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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [67r] (138/502)
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.
C ase N o . 65 of SCHEDULE II. and N o . 13 of SCHEDULE III.
Complaints ofohstruction offered hy theGaehwar s
to parties desiring to appear before the
I.— Case No.65
1. Petitions from the ryots of Naosari Pargana, viz:
(1). From 100 ryots to the Resident, dated 7tli November 1873, complain
ing of the oppression practised on them by the officials of the Gaekwars Govern
ment, through terror of whom they are afraid to come forward and state their
grievances to the Commission, which they desire to do ; add that they have
appealed to 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).
, but have failed to get any redress.
(2). From 22 ryots, (who had left their houses and come into British
territory), to the Collector of Surat, dated 14th December 1873, stating that,
because they went to Baroda and petitioned the Resident regarding the oppres
sion practised on them, they were on their return informed by the local officials
that they should in consequence have to go to the British districts, and that they
were then subjected to such oppression in various ways, that they were compel -
led to abandon their houses and crops and leave the Pargana.
(3). From 3 ryots to the Resident, dated 2nd December 1873, complaining
of the obstruction thrown in the way of those amongst them who desire to come
to Baroda and give evidence before the Commission, several of such persons
having been imprisoned to prevent their doing so. Petitioners allege that they
had left their village secretly with this object, and solicit that the depositions
of their grievances may be taken and recorded. (The statement of one of these
petitioners, Shankraji Shivram by name, has been taken by the Commission and
will be found in the file) .
(4). From 26 ryots of 6 villages of the Balesar Pargana of Naosari to the
Resident, date not given, representing that organized attempts are being made
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).
officials to prevent their coming to Baroda to lay their grievances
before the Commission, and that they are compelled to sign papers prepared by
these officials. Petitioners complain of the over-assessment imposed on them,
and their poverty-stricken condition in consequence, and that they can get no
redress from any quarter.
2. The Resident further refers to an arbitrary proclamation issued 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).
in August last, enjoining general abstinence from animal food, as indicat
ing an intolerant spirit and desire to interfere with the civil liberty of other
classes than Hindus.
3. Shankraji Shivram, one of the three petitioners referred to above under
subhead (3), appears before the Commission and states, that 24 or 25 days
previously, 94 ryots of the Naosari Pargana determined to make a petition to the
Commission, but their intention must have been revealed to the Thana, for the
night before they had arranged to start,
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.
were sent to all the villages, and
some men were arrested. Four
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 at midnight to deponents village
bringing 2 or 3 arrested ryots with them. Deponent managed to get away and
has come to Baroda. The object of the arrests was to prevent their making
their petition to the Commission. The petition of the 94 men referred to is with
the Resident. Deponent adds that they had been previously oppressed by the
levying of Nazarana, &c.
a—65
1
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