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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [168v] (341/502)
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.
10
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).
reserve cross-examination.
26. Virchand Lila, Patidar of CJmta, Kheralu Pargana, states The rates
of assessment have been repeatedly raised of late in my village, and improper
cesses have been imposed. In 1867-68, a Karkun named Mama Saheb came
to the village, and because we would not pay, all sorts of oppression were
practised on us ; we had to stand in the sun touching our toes with our hands;
stones were placed on our backs ; we were beaten, bound, and otherwise ill-
treated. At that time Baba Saheb Sarshi was Vahivatdar. He was succeeded
by Bandu Saheb, and we were still tortured when we could not pay the cess.
In consequence of this ill-treatment, upwards of 50 villagers have deserted
their homes and gone into neighbouring districts. I petitioned the Gaekwar
repeatedly about the tyranny which was practised on us, but never got any
redress.
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).
reserve cross-examination.
Reply of 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).
to the Petlad and other parganas' complaints of
oppression in levying the revenue and taxes.
We are not prepared either to admit or deny the allegations made by
witnesses regarding the oppression to which they say they were subjected.
We do not know the names of the persons who, these witnesses say, were
subjected to oppressive treatment. Under these circumstances, we could only
adduce evidence of a gerferal character to show that zulum was never resorted
to as a system. This evidence the President considers, being of a negative
character, cannot invalidate the positive facts deposed to by the witnesses.
In deference to this opinion we do not urge to be permitted to adduce evi
dence of that kind. Looking at the class to which the witnesses belong, and
their position, our impression is that their description of torture is at least
considerably exaggerated, if not totally false. The probable truth is that
when they refused to pay the dues of the State, they were kept in confinement
for short terms, with a view to enforce the payments. However, if anything
beyond this "did really happen, which we are not prepared to admit, it was
without our sanction. The rules in force do not permit that procedure, while
a general circular was issued in February, distinctly prohibiting the
exercise of any kind of zulum on any person. Our conduct has been in per
fect harmony with the spirit of these Circular Orders ; and whenever cases of
oppression come to the notice of 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).
, regular enquiries are made, and
the guilty parties punished.
The assessments having been fixed for a term often years, at a time when
high prices prevailed, may appear to be high at the present time, but as the
ten years' term will shortly expire, a fresh assessment will be made according
to the circumstances of the cultivators.
With regard to the nazaranas generally, they were levied in accordance
with previous custom, and the gadi nazarana specially was levied with the
knowledge of the late Resident Colonel Barr,
The Bhats of Patan are naturally ill-disposed to Government, and were
called upon to give security to keep the peace. They declined to give it and
went about from village to village committing self-immolation, " traga, " even
killing their own associates. The Government people killed none of them.
When they came to Patan, the Government tried to arrest them, and they
again committed this " traga/' but the Government officials killed none of them
as alleged.
With reference to the Sojitra Bhats and Brahmans, they refused to pay
the Inam Committee tax, and were turning people against Government. A
company of 100 soldiers, with one gun, were sent to arrest them. They
brought 12 of the ringleaders into Baroda, where they were tried and sen-
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.
- 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