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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [38v] (81/502)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
T+ a common practice to make revenue defaulters stand stooping m the sun
it is a comai r ^ witll weights on their necks, and such like, and
touching J^eir ^ ^ fe]low ; illagers so treated. Twenty-five Kanbis have left
his'villao-e within the last two years, being unable to pay the assessment.
No% makes the same statement as the preceding deponent regarding the
proceedings towards the Bhats and Brahmins for non-payment of the Inam Com-
mittee Tax in 1865, and adds that in consequence of the alarm thereby occasioned,
the rest of the people paid the tax.
Two vears later some 20 or 25 Kanbis fled from his village in consequence
of the imposition of a fresh tax, some were made to pay by being compelled to
stand stooping in the sun.
Deponent saw the Patel referred to by the preceding deponent put into a
wooden frame, &c., at Baroda as described by him.
No 4 states that in 1871, he was seized and kept in custody for one day for
non-payment of the '• Accession Nazarana" tax. On the same occasion the
sowar
In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman.
who seized him seized a Koli, and putting his saddle and bridle on him, then
mounted him. Seeing this the rest of the people at once paid the Nazarana. The
sowar
In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman.
was alone. Ten kolis then quitted the village.
No. 5 states that some 6 months ago a Karkun came to his village to realise
the " Accession Nazarana." The villagers refused payment, whereupon some 50
of them, of whom deponent was one, were made to stand on hot bricks, touching
their toes, while
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.
mounted on their backs for 20 minutes at a time, lha
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.
further turned the women and children out of their houses, which they
attached. The villagers then agreed to pay up, and gave the^ Karkun Rs. 7, to
leave the village. They addressed a petition to the Maharaja, but the Karkun
refused to take it. Twenty " Paggis" (watchmen) left the village in conse
quence of the above, but subsequently returned.
No. 6 states that he was imprisoned and fettered for six days in 1871, because
he refused to pay the "Accession Nazarana." His cousin was imprisoned for 14
days on the same account; on payment of the Nazarana he was released. He
went to Baroda, and complained, and was told the tax would be levied by instal
ments. Consequent on the levy of the Nazarana some 40 people left his village.
Of these about half have since returned.
No. 7 states that in June last he, (being 70 years old), and three other men
of his village, who went to Pitlad to protest against the levy of the " Accession
Nazarana" were placed by order of the Vahivatdar in a privy, and kept there till
next day, when on giving a written promise to pay, they were released. Deponent
and other villagers went to Baroda to complain of their ill-treatment and oppres
sion, but were not listened to.
No. 8 states that in 1867 a Nazarana of Rs. 50,000 was levied from the par-
gana, on the appointment of Bhao Sindia as Minister, and the following year the
assessment was raised 2 annas in the rupee. Deponent with some 500 others went
to Baroda to complain against the latter increase, but Bhao Sindia ordered him
to be taken away, and he was put into a wooden frame, and spread-eagled " as
stated by Nos. 2 and 3, he being the Patel referred to by them. He then agreed
to pay, and make the others do so. Deponent adds that the present Chief has
imposed new taxes, but has not exercised oppression in realising them.
No. 9 states that in 1864 the people of the Pitlad pargana were summoned
to agree to a ten years' settlement of the land revenue. The rates being excessive,
they refused to accept the settlement, whereupon one of the chief of them was
ordered to sweep the public road. They then agreed to the settlement. Depo
nent describes the attack on the Brahmins and Bhats in 1865, as stated by preced
ing witnesses, and adds that 200 Kolis fled, at that time, from his village to the
Kaira Districts, owing to the ill-treatment they received from the Government
sowars and peons. They have not returned.
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
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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