British Luring Nepal Resident Bamshah
British Campaign for Capturing Kumaon -4
Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) -217
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -745
By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)
By order of John Adam on 23rd October 1814, Edward Gardner tried to find out whether Kumaon resident Bamshah could come to side of British by deceiving Nepal Government. Gardner was now posted in Moradabad. On that time, in each Indian Kingdom, there were a few Kingdom officers who were ready to come to the side of British and deceive his own Kingdom. Many officers from Bengal, Awadh, and Maratha Kingdoms betrayed, deceived their Kingdoms and came to the side of British.
British officers were hopeful that Bamshah would betray his Kingdom.
Gardner sent a faithful and reliable person to Bamshah with a letter in Newari language. The letter stated that if Bamshah wanted to talk with Gardner he could send his thought. That man was in Almora for four days. On night, Bamshah called that person. That reliable person handed over the letter of Gardner to Bamshah. Bamshah read the letter and just said one sentence,” Why so much late?”
Bamshah did not disclose about letter to his aids. Next day, Bamshah handed over a letter in Persian language for Gardner. The letter was about British declaration for Kumaunis.
Bamshah did not mention anything for coming to the British camp. However, he did not mention about not coming to the British side too. Bamashah did not tell about Gardner’s man meeting hmi.
On 22nd November 1814, Gardner sent separate letters with two reliable Kumaunis for Bamshah. Those two Kumaunis were sent to Almora through different roads.
Edward Gardner wrote letter for Bamshah as follows-
“ As per British government order a few days back, I came here (Moradabad). If you are ready I would like to say something about your benefits. I am sending this reliable hill man to you. If possible you may state your views. Or you may send your aid to me directly. That representative would answer my proposal for you. “
There was no direct request for Bamshah in the above letter. However, the letter was indicating Bamshah for betrayal.
Bamshah answered, “You are interested about my benefits. I am an obedient employee of Nepal. I wish for friendly relationship between Nepal and British. If you are interested for that proposal I could send a reliable person to you.”
The above letter is an important letter. Though Bamshah was surrounded by Amar Singh Thapa men in Kumaon but he was not ready for betrayal.
After knowing the letter , John Adam wrote letter to Gardner,” It is now definite that Bamshah would will not help British for capturing Kumaon.”
British officers also knew that Bamshah was appointing Rohilla and Pathan soldiers for future Battle between British and Nepal in Kumaon.
Even then Gardner was of opinion that Bamshah would help British due to his disagreement with Thapa men in Kumaon. Gardner had opinion that as soon British would attack on Kumaon, Bamshah would join British camp.
(From writings of Atkinson, Sanwal, Saxsena, Fraser etc)
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 24/1//2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -746
*** 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
Atkinson E.T., 1884, 1886, Gazetteer of Himalayan Districts …
Hamilton F.B. 1819, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal and the territories
Colnol Kirkpatrik 1811, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal
Dr S.P Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 5, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda
Bandana Rai, 2009 Gorkhas,: The Warrior Race
Krishna Rai Aryal, 1975, Monarchy in Making Nepal, Shanti Sadan, Giridhara, Nepal
I.R.Aryan and T.P. Dhungyal, 1975, A New History of Nepal , Voice of Nepal
L.K Pradhan, Thapa Politics:
Gorkhavansavali, Kashi, Bikram Samvat 2021
Derek J. Waller, The Pundits: British Exploration of Tibet and Central Asia page 172-173
B. D. Pande, Kumaon ka Itihas
Balchandra Sharma, Nepal ko Aitihasik Rup Rekha
Chaudhari , Anglo –Nepalese Relations
Pande, Vasudha , Compares Histriographical Traditions of Gorkha Rule in Nepal and Kumaon
Pradhan , Kumar, 1991, The Gorkha Conquests , Oxford University Press
Minyan Govrdhan Singh , History of Himachal Pradesh
A.P Coleman, 1999, A Special Corps
Captain Thomas Smith, 1852,Narrative of a Five Years Residence at Nepal Vol.1
Maula Ram/Mola Ram , Ranbahadurchandrika and Garhrajvanshkavya
J B Fraser , Asiatic Research
Shyam Ganguli, Doon Rediscovered
Minyan Prem Singh, Guldast Tabarikh Koh Tihri Garhwal
Patiram Garhwal , Ancient and Modern
Tara Datt Gairola, Parvtiy Sanskriti
John Premble, Invasion of Nepal
Chitranjan Nepali, Bhimsen Thapa aur Tatkalin Nepal
Sanwal, Nepal and East India Company
Nagendra kr Singh, Refugee to Ruler
Saxena, Historical papers related to Kumaon
Paper Respecting Nepal War by East India Company (papers in Stock)
Basu, Rise of Christian Power in India)
Moti Lal Ghosh, an article in Amrit Bazar Patrika
XXX
History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Sirmour Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Kangara Himachal Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Baghat Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Tehri Garhwal, Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; 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 Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal;
Nepal Itihas, Garhwal Itihas, Kumaon Itihas, Himachal Itihas; Gurkha/Gorkha ka Kumaon par Adhikar Itihas , Gurkha/Gorkha Garhwal par Shasan Itihas Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Gurkha/Gorkha Rule in Kumaon, Garhwal Uttarakhand; History Gurkha/Gorkha Rule in Himachal Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal
