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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [207r] (418/502)
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.
/ X.
SCHEDULE II.
C ase N o. 54.
1. Meru Gaddhu, 40 years, Orderly of the late Maharaj Khauderao,
states:—I was an Orderly of the late Khanderao for 10 years, in receipt of
Rs. 9 per mensem. I have also served the present Maharaj in the same capa
city for 3 months. At the end of that time, I was ordered to serve in one of
the Regiments. After serving for one month, I was arrested at my house
one night while asleep by Bapu Sahib, Sudaseo, a Karknn, and some peons, by
whom I was taken to the Foujdari. The Foujdar Balvantrao was not then
present, and we were kept in custody for 3 days in the Foujdari by the two
persons abovenamed without any examination. On the fourth day Venkatrao
Master and Bapu Sahib told us to make a statement, that either the Rani, Bhao
Sindia, or the
Munshi
A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf.
Habibula had got up a plot against the Sarkar, i.e.
the Maharaj Malharrao. They promised me Rs. 500 down, and Rs. 100 a
month to say so. I refused to make the statement demanded, and was con
fined for 3 months in the Foujdari, attempts being made from time to
time to induce me to make the statement. I was in separate quarters from
Jesingh Jora and Fattehsingh Bhaiji, who had also been orderlies of the late
Gaekwar. I do not know of my own knowledge what they said to them.
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).
then fined me Rs. 500, and on my pleading my inability to pay it,
they threatened to hang me. They told my relatives they would do so. My
mother and wife petitioned the Foujdar in vain for a remission of the sentence,
and at length the money was paid. I was in prison altogether for 4 months,
and was released on payment of the fine. No one will employ me now. I
want my Rs. 500 fine repaid and my restoration to Government Service.
I paid the fine to Bapubhai and Sudaseo, the Karkun of Venkatrao.
Cross-examined hy Durhar Agents-. —Bapubhai is the brother of Tarabae,
one of the mistresses of Ganpatrao Maharaj.
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 defer statement.
2. Fattehsing Bhaiji, 45 years, Orderly, now resident in Baroda,
states;—I have heard the statement of Meru Gaddhu now given. My story is
similar to his. I have served for 22 years, but in every other respect my story
is the same as Meru's, and I pray that the fine of Rs. 500 which I paid to
Bapu Sahib may be refunded, and that I may be re-employed.
Cross-exaniined hy Duvbar Agents'. — I made no petition, after payment
of the fine, to the Maharaja. Who would listen to me ? I made a petition
a month ago to the Resident, but have made no other petition to any one. I
made it now, because I heard that the Sahib would listen to petitions.
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 defer reply.
3. Jesingh Jora, 40 years, late Orderly, now resident in Baroda, states
precisely the same as the two previous witnesses, and desires the repayment
of his fine and restitution to his place.
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 defer answer.
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).
Agents.
Bapuji Gangadhar and Sudaseo deny having received the Rs. 500. If.
however, the complainants prefer a regular charge before 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).
, it wi
he enquired into,
ii—54
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