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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [176r] (356/502)
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 II.
C ase N o. 37.
Maganbhai Parshotam, 18 years, Head of the Firm of Hari Bhagti, of
Baroda, Surat, and Ahmedabad, states:—In » Khanderao Maharaj took
from my mother, my father being dead, a chit for the sum of 20
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of
Rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
,
which, on the assertion of one of the Gumashtas of the firm, Pitambar by
name, he declared to be due to the State from us. I am the adopted son of Par
shotam, and was at that time a child. Out of the sum 6
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
were paid, but
some 5 or 6 years after, on proof being adduced that the money was not due,
Khanderao said that the balance of 14
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
was not to be paid, and that the
6
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
should be refunded. He lived for 1| or 2 years after this, but did
not refund the 6
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
nor restore the chit. Malharrao has given back the
chit, but not the 6
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
. At the time of my adoption by Parshotam the sum
of 5
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
was paid as nazarana to the State, and entered in the books of
the firm.
Some few months after Parshotam's death, the sum of Rs. 75,000 was lent
to Malharrao as a private transaction. He had not then ascended the throne.
Immediately after his accession he sent our Gumashta Girdhar Trikam who
had been imposed on us by Khanderao to demand a quittance for this sum of
Rs. 75,000. I refused to give this, but that night, about 8 p. m ., when I was
asleep, Girdhar came again, and informed me that it was the will and pleasure
of the Maharaj that I should give this quittance, and that I had no choice
in the matter. Under these circumstances, I gave the quittance without
having received anything in return. Some 7 or 8 months ago, Malharrao
Maharaj sent Girdhar again with a Jasod," Government messenger, and
asked to see some diamond ornaments. I sent some including a necklace ;
that evening Balvantrao Raholkar came and asked to see some of my
best jewels for the Maharaj. He selected four or five which he took away
with him and which the Maharaj approving them kept. I don't know their
value. They consisted of earrings, necklace, &c. His Highness Malharrao
gave me a "poshak," ornamental dress, worth some Rs. 50, and presented
Girdhar with a pearl necklace. He also gave me back the chit for 20
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
mentioned above. At the time of the Divali in 1872, the Maharaj
asked for my emerald necklace, valued at some 4 or 5
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
. It was
at that time mortgaged to the Killedar for Ks. 75,000, and to enable me to
redeem this mortgage the Government lent me 2^
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
. Of this amount
Rs. 16,000 has been since paid off. I got back the necklace from the
Killedar, and about a month afterwards Wasant Rambhao came and asked
for it for His Highness. The key of the box in which it was kept not being
forthcoming, a blacksmith was sent for, the box broken open, and the
necklace taken away. I went with Wasant to the palace, but the Maharaj
being asleep I was not admitted, and had to return home. Next day, when
I went to pav my respects to the Maharaj, he was wearing the necklace.
He received me well, and at my request he promised to give me Government aid
in recovering debts due from different people in Baroda. About the time
of the Divali, the Maharaj took away from my house a valuable chandelier
and clock. In making up our accounts at that time, I was compelled,
after much discussion, to credit the Government with Rs. 25,000 on account
of one Gordhan Xrikam being made cashier to Government, this sum hav
ing been promised to him by my Gumashta Girdhar to be paid if he got
, ■*- *j * i * i. 'TIT Svt. JyiS
the place. It was done without my consent and against my wuf. in a .d. ia7i
n—37 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
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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