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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [&lrm;164r] (332/502)

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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎164r] (332/502)

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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874'

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Ref: Mss Eur F126/78

The record is made up of 1 volume (249 folios). It was created in 1 Nov 1873-14 Feb 1874. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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SCHEDULE 11.
Cases N os. 3, and 11 to 31.
1. Hathibhai Kishorbhai, Kanbi, Matadar of Bhadran, in Petladpurgana,
states
There are 14 Matadars in my village. In 3 sowars and 5 sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank.
came to Bhadran to levy the gadi nazarana and the Grovernment instalment
of revenue. There was an old woman, widow of one Jivabhai Jeshing, who
had 3 grown-up sons, who, for fear of the sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , ran away. The sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. took
this old woman from her house and kept her for S or 4 hours at the temple
of Bhadra-Kali. Before they took her I saw them beating her at her house ;
two sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. held her by the arms, while the third struck her with a stick. Her
age was 50 or 52. They did this to make her pay up the instalments and
nazarana. The old woman was released and allowed to go home after
4 hours' confinement. She died on the 3rd day, I consider from the beating
she got from the sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , who kicked her before they brought her out. The
stick with which she was beaten was a bamboo as long as my arm. She
did not pay the money. Only one of her sons has hitherto returned. 1
do not know where the other two are now. All the enquiry, that has been
made into the case, is that on the complaint of her brother, the Patel and
Mehta made a report to Petlad. A Karkun came thence, took some depo
sitions, apprehended the sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , took them to Petlad, where they were imprison
ed for 2 months by the Petlad Vahivatdar, when they were released on bail.
In May last, a Karkun by name Daji Shridhar came from Petlad to levy the
balance of the gadi nazarana and the revenue instalment. He took 1(3 or 15
men, of whom I was one, and placing us in a row, had a wooden beam put
across our necks, and made us stand like this for half an hour. Those who
then paid were then released. I paid myself and got free, but those who did
not were kept in this fashion. Others also were made to stand with hands
touching their toes, others holding their ears all twisted, and in a stooping
posture. The Karkun remained there for 2 days, and realized about halt
the gadi nazarana. About one-half is still unpaid. I made no petition a ou„
this at that time to the Vahivatdar. What was the good ? T. he mone} was
paid. Should I have gained anything by petitioning ? The only petition 1
have made is that which I have made to the Resident. The oppression prac
tised on us was by order of the Petlad Vahivatdar. If the Sarkar cannot get
its revenue, it has been customary always to practice the a ove mo eo
realizing it.
The Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). reserve cross-examination.
2. Javerbhai Dwarkadas, Patidar Patel of Sojitra, in Petlad pargana,
states :—I remember coming to Baroda in on P llva ^ e usiness. eie
found people from other villages in Petlad. The assessment |
and they refused to pay the increased amount. In consequence of theirref
one Bhavanidas, of Bamangam, a respectable man wor i 80 ' ' q
seized, hand-cuffed, and made to sweep m the public roads for / WO nce
his agreeing to pav the assessment demanded he was re eas . pmanded
of what happened to him, other villagers also agreed to pay what was demanded
of them. In - 8 ^ 192 !, in consequence of the refusal of the Bhats and Brahmans
to pay the Inam Committee tax, a force of 50 sowa r s,l regiment, an ^ ojuns
was sent to Sojitra. They stayed there for 6 days, an ^
some 100 or 150 people. I saw 3 me " woun ^ -ind thence
or 16 others with cuts and wounds. They took them to then tents and thence

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Content

Report of the Baroda Enquiry Commission on the administration of the government of Malharrao, Gaekwar of Baroda. The Commission comprised Richard John Meade (President), Edward William Ravenscroft, Mumtazul Dowlah Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Faiz Ali Khan, Colonel Alfred Thomas Etheridge and Thomas Duncan Mackenzie (Secretary).

The report comprises a letter from the members of the Baroda Enquiry Commission to the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department presenting their report on the results of the proceedings and submitting copies of correspondence, reports and statements relative to the enquiry (ff 5-19):

Appendix A, Part I

Schedules I-III: Complaints and grievances against the Gaekwar's Government from individuals and groups (ff 21-78).
Appendix B, Schedules I-III: Cases of complaint and grievance which the commission did not look into during the enquiry (ff 79-81).
Appendix C: Letter from Colonel Richard John Meade, President, Special Commission of Enquiry on Baroda Affairs, to Colonel Robert Phayre, Resident at Baroda, 1 November 1873 (ff 82-83).
Appendix D: Translation of an amended notice issued by the Resident to complainants desirous of appearing before the Baroda Enquiry Commission (ff 84-85).
Appendix E: Schedules presented to the Commission along with Colonel Phayre's introductory statement regarding them. (ff 86-131).
Appendix F: Letter No. 1128 of 1873 from Colonel Phayre to the President, Baroda Commission regarding the cases already submitted to the Commission, the List of undisposed petitions to be attended to by the Resident which could be used as additional cases if required and the statements that he had yet to make on cases under enquiry by the Commission (ff 132-133).
Appendix G, Schedule I: Statements from witnesses with cross examination statements from the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). on behalf of the Gaekwar and statements from the Resident as to the accuracy of the information provided (ff 134-229).

Appendix Part II (ff 231-245)

Letter from James Braithwaite Peile, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kattywar [Kathiawar] to T D Mackenzie, Secretary, Baroda Commission, 13 December 1873 regarding papers requested by the Commission and informing them that the outstanding paper will be forwarded as soon as they are received. Enclosed with the letter are a memorandum from Peile for reconstitution of His Highness the Gaekwar's Contingent in Kattywar, 13 December 1873 and Rule for the guidance of the Officers and Kamdars appointed to the Contingent of Horse of His Highness the Gaekwar, serving in the various Tributary Mahals according to treaty.
Letter from Peile to Mackenzie, 6 January 1874, forwarding a report and returns received from Colonel Walker, Superintendent to the Gaekwar's Contingent in Kattywar and stating that he does not concur with the Colonel's opinion. Enclosed with this letter is a letter from Colonel Chamberlen William Walker, 30 December 1873, providing the information on the Contingent requested by the Commission and enclosing an extract of the Contingents annual report for 1871 and a statement of the men within the Contingent on duty under officials paid by Talukdars etc, 06 March 1872.
Letters from John Whaley Watson, Acting Political Superintendent Pahlanpur [Palanpur], Captain Henry Nicholas Reeves, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. Rewa Kanta [Rewa Kantha] and Major Philip Harrison Le Geyt, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Mahi Kanta [Mahi Kantha] to the secretary of the Baroda Commission 19 December 1873 to 9 January 1874 reporting on the Gaekwar's contingents serving within their districts and commenting on numbers of men, pay and conditions. The letters all refer to enclosed returns, but only the return for Mahi Kanta is included in the report.

Extent and format

1 volume (249 folios)

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main sequence of foliation consists of a small pencil number in the top front right hand corner of each folio enclosed in a circle.

There is also an original sequence of foliation which consists of larger pencil numbers also in the top front right hand corner of folios, however the sequence is not consistent and some of the numbers may be filing references rather than foliation numbers.

Written in

English in Latin script

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Reference: Mss Eur F126/78
Title: 'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874'
Pages: front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:248v, back-i
Author: East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
Usage terms: Open Government Licence