Enclosures of Letter to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No.213, dated 27 November 1874: Nos. 3 to 31 of Abstract of Contents, from Foreign Department, Fort William [‎45v] (90/102)

80
thus distressed in every way and therefore reported the matter to you. Before
the Commission our jemadars represented all our grievances, and petitioned
Bombav and India Governments, but nothing has been arranged. After
this Dadabhai was appointed Minister in the place of Khanvilkur who was
made Pritinidhi; and we petitioned Dadabhai personally for redress, but did
not obtain it. Meanwhile the A\ ahiwutdar continued pressing us for the
payment and the new cesses, so we reported the matter but obtained no reply.
Our helplessness increased daily; at last we sent a registered petition by post
on the 2nd of Badrafud Wud Snmbut 1931 ai\d enclosed an anna postage stamp for
a reply ; but up to this no arrangement has been made, neither have we received
a reply. If we poor people go to the house of the Minister Dadabhai we find
him secluded, and with great difficulty get 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. to convey our message
and receive a reply to come to the palace. Very often our message even is not
conveyed thus although we go there we very seldom get a reply. If we go to
the palace we 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. cannot effect an entrance owing to our arms ; but should
Ave finally succeed in getting into the Palace we find the Dewan engaged in
important business of the State, and he does not think of the case of us poor
people, neither do we receive a written reply. If we wish to complain orally
we cannot get in owing to the large gathering in 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). , and if we wish to
speak we cannot do so, because people are warned that they are not to speak
until they are called. It is therefore difficult to' see the Dewan in the palace,
and the Dewan himself does not send for us, because we are poor and our
complaint is trifling; and for want of funds we are unable to engage a
vakil Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. to plead our cause; for these reasons we cannot obtain redress
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). ; if we send reports they are never heard of; w r e cannot
even find out where they go to. Our last registered report has not as
yet been replied to. We therefore now beg to. state that we have already
* They have always been referred petitioned you once before and being quite help-
to 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). up to the present time less petition you acrain.'" You will kindly take
when the matter has become serious. „ • , i _ 11 i
our case into consideration and arrange that we
may without obstruction receive our usual emoluments, and that we may not
be harassed with new cesses on our land. Our ancestors acquired these our
wuttuns by shedding blood, and we are deterred from enjoying them owing to
the obstructions complained of above ; those obstructions are not removed and
no arrangements to continue our rights to us are made, but we hear that a
reduction of 25 per cent, in the emoluments has been ordered by Government. [ *
As shown above we are quite destitute for want of food and clothing, and have •
contracted hundreds of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ' debt; and if the above order about reduction is
brought into force ourselves and our wives and children will have to die. We jA
request therefore that you will t ike all these circumstances into consideration
and make early arrangements for us. At present our crops are standing in our
fields and the time for reaping has arrived ; if we attempt to reap them the
The same complaint is general every- A\ uhiwutdar prevents us from doing so, and places
mohsuls for the collection of the new cesses named
above; the crops standing in the fields are partly destroyed by birds and
animals; these oppressions among us and the state of the crops ready for
harvest is as stated above. Some have sublet their lands to those that have no
land of their own, they too are obstructed ; this leaves us entirely destitute.
Strict arrangements should therefore, be made to put a stop to mohsuls and to
allow us to reap our crops. Owing to the reduction of Ks. 25 per cent,
ordered, the Sowcars do not trust us ; ive have petitioned the Bombay Government
on the same subject, copy of which as also the copy of our 'petition to Calcutta
Government is hereto appended for your information. If you take the circums
tances of this petition into consideration and make proper arrangements for us
it is well; otherwise each day will add to our hardships. Arrangements should
therefore be made within eight days and a reply given to us. One anna postage
stamp is enclosed for a reply.