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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [189v] (383/502)
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.
courses, I was seized by 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.
in the following manner: —
One day, about 10 a.m., 3
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.
, having first been to my husband's house
and failed to find me there, came to my father's house, and called for me,
stating they had orders from the Maharaj to take me to the palace. They gave no
explanation as to the reason of my being taken. My parents were in the house,
as were many of my caste people, and they murmured loudly about my cap
ture, saying it was contrary to law and custom thus to seize one of their caste.
The'
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.
would not listen to what they said, and in spite of our remon-
strances, they took me to the palace, followed by my father and mother. In
front of the palace, my father persuaded them to let me go by a promise of
Rs. 60. They accompanied me home, and released me on payment of the
Rs. 60. I do not know the names of the
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.
, nor should I recognize them
if I were to see them.
Cross -examined by Gaehwar 's Neither I nor my father com-
plained to the Maharaj about the bribe of Rs. 60 to the
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.
. I know they
were 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.
because they said they were at the time of seizing me.
Bapu Jethu, Barot, 45 years, Hereditary Genealogist ofBaroda, states : —
The woman Ujam is my daughter. I was present in my house when she
was seized by three 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.
. It was about 10 a.m . one day in
last Shravan (August). What resistance could I make to the
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.
taking her
away ? They took her to the palace, and there, in front of it, I persuaded them
by an offer of Rs. 60 to let her go. They accompanied us home, and I paid them
the money. My daughter being in her monthly courses had come to live at
my house temporarily. I have made no complaint to the Maharaj about this.
The
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.
had come from him. To whom or how could I make a complaint ?
I do not know the
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.
, nor should I recognize them if I saw them.
Cross-examined hy Gaekwar Agent. —I made my complaint to the Resident
about this matter yesterday. I did not know till then that the Resident was
taking complaints. I only heard it from general rumour.
3. Chandra Bhaga, Mahratta, 22 years, labourer of Baroda, states :—
I live in the house of my mother. My mother is a servant in the house of
one Ganpatrao. About 2^ months before the Dassera, I was one day
weighing flour in Ganpatrao's house about 6 in the morning, when some
5 or 6 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.
accompanied by 2 Karkuns came there, and in
spite of my resistance, my mother's cries and remonstrances, they took me to
the Maharaj Malharrao in the palace. The Karkuns of the Maharaj said I
had been brought to be made a servant of. The Maharaj said very good,
take her to the queen, and I was thereupon taken to Malsabae, the queen, in
whose service I remained 2^ months. My service consisted in washing and
bathing her, fanning her, and such like occupations. I was not treated with
any particular care. I was allowed to eat my bread, but I had no bed to
sleep on. The queen did not illtreat me. She once saw me crying, and
asked me the reason, when I told her I did not wish to be a servant
in the palace. There were some 25 others there, old loundis, but I was the
only new one. The queen did nothing in consequence of my crying. I was
released 3 days after the .Dassera. I got no pay for my services. I have
now gone back to my mother, I have had no compensation of any sort made
to me. I left 2 or 3 saris in the palace which were given to me by the Rani.
I have now no complaint to make. I was released on reports made to the
Resident. No one else was released with me. I was taken by a Police
peon
A low-ranking infantryman, orderly or assistant (South Asian context).
to the Foujdari and there asked whether it was my wish to go to my mother s
and on saying that it was, I was permitted to go.
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