'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [51r] (106/502)
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.
A
SCHEDULE II.
Cases Nos. 37 and 61.
SCHEDULE III.
Cases Nos. 1 and 4.
Grievances of the State and other Bankers at Baroda.
The case of the grievances of the Banking firms is referred to by the Resident
in his letters to the Bombay Government No. dated 28th June 1873, (paras.
13 and 14), and No. ||-f 3 dated 21st August 1873, (para. 3).
The following is a summary of the evidence laid before the Commission in
the above cases ;—
I.— Case No. 37
1.—The complainant, a youth of 18, the head of the old State Bank oi
Hari Bhagti of Baroda, states :—
(1). On his adoption by the then head of the firm, the latter paid 5
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
as Nazarana to the State.
(2). In 1863 when he was a child, his adoptive father being then dead, the
late Gaekwar exacted from his mother a bond for 20
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
, which, on
the allegation of a Gumasta, His Highness claimed to be due by the firm to the
State. Some 6 or 6 years subsequently, during which six
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
had been paid
up in part of this amount, proof was adduced that the money w T as not really due, and
Khanderao remitted farther payments on the bond and ordered the refund of the
6
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
then paid up. He, however, neither repaid this amount, nor restored the
bond, though he lived for 1| or 2 years longer. The present Chief has restored
the bond, but has not refunded the 6
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
.
(3). Rs. 75,000 were lent by the firm to the present Chief, as a private
transaction, before he succeeded to the Gadi, and immediately after his accession,
complainant was compelled to give him an acquittance thereof.
(4). Some 7 or 8 months ago, he was similarly compelled to lend some dia
monds and other valuable jewels, of the value of which he is ignorant, to the
Maharaja, by whom they were kept, subsequent to which the bond for 20
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
was returned to him.
(5). At the Dewali in 1872, deponent was required to give up to the
Maharaja an emerald necklace worth 4 or 5
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
, to redeem which from
the person to whom it was mortgaged, the Government lent complainant
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
,
of which sum he has since repaid Rs. 1,60,000, and at the same time His Highness
took a chandelier and clock from his house.
(6). About the same time, complainant was compelled against his will to
give the Grovernment credit to the amount of Rs. 25,000, on account of the
appointment of a certain person as cashier to Grovernment, merely because his
Gumasta had promised that such should be done.
(7). In 1871, the present Chief resumed 4 Inam villages and cash allow
ances aggregating Rs 20,000 in value, and took possession of a garden at Baroda,
all belonging to the firm. The sanads for the villages are produced and are
admitted 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 to be genuine.
a —37
1
About this item
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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.
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- 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
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