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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [100v] (205/502)
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.
28
SCHEDULE No. II—continued.
Remarks,
recognise if I saw him. The Desais and other respectable
persons who were in the Cutcherry on this withdrew and went
out on the terrace. The Wahiwutdar and some Karkoons
remained in the Cutcherry. Umrattal Desai did not go to the
terrace but remained with the Whahiwutdar. Wh en inside the
purda Kuljee commenced pulling me about violently, and said
that the bags would be applied to my private parts if I did not
confess. I cried out loudly. This lasted for some time, when the
Whahiwutdartold KuljeethatI would not come to terms here^
and that I should be taken down to the stable and that a peg
should be brought and my reputation taken. This was
accompanied by the most indecent language. I was then taken
to the stable. It was evening: Kuljee and the other man then
tied a rope to a post and fastened my hands up over my head.
No one was allowed to be near the stable. They then strip,
ped me naked except my choolee and petticoat. The latter
was then lifted up and one of the bags of chilies were applied
to my private parts by Kuljee. The other man had a peg in
his hand and made indecent gesture with it saying that
he would use it; he did not do so. Kuljee called upon me to
confess but I did not do so^ but cried out from the excesive
pain and also from terror. Some one called out from outside
that the Wahiwutdar ordered me to be released and sent back
to jail which was done. I wept nearly the whole of that night
in the jail from pain and shame. The guard and the other
prisoners consoled me, and they said that if my cries were
heard by the Whahiwutdar further violence would be used,
but that God would help me."
Ath day.—^exi day I was again sent for to the Outcherry at
noon and the Wahiwutdar informed me that I could not escape,
and that if I did not confess my skin would be stripped off.
I again repeated that I knew nothing about the matter. The
Wahiwutdar then said ''if you have given the ornamentsto Lela
or any one else you must confess it." I said that I had not
given anything to any one, and how could I confess. The
Whahiwutdar then gave orders that a tobra of chilies might
be applied to my face. Previous to this I was flogged with a
rope by Kuljee ; several people were present, but I cannot say
who, because I had covered my face, some people of my caste
being present. Powdered chilies were then put into a cloth
and bound round my month and nose except the eyes. This
was kept on for about ten minutes when I beckoned with my
hands in token of agony. I could not cry out in con
sequence of the cloth over my mouth. The pain was very great.
I wanted water but they would not give me any, nor would
they allow me to go out to relieve nature. About evening the
Wahiwutdar ordered that I should be removed to the jail, and
added that if 1 still held out it would cost me my life ; that I
need not expect to be released and go and live with my hus
band. I then went to jail; but the pain of my nose aud
mouth was very great. Nothing was done to alleviate the
pain. I washed my face and applied some oiL ,?
<( 5th day. —-Next day I was sent for by the Wahiwutdar into a
private room of his own where he performs his worship*
attached to the Cutcherry. I was called upon again to confess,
Kuljee was present, and that the same treatment as before
would be resorted to. There were present at the time o 110
Nana, a Buneya employed by the Wahiwutdar as a
writer
The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping.
Mu^ 1
lal son of Hurgovind Desai; a Brahmin named Gayla, of j 1S
nagar, residing in Mywarra; a Choledar, and others!! I deck
ed making any confessioDo The Wahiwutdar ordered ^
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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- 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