'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [98v] (201/502)
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.
24
SCHEDULE No. II .— continue
40
Complaints of Baroda Subjects.
Seizure of women in the City of Baroda
to serve as Lowndies.
Instances quoted in Yad —
1 Wife of a Soni residing in Baroda
Case described to His Highness.
2 Mahalsabai's daughter.
3 Wife of Koondajee.
4 Sister of
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.
Karkoon,
B emarks.
On the 15th August last tho RosidGiit^ in consec(U6iice of severe]
complaints that had been made to him ; addressed His High,
ness to the effect that women were seized by His Highnel
officials and carried oif to serve as Lowndees in His Highness'
household; that the object of the Resident in addressing him
was to ascertain the facts of the case ; because on the 12tli
March 1856 slavery was abolished in His Highness' dominions.
The number said to have been deprived of their liberty i B
this manner amounts to between 400 or 500 women and gir^
most of whom are only 22 years of age and under, &C.,
The following specific instances were brought to His Highness'
notice :—
A Soni named Keshowlal Jeta complained that his wifeSuraj,
aged about 22 years, had been first seduced and then made a
Lowndee under the following circumstances:—
The complainant stated that two persons living close to his house
in the city, viz., Runchord and Gopi, sons of the noto
rious Bhugwundass Ragonathdass (who was in prison for 5
years in 1863, for aiding and abetting conspiracy, and dieii
in prison) are neighbours of the complainant, whose wife
Suraj was seduced and carried off by Runchord, in April last,
together with ornaments, clothes, &c.; sometime elapsed before
the complainant could obtain any clue to the hiding place of
his wife, but he at last discovered that she was living in a
garden lately given by your Highness to Runchord and Gopi
on the road to Mukunpura. The complainant obtained the
assistance of a police
peon
A low-ranking infantryman, orderly or assistant (South Asian context).
and went to arrest the girl, but
Runchord's servants declared that they would not allow her
to be arrested without orders from their master. Runchord
was sent for, and when he came threatened complainant who
was obliged to withdraw ; complainant then went to complain
to the Fouzdar and Senaputty, and finally to your Highness,
who on that occassion was accompanied by the Ministei
and Hariba Dada and others. Complainant represented his
circumstances and your Highness asked Suraj where she W
gone to after leaving her husband. She replied that she had
gone to Bombay because her husband beat her, and did no
give her food and clothing; and that for this reason she ha j
gone to live with Runchord, and that she wished to stay 1V1 _
him. Complainant was then sent back to the Senaputty 9 ,
Cutcherry, and was eventually told that his wife could not I
restored to him or any of his property; that she had heensei
to the Nava Wada as a Lowndee, and that she was in cm ' m
of a private servant of His Highness, Wussuntram
The complainant states that he accordingly went to ^ SS aJ
ram Bhow and demanded his wife, but was told in reply 1
she was made a Lowndee and that he could not have her. |
then demanded her ornaments, but was told that a 1
Lowndee must have her ornaments. Though the woman I
Lowndee yet she is permitted to visit Runchord who li ve ® cl lla i
to the complainant, and thus scandal goes on before al
neighbours.
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.
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- 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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- Title
- 'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874'
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- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
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