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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [183r] (370/502)
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.
7. It appears that on Sunday the 16th of March, the deceased Tatia
Powar took part in the general Holi ceremonies, during which he was
exposed in the sun in wet clothes for several hours. In the evening he
returned home, washed with cold water and limejuice in order to remove the
stains of the red powder that had been thrown over him, and partook freelj
of liquor with his dinner. Later again in the evening, viz., between 8 and
9, he appears to have eaten a large quantity of an indigestible dish called
<< sljrikhand, 3 ' and to have drunk more spirits, not long after which he
seems to have been seized with Asiatic cholera, the natural consequence of
the exposure, &c., that he had undergone throughout the day; and
m corroboration of this view of the case, the following evidence is forth
coming.
Borah Nurudin Miakhan, medicine seller to the Baroda Government,
states on solemn affirmation before the Resident on 5th January 1874, that he
was summoned to the Palace at 10 p.m . on 16th of March last when
Tatia Powar was taken ill. Maharaja's chief Hakim was present at that time,
he questioned Tatia regarding his illness which he did not attribute to poison.
Witness believed that Tatia was suffering from Asiatic cholera. John Doc
tor, Aderji Doctor, and Narayenrao Doctor came, and all of them expressed
the opinion that the patient was suffering from cholera. Poison was not
spoken of by any of them. Had such suspicion existed, antidotes would have
been used. On the 2nd day after Tatia's death, witness was summoned to
the Foujdari, together with his ,two Gumastas. He there saw three of the
accused persons lying in an almost insensible state from beating, bodies
lacerated and tied with ropes; did not see the flogging, but he was informed
that they were flogged in front of the Foujdari. One of these accused named
Ghanu pointed to his gumasta Fateh Ali as the person by whom poison was
sold. Fateh Ali denied having sold any poison. The Foujdar thereupon
called the witness downstairs and appealed to him. He stated that he kept
all poisons in his own charge, and that Fateh Ali could not possibly have
sold any poison, as alleged. Notwithstanding this explanation Fateh Ali was
flogged'at the Foujdari till he confessed to having sold the poison. Witness
repeated that the confession was false, because he kept the poisons himself,
and he asked that Government
sepoys
Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank.
might be sent with him to his house,
when he would satisfy them on this point. He did so, but nevertheless he
was fined 5,000
Rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
. After this Fateh Ali and others were publicly flogged
through the city.
Witness II., Borah Fath Ali states, on solemn affirmation—That
noon on Tuesday the 18th of March, he went to the Foujdari on hearing that
some Government men were being beaten; he saw one man flogged until he
confessed; in order to increase the pain, a decoction of salt and chillies was
used. About 1 p.m. the Maharaja c
wiid day drive, and the Foujdar conversed with him. ^ The man who was
being flogged at last confessed that he had bought poison from a Ghanchi
boy. Witness after this returned home. At about 4 p.m . the same day his
master, himself, and another Gumasta were called to the I oujdari. Theie was
a large concourse of people there. A man who had just been flogged pointed
at witness, and said that he had bought poison from him. Witness was told by
Balvantrao Eshvant to confess, or that he would be treated in the same way
that the others had been. Witness declined to confess, not having sold any
poison. His master was then told to induce him to confess, and he desired
him to tell the truth. Witness again denied having sold any poison. The
Foujdar Balvantrao then had his clothes taken off, and he was bound to a post
and severely flogged. At intervals he was desired to confess, and on his
refusal, the beating was renewed. At last he falsely confessed that he had
sold the poison. Witness's master was then called, and he stated it to be im
possible that witness could have sold the poison, because he kept it himself.
ii—39 c
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