!['Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎205r] (414/502)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/Mss Eur F126_78_0414.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎205r] (414/502)")
'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [205r] (414/502)
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.
r
SCHEDULE II.
C ase N o. 51.
Lakshmibae, widow of Malharbhao Shelki, resident of Baroda, statesMy
late husband was a personal attendant and private servant of Khanderao Maha-
raj. He was a servant of the Gaekwar's from the time of Ganpatrao, and had
been employed for 40 years. About 10 days after Khanderao's death my
husband was arrested, I do not know by whom, at the palace. I do not know
why he was arrested. The same day our house was put under attachment,
and I was strictly confined to the house. In a little over a month all our pro-,
perty was taken away from the house, I do not know by whose orders or
who the people were who took it away, I was ill at the time. The attach
ment lasted 6 or 7 months, at the end of which time I was turned out. I
do not know who has it now or to whom it was given. Nine months after
my husband's arrest a
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.
came and informed me of his death in prison. I
went there to take away the corpse. I made no enquiries as to his death. I
noticed that his teeth had fallen out, and that his complexion, which was for
merly light, was now livid and black. The body was slightly swollen and
had an offensive smell. 1 have claims against 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).
now, amounting in
all to Rs. 1,29,000 comprising my husband's property which was confiscated,
viz., cash, jewels, ornaments presented by Khanderao, and my house.
There was also an Inam village Otia, revenue Rs. 2,500 annually. I have
no sanad for it. That was taken away with everything else. I know no
reason whatsoever for this treatment of my husband and me, or for taking
away our property. I am left now utterly destitute.
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 reserve statement.
Reply of 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).
.
Complainant's husband was in charge of the Jamdar-Khana called Silleh-
Khana, which had jewels in it deposited from the time of Seiaji. On the
accession of His Highness Malharrao an account was demanded, and conscious
of fraud and fearing exposure, he and Ghanu Wagh set fire to the Sille-Khana
about February 1871, by which a portion of the property, and principally the
accounts, were destroyed. He was convicted and sentenced to 9 years' im
prisonment. His property valued at Rs. 25,000 and house were confiscated
on account of the offences committed by him, and the losses caused thereby
to Government. A portion of the building and a considerable quantity of
the accounts and Government records were burned.
SCHEDULE II.
C ase No, 52.
Bhagirathibai, widow of Ghanu Wagh, now resident in Baroda, states : My
husband was a personal attendant of the late Khanderao Gaekwar for 5 or 6
J^ears, and had previously served preceding Gaekwars. My husband had
personal property amounting to 3
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
or thereabouts, and an Inam
village Beiranpur, the value of which I do not know. Some 15 days after
Khanderao's death he was imprisoned and his house and property placed undei
attachment. About 5 months after my husband was imprisoned, I heard he
had died, and went with my relations to the jail to take charge of his corpse,
n—51 & 52
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [205r] (414/502), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023442808.0x00000f> [accessed 4 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442808.0x00000f
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442808.0x00000f">'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎205r] (414/502)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442808.0x00000f"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/Mss Eur F126_78_0414.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- 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