaws in determining the tax, improvement opportunities for agriculture of the regions (Bhanu D, page 172).
       There were two types of farmers (Reports on Revenue Commission , Bengal, vol.1, page, 11) -
Khudkast – the owners in their agriculture activities
Paykast- Those perform agriculture activities for other land owners
   The main income of East India was land tax and the improvement was possible only when there is improvement in agriculture. There was need for offering security to famers that nobody would snatch their ownership on the land. Therefore, in 1819, British government instructed that there would be security for ownership of Khudkast and Paykast famers (Reports on Revenue Commission, Bengal, vol.1, page22) . Therefore, the records were made wherein the records of farm owners, stokeholds and their ‘rights’ were registered. Those records were called ‘Chapter of Rights’. ‘Chapter of Rights’ was also important for government dealing with the people smoothly (Bhanu, page 193). Bird suggested that it was better less income but the revenue collection should be regular and not irregular (Bhanu, page 172-173).
       There were apprehensions for lesser revenue collection from Garhwal. However, after completion of land settlement in Garhwal, the shortage was only for Rs. 572 from Garhwal (Dabral, pp-184). There was no delay in tax collection from Garhwal.
                Bird stressed on irrigation facilities for agriculture (Bhanu) . However, there was no mention of irrigation facilities in Garhwal in any report (Dabral).
 
      Bird reported his government that in the past periodical land settlements (3 or 5 years), the land lords bided for higher tax payment but in most cases, they did not pay tax as per bidding. Bird suggested that 20 % village land should be kept free for foddering for cattle. Bird suggested that government should not levy tax on such land in plains (Bhanu, pp178). In Garhwal, such land was abundant in each village. Therefore, in Garhwal case, Batten encouraged people for converting ‘parti’ land into farm land. Batten included barren land as the land of village. Bird instructed keeping records in Hindi.  Barring first two Trail’s settlements, the main statements in other settlements, the language was Hindi and only ‘Tafsil’ was in Urdu.
  -
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 25/8/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -883
*** 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 183-185
2- Bhanu, Dharam,  History and administration of North West Provinces page 172. 173, 193, 178, 181

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;