Letter from the undersigned Sirdars, etc. of the Baroda Sate to Philip Sandys Melvill, Agent to the Governor-General of India, Baroda [‎23v] (14/18)

dissatisfaction has been created. We are connected with several of such Kamdars
or men of Sibandee, as they are called, and on several occasions they have
received assurances from us as to the maintenance of their hereditary footing in
the State. For instance, we have already mentioned the fact that we had accom
panied a military force sent by His Highness Khanderao Gaekwar to assist the
British in suppressing the Indian Mutiny of 1857. On this occasion, these Si-
handee men had joined us at our express desire, and as they rendered very valuable
services, we assured them that they would be amply rewarded. Now that they
are dismissed, they overpower us with taunts, and ask us to make representations
to the Sircar on their behalf. In our opinion, their case deserves serious con
sideration, and accordingly we have brought it to your Honour's notice.
18. In this State there are several Kamdars, who, by reason of their useful
and important services to the State, are called Darakddrs. They belong to the
Financial Department of the State, and at their head stands the Furnavis. They
enjoy their respective offices in hereditary succession, and are regarded as the
pillars of the State. All the State records and accounts are entrusted to their
care, and they annually receive a certain portion of the State Revenue, out of
which they remunerate their personal services and maintain certain establishments
of their own. These hereditary Darakdars have never been suspected of dis
honesty or fraud in discharging their responsible duties. On the contrary, certain
events have occurred which have clearly proved that they are worthy of every con
fidence of the State. For instance, when, during the notorious reign of Malharrao
Gaekwar, a Commission was appointed to inquire into the affairs of this State,
various frauds were brought to light (vide Report of the Baroda Commission of
Inquiry, vol. 1, p. 82) ; but not a single case was reported in which these Darakdars
were accused of any misdeed. In spite of all this, the revolutionizing spirit of the
present Ministry has not refrained from manifesting its effects to them. Their
' nemnook'is divided into two parts (I), personal allowance, (2) establishment
allowance ; and the latter has been employed in creating a new establishment,
over which the Furnavis and the Darakdars have no control. This circum
stance has sent a thrill of excitement throughout the kingdom, as the Darakdars
form one of the most influential and important bodies of the State. Again, in
connection with the benefits which the State derives from the services of these
Darakdars, we beg to state that all the State records and important accounts,
being under their charge, have been safely preserved, as a hereditary responsi
bility is attached to their office ; and if, during the reign of Mulharrao Gaekwar,
when the affairs of the State had fallen into a disordered condition, the said
records and accounts had been in the custody of any other body than such
hereditary kamdars, it is extremely probable that their safety would have been
endangered. Again, the body of the Darakdars is not subject to those changes
which frequently take place regarding the Ministry of the State, and consequently
any new Ministry finds no difficulty in conducting the business of the State, as
all the requisite means, that is, the State records, &c., are ready in the hands of