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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [169r] (342/502)
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.
11
tenced to imprisonment. While in jail, three or four of them died, but from
natural causes.
Malharrao Maharaj has exempted Bhats and Brahmans from paying the
Inam Commission tax.
Translation ofCircular Order 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).
of His Highness Malharrao.
No. 314.
Circular from the Chief Fouzdari Officer at Baroda, to all Vahivatdars
in Petlad Mahal.
It has come to the notice of His Highness the Maharaj that in the
Mahals of His Highness's territory certain Government Officers, Vahivatdars,
Thanadars, Fouzdars, Karkuns, Mehtas, Mukhis, Jameedars, c^-c., exercise,
in virtue of their official position, oppression towards the ryots, and also
use violence to them in collecting the Government dues by exacting forced
labour and in other ways for their own benefit, the result being that the ryots
suffer from this oppression.
The following instance of this sort having recently occurred in the
village of Wadwas, in Dehgam pargana, to the effect that one Amin Chababhai
Desaibhai used tyranny and violence, contrary to law and justice, to a Brahmin,
a resident of that place, an enquiry was made, in the Fouzdari Department,
at head-quarters, and the charge having been proved against, the said Amin,
he has been appropriately punished.
Further be it known that the following order has now been issued, cau
tioning all officers concerned, to the effect that if similar instances of oppress
ing the ryots be hereafter found to have been practised by any officer for
his own benefit by misuse of his official power, or if instances of corruption
come to the knowledge of Government, and are proved against any officer.
His Highness the Maharaj will punish him, irrespective of what his position
or rank may be.
This Circular has been issued by order of the Maharaja, and you are direct
ed to see that these instructions are fully carried out. An acknowledgment
of this Circular should be sent within four days. Dated this - Iag \LtFebraa!y'"i'73 8
(Signed) BALWANTRAO ESHWANT.
Final Statement by the Resident.
Schedule II., Cases 3, 6, and from 11 to 31, both inclusive.
Also No. 65, relative to the prevention of Naosari people from attending
the Commission and their persecution by
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.
1874.
The evidence which I was prepared to submit to the Commission regard
ing the maladministration of the Revenue Department of the Gaekwar State
was not recorded owing to the orders received from the Government of India
prohibiting any enquiry into the details of the Revenue system of the Gaekwar
State.
The Petlad pargana of 90 villages was represented at Baroda by the chief
men and ryots of 83 villages; indeed, every district was well represented
except Naosari, only a few of the ryots and patels of which managed to elude
the vigilance of the district officials, who, notwithstanding 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).
's
assertions to the contrary, exerted themselves to the utmost to prevent them
from coming to Baroda.
ft
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