!['Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎159r] (322/502)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/Mss Eur F126_78_0322.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎159r] (322/502)")
'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [159r] (322/502)
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.
SCHEDULE 11.
C ase N o. 2.
I sL Partesingliji Umedsinghji, Thakor of Ghanta,in Bijapur Mahal, states :—
My village contains abont 50 or 60 houses, has about 2,000 bighas of land, and
the total revenue of it is about Rs. 2,000. The survey of the village was begun
a payment in lieu of some 10 years ago, but was never completed. The only
forage and supplies whreh the Jamabandi which the Government has any right to
Thakors were bound to furnish levy from me is " ghas dana,"* tribute, and this has
m ormer ays. gradually and without cause been increased as
follows :—•
In it was Rs. 52-1 8 0
la! „ „ 539 8 0
H „ „ 564 8 0
lal „ „ 675 0 0
2nd. Formerly, at the time of paying our tribute, we used to receive from
the Vahivatdar a pagri and sirpao and meswani allowances. These in my case
amounted to Es. 20 and Rs. 2 respectively. These allowances were stopped by
order of Khanderao Maharaj in
3rcL I formerly had "giras" haks in 8 villages of the Bijapur Mahal and
one of the Kadi Mahal, amounting in all to Rs. 174-8-0. By the introduction of
the Inam Committee these were reduced in to Rs. 38-2-0, exclusive of my
hak in the Kadi village, which has been left unsettled.
4^4. I took the reduced amount of Rs. 38-2-0 for 6 years, and then on
the Vahivatdar further reducing that amount by 2 annas in the rupee on
account of Inam Committee tax, I refused to accept it. Though the amount to
be paid to me has been settled at Rs. 38-2-0 only, the Vahivatdar still collects
the former sum of Rs. 174-8-0.
5£/i. In one of the Government villages I enjoyed the right of getting one
goat annually from each Shepherd, and in another 1|- seers of cotton from each
Dher, but by the orders of the Vahivatdar, and pleading their poverty, the ryots
have ceased giving me these haks since
6^. I had the right of receiving the fourth of the produce of 384 bighas of
land in Bijapur, and 150 bighas in Kadi, but the people are so poor that they
refuse to pay me these dues. This has also lasted since ^ "4° in the reign of
Khanderao. I petitioned him about it but got no redress—not even an answer.
7th. I have not received my " giras" hak of Rs. 11-4-0 in the Kadi village
since J-||, as the Inam Committee has not settled what it is to be.
Qth. I have personally no grain haks.
Qth. If any of us mortgage any of our land the mortgagee pays to the State
a tax of 2 annas in the rupee, and when we take up this land again we have
to pay this 2 annas tax. This 2 annas tax is an annual one.
1 0th. Since ^ Thanadars have been placed in the mahals, and we have
been deprived of our jurisdiction in criminal cases. I had power to fine up to
Rs. 5 and to imprison for 8 days.
llth. There used to be, and there still exists, a tax of Rs. 1-4-0 upon all
first marriages in our villages, which we still draw, but in addition to this the
ii — 2 a
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [159r] (322/502), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023442807.0x00007b> [accessed 2 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442807.0x00007b
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442807.0x00007b">'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎159r] (322/502)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442807.0x00007b"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/Mss Eur F126_78_0322.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- 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