MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

                Facilities for Farmers in Garhwal Bhabhar

                 Characteristics of Kham Settlement in Garhwal Bhabhar -4
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                            British Administration in Garhwal   -80   
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -98
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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -935
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
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                With the increase in numbers of canals, the farming community started settling in Bhabhar Garhwal. British offered same facilities to famers in Garhwal Bhabhar as in Kumaun Bhabhar. After receiving the request letter from interested farmer, the officers used to demark the land. Then the famers were free for cutting trees and shrubs. Farmers used make land for farming and government did not take rent for initial two crops. Officials used to fix rent after three crops.
  Slowly, there was sizable increase in adventurous farmers. Those farmers were mostly Garhwali or Kumaunis.  The applicant after getting permission used to call his relative for farming. The permitted farmer used to keep some portion of land for him and used to divide balance land among his relatives came for farming. Kumauni farmers used to return back to their hill villages in summer till rainy season ended but mostly, Garhwali famers used to stay in Bhabhar for whole year. A few Garhwali farmers used to send back their family members to hill villages after harvesting Ravi crop.
    Asamis or farmers used to provide plough, bulls, seeds etc to Sajha man and used to offer one fourth crop to Sajha man. Sajha used to pay rent of the land. Usually Sajha were from Harijan (scheduled caste) communities of Garhwal or cobblers from Bijnor region (Joshi).
   Applicant Farmers were from upper caste only.
 Grig wrote that Garhwali Sirgiroh were better than Kumauni Sirgiroh.

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 9/12/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -936
*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) 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- 249-278
2-Trail, Sketch of Kumaon, Asiatic Researches Vol.16 page 207
3- Walton, Garhwal Gazetteer page 150, 151
4- Bhawani Datt Joshi, Report on the Revision of Rent in Garhwal-Bhabhar page -13
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;   

               Initial Difficulties in Settling in Garhwal Bhabhar

                 Characteristics of Kham Settlement in Garhwal Bhabhar -6
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                            British Administration in Garhwal   -82   
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -100
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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -937
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

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                There was great hardship in settling in Bhabhar Garhwal at initial British ruling period. The Bhabhar season was not conducive for human beings. The summer and rainy season were most painful for people in Bhabhar. Bhabhar inhabitants used to send their women and children as soon as summer started as the sun and sun stroke were fatal for human beings. The rainy season was dangerous due to malaria.  In summer and rainy season, strange fever (not heard in hills), indigestion, cholera, dysentery, etc diseases were common in the area. Even in Bhadon (October), the sun heat was disease career.  At that time, usually old people and children used to fell ill and death rates were highest in Bhadon.
      The dirty water from hill used to be used for irrigation in Bhabhar and that dirty water was dangerous for creating various diseases. People used to make toilet at canal bank and that dirt used flow towards down side.
  The wild animals were another hurdle for agriculturists. Due to non hill people of plains , the robberies, gambling, theft, extortion, murder, alcohol production etc were common and hill people were not habitual for tackling such crimes.
    Transport, medical facilities (no vaid in Bhabhar), education facilities were not there in Bhabhar and criminals had conducive shelters in Bhabhar.
 Since, the lease for the land was on temporary basis, the people did not courage for correcting jungle for agriculture. The farmers (real owner) did not have any rights on the land.
The proverb  “Bhabhar ko bas Kul ko Nnash or you will lose generation by settling in Bhabhar’ commonly used by 1950 in Garhwal.
(Joshi)

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 11/12/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -938
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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) 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- 249-278
1A Dabral, Alaknanda Uptyaka page 128
2- Walton, Garhwal Gazetteer page 150, 151, 152
3- Bhawani Datt Joshi, Report on the Revision of Rent in Garhwal-Bhabhar page -25,35, 58, 59, 106, 115,
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;   

                              New Problems in Garhwal Bhabhar

                 Characteristics of Kham Settlement in Garhwal Bhabhar -8
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                            British Administration in Garhwal   -84   
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -102
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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -939
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

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                    As the prosperity started increasing in Bhabhar Garhwal, the social, administrative and other problems started increasing too. There was increase in land sellers and land buyers in Bhabhar.  Government had clarity that government had offered land to Sirgiroh  on five years lease and Sirgiroh does not have rights for selling that land. Many Sirgiroh or famers started deceiving their own innocent relatives or kin. They used to sell some portion of their leased land to innocent famers that next year they would get rights on the land. When the new farmers used to apply for land rights there used to be disputes for the land.  Old inhabitants started aquring land here and there and offering the land to Sajha (partner). If the land owner did not get Sajha the owner used to keep land uncultivated (Parti) (Stowel).
 The uncultivated land started increasing as the following data offerd the real picture (Clay)-
Year------Agriculture land in Beegha-------Uncultivated land in Beegha –Barren land in beegha
1909-10---38183.6------------------------------818.15-------------------------------28623.8
1910-11---36989.7------------------------------2583.12-------------------------------26487.2
1911-12----36787.1-----------------------------3158.6----------------------------------23717
1912-13------36108-----------------------------3810------------------------------------23743
1913-14------26873------------------------------13075---------------------------------23713
  The population of Bhabhar in 1901 was 6024 and in 1911, it was 12955. There were state dues on Sirgiroh for Rs 3 lakhs. However, Caly was informed that there were no balance dues (Clay).
 There were 440 permanent structured houses in Bhabhar in 1919.
Circle ---Year -------No of Pakke Ghar (permanent houses) Year –-----No of Pakke Ghar)
 Saneh ----1914-----------95------------------------------------------1919-----------------110
Motadhank-1914--------82--------------------------------------------1919-----------------123
Haldukhata---1914-------47-------------------------------------------1919-------------------70
Sukhaurau-----1914-----NA-------------------------------------------1919--------------------137
   There emerged a new bazaar near Railway station (New Kotdwara). There were 1428 farmers (773 Sirgiroh and 555 Sajha) busy in agriculture works (Clay).
 There were  epidemics as influenza, cholera etc from 1919-1924 and many died because of influenza in Bhabhar as rich man Kashiram Mishra died because of influenza in 1919.
 There were epidemics in animals too and cattle died in numbers in those years (Acton). However, the enthusiasm of inhabitants did not slow down. In 1922, there was highest recovery for tax collection and there were highest crops too.
  There were 440 permanent houses in 1919 and in 1924 the numbers were 827. By 1924 the numbers of Asamis (Sirgiroh and Sajha) were 1654. Now, Bhabhar was more prosperous han past.
 The numbers of Asamis/Farmers ( Sirgiroh and Sajha) were  increased as follows (Acton)-

Year------------Population---------------Nos. Lease Sirgiroh-----------Nos. Sajha------Total
1914--------------7112----------------------846-----------------------------361---------------1207
1919--------------5616-----------------------773------------------------------655--------------1428
1924--------------4765-----------------------971------------------------------683--------------1654
1929----------------5194---------------------1077-----------------------------679--------------1756
      From 1919-1924There were drops in population due to epidemics in the region but farmers were increasing. There was draught in 1913-14 and 1918-19. Due to draught, young generation favored joining army or found other alternates of agriculture.
 However, after that the population again started increasing.
 There were 67 villages, 2486 permanent houses and population was 13691 in 1951 (Sensuous 1951, page 226)




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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 13/12/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -940
-
*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) 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- 249-278
2-- Joshi, Report on the Revision of Rent in Garhwal-Bhabhar page -25,35, 58, 59, 106, 115,
3-Stowel, 1899, Report on revision on rent in Garhwal Bhabhar page 2
4- Clay, 1914, Report on revision on rent in Garhwal Bhabhar, page 4 to 15
5-Acton, 1924, Report on revision on rent in Garhwal Bhabhar, page 4, 6
6-Ibbetson, 1929, Report on revision on rent in Garhwal Bhabhar, page 2
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;   

                         Types of Asami (Cultivators) in Garhwal Bhabhar
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                 Characteristics of Kham Settlement in Garhwal Bhabhar -10
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                            British Administration in Garhwal   -86   
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -104
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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -941
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

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           There were three types of Asami (Sirgiroh and Cultivators) in Bhabhar Garhwal in British period. Asami means either Sirgiroh (Rent payer of the land) or different types of cultivators.
Kumauni farmers or Asami- Those cultivators were migrated from Kumaon.
Garhwali farmers or Asami- Those cultivators came from hills of Garhwal
Desi and other famers –Those were from plains, Nepal or cobbler families from plains.
            There were different opinions of different officers about cultivators.
 According to Kham superintendent Bhopal Singh, Hill cultivators (Sirgiroh, Famers, Sajha etc) were better than plains cultivators in terms of hard work and honesty. Deputy Commissioner Pau was supporter of Bhopal Singh. However, commissioner was of different opinion.
                  Stowel wrote “Desi (plains) famers are better in farm technique but hill famers also improved a lot in farming. Now, hill famers are far better than hill cultivators. Hill cultivators have better houses and have distances between other houses than lousy congested huts by plains cultivators. There are wood piles in court yard of hill cultivators but plains famers have caw dung cake for fuel. Desi famers don’t go to forests for fuel wood but hills cultivators like wood for fuel. Hill cultivators use caw dung for manures and not for fuel. Hill cultivators have houses with distances. That system is better for fire protection and epidemic protection too. The  plains cultivators have cuddling huts together and that results in fire together and spreading epidemics faster. “

 
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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 15/12/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -942
-
*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) 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- 249-278
2-Stowel, 11919,  Report on revision on rent in Garhwal Bhabhar 1919 page 7
3- Bhavani Datt Joshi, 1893, Report on Rent in Garhwal Bhabhar 1893,  page 13, 94
3- Dharma Nand Joshi, 1909, Report on Rent in Garhwal Bhabhar 1909 page 3
 
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;   

              Maurusi/Maurosi Asami in Garhwal Bhabhar
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                 Characteristics of Kham Settlement in Garhwal Bhabhar -12
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                            British Administration in Garhwal   -88   
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -106
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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -943
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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

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 The Sirgiroh and old Asami (owner that pays rent) of Bhabhar were called Maurosi/Maurusi Asami. British government regulated an order for leasing (Najul) the Bhabhar land to famers in 1896. By new leasing law, famer or cultivator could not offer his leased land on contract to other farmers. . In second leasing regulation of 1915, when the land was rented, there was a condition that government had right to end the land right offered to famer and no famer could sell the land without prior permission of deputy commissioner. 
 As per the executive order of 1935, the rights of Maurusi rights of Bhabhar Asami became same as the rights of occupancy tenant rights as per Agra Tenency Act.

  Kumaon commissioner ordered that selling the rented land was illegal. However, if the buyer was real farmer, the selling and buying the land was legal. In past it was a custom (rule) that cultivator or Asami could sell Bag Bageecha (gaden) and ruins of houses an asset but not agriculture land. The land sellers started selling land as garden and ruins of houses and not land (Gairola).
 Bhabhar land was fertile and there were more facilities than the hills. However, the famers were under heavy debts (Naithani, Bhabhar Tab aur Ab page 7).



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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 17/12/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -944
-
*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) 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- 249-278
2-Stowell, 11919, Report on revision on rent in Garhwal Bhabhar 1919 page 7
3- Dharma Nand Joshi, 1909, Report on Rent in Garhwal Bhabhar 1909 page 3
4-Clay, 1914, Report on Rent in Garhwal Bhabhar, 1914, page 13
5-Ibbetson, 1929, Report on Rent in Garhwal Bhabhar, 1929 page 2
6- Gairola T.D., Selected Revenue Decisions of Kumaon page 200 

 
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;