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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎50r] (104/502)

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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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^4
SCHEDULK
Case ISTo. 35.
Complaint of Fakir Shaha Sahib.
The complainant's statement is summarised as follows ;—
Complainant came to Baroda between 2 and 3 years ago, from Southern
India, and lived at a Dharamsala near the railway station ; nsed to write general
Baroda news to a newspaper published at Rampura in Moradabad, but wrote
nothing against the Gaekwar or his Grovernment; did write instances of " Zulum,"
(oppression) that he saw ; was arrested about 11 months ago in consequence of
a person, with whom he had a quarrel, informing 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). that he wrote to
the paper in question, and was taken to the Foujdari, where his deposition was
recorded, and on his admitting that he had written to the paper, he was sent to
jail; Was not told his sentence, but saw the warrant in the hand of the sepoy 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 escorted him, and that he Was sentenced to imprisonment for 12 years,
with Rs. 1,000 fine, or 5 years' further imprisonment in default of payment. The
deposition of one Nathu Patel was taken at the same time, but did not refer to
the charge against complainant of writing to the paper for which he understood
he Was punished. After 9 months' imprisonment, complainant was released at
the instance of the Resident. When he was arrested, his property of about
Rs. 25 value, was attached and sold, and on his release he was given Rs. 4 which
it had realised, and Rs. 2 more to pay for a railway ticket to Bombay. He,
however, went to the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. to tell his story, and was given a pass to remain
at Baroda. Subsequently, being discovered when bathing at the river by some
Baroda 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. , he was conducted out of Gaekwari territory, and threatened with
imprisonment if he again entered it.
Complainant admits that 5 manuscript papers in the Urdu character, pro
duced before the Commission by 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). Agent, are in his handwriting, and
that the signatures on three other papers similarly produced, are his own.
2. 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). Agent states that a regular enquiry was instituted into the
case against the complainant, that the papers produced before the Commission,
which he admits were written by him, shew the libellous nature of his letters to
the newspaper, and that he thereby committed an offence against the Maharaja
personally, and his Government. He was accordingly sentenced to 12 years'
imprisonment, but was released on the Resident's recommendation that he should
be expelled from Baroda territory. The Agent denies that 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). ordered
his expulsion notwithstanding his being in possession of a pass from the Resident
to remain, and adds that 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). considered him to be one of its own subjects,
and that it was justified in the action it took against him.
3. The Resident in his final statement in this case observes that 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). 's explanation, though plausible, does not afford information as to the real
cause by which it was actuated in passing so severe a sentence on the com
plainant : that the latter was suspected of publishing libellous statements, on the
strength of certain manuscript papers found in his possession, but that he denies
that these were published, and 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). has failed to offer any proof that they
were so. Complainant declares that he only wrote the truth in the papers pro
duced before the Commission, and there is no legal evidence forthcoming to
warrant so severe a punishment. The Resident then remarks that there must
have been another cause for the latter, and states that he was prepared to give
evidence that such cause was to be found in complainant's connection with the
a—35
1

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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)

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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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎50r] (104/502), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023442806.0x000069> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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