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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎189r] (382/502)

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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. .

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SCHEDULE II.
C ase N o. 40.
j. Vithabae, wife of Kondaya, Mahratha, ISyears, labourer of Baroda, states
—Last Shravan (August), I was taken from my house to serve in the Haveli,
Gaekwar's palace, under the following circumstances. One morning, about 7
or 8 a.m ., my husband having gone out and I being alone in the house, 3
persons,—one Ghanu, a Government sepoy 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. , a Gosai whose name I do not
know, and an old man likewise unknown,—came to my house and said I was to
go to the palace by order of the Sarkar. I refused to go stating that I was
in my monthly courses. I resisted and begged to be let off, but they seized
me and made me accompany them on foot through the streets. There were
many people in the streets, but I did not cry out for help. What was the good ?
What could they do against the Maharaj ? On arrival at the palace I was taken
before the Maharaj, who having inspected me approved of me, and gave
orders that I should be taken to his mistress, Lakshmibae, as a servant " loun-
di." I was kept there for 7 or 8 days, when I was released, my husband having
made a complaint to some Sahib in the Camp. During the time I was in the
palace, I was not insulted or injured. There were 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. on guard at
Lakshmibae's apartments, and I was not allowed to go out without being
followed by one of them. When I first went there, there were already some
10 or 12 other women "loundis" there, and after I arrived, about 10 or 12
more were brought thither. On my release some 5 or 6 women were also let
go, I remember Radha, Reva, Gaja, and Bhagirathi amongst them. No com
pensation was given to me for being thus seized. I made no petition to be
allowed to go home, nor did I cry out before the Maharaj. The whole thing
was done so hurriedly, that I had no time to call out. I was just looked at,
approved of, and sent off to Lakshmibae. The other women in the service of
Lakshmibae told me they had been seized and carried off in the same way as
I had been.
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). Agents have no questions to put, and state that they will
make one general reply on the subject.
Recalled. I identify the man Ghanu now produced as the sepoy 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. who
seized me.
Ganpatrao Vithoba, Mahratha, 80 years. Government Halkari ( Sepoy 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. ,)
Baroda, states:— I know the woman Vithabae now present. I seized her
about 3| months ago in her own house. There were with me Kasiram
and Lakshman, both peons of the Senapati. It was about 10 a.m. I did this
by the order of Govindrao, one of the Senapati's Karkuns, and one
Damodhar, a private servant of the Maharaj Malharrao. When I had seized
her I took her to the palace. The Maharaj asked her if she was willing
to stay there, but she said she was not. The Maharaj then ordered her to
be kept, and I handed her over to Wasant Ram Bhao. The woman resisted
her seizure, and declined to come with us, but we took her nevertheless.
I have taken 8 or 10 other women who had no guardians, but who con
sented to go as servants to the palace. I have taken no woman against her
will except this one. I understood that this woman was taken to be a
servant in the palace.
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). decline to cross-examine.
2. Ujam, wife of Partap, 20 years, Barot of Baroda, states:—Last Shra
van (August) being at my father's house on account of my being in my monthly
n—40 a

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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)

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
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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎189r] (382/502), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023442807.0x0000b7> [accessed 30 June 2026]

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