History of Pradyuman Shah as Kumaon King

 (History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

                          

                     (History of Panwar Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 222

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

         Pradyuman Shah-  Ruling Period – 1779-1786

Contemporary King

Garhwal -Jaykrit Shah -1780-1786

       Before, the Garhwal army attack on Kumaon, Pradyuman Shah was coroneted the King of Kumaon in Shrinagar Garhwal as adopted son of late Kumaon King deep Chandra.

  Joshi family and their supporters rules Kumaon on behalf of Pradyuman for one year. Pradyuman Shah was only thirteen years old and he was very soft by body and by nature too.

       Kumaon Bajir or whole and sole of Kumaon Harsh Devi sent many messages to Garhwal King Lalit Shah to depute Pradyuman Chandra to Almora.

             Garhwal King Lalit Shah had experience of Kumaon Kingdom where kings were killed by their own administrators or relatives in past. Lalit Shah wanted to correct the situation himself in Almora before deputing Pradyuman. Lalit Shah wrote to Joshis that first he wanted to experience the real situation. Joshis wrote back that Lalit Shah should not worry and should depute only Pradyuman Shah.

  However, Lalit Shah was not satisfied the reply from Joshis. Garhwal King reached to Khetsari in Kumaon with huge army. Joshis became afraid and Harsh Dev Joshi fled away from Almora. Jaya Nand Joshi met the Garhwal King. Jaya Nand Joshi informed that people of Kumaon fled away from the area due to fear of Garhwal King. Jaya Nand suggested Garhwal King Lalit Shah that he should go back to Duladi (towards Garhwal and back away from Khetsari). Lalit Shah agreed the advice of jaya Nand Joshi and camped at Duladi.

                  Lalit Shah was there in Duladi for seven months but Harsh Dev Joshi did not come to meet Lalit Shah. Lalit Shah wanted to meet Harsh dev Joshi for future assurance for protection of his son Pradyuman. Lalit Shah sent many letters to Harsh Dev Joshi. Harsh Dev Joshi did neither send the reply not he paid visit to Garhwal king.

   Jaya Nand Joshi and Lalit Shah used to show cordial relation for each other but both were playing games with each other. No side trusted the other side. Lalit Shah wanted that Pradyuman should administrate Kumaon Kingdom but Jaya Nand Joshi had plan that Pradyuman would be king but real administrations should be in the hand of Joshis. Harsh dev Joshi sent message for Garhwal king to return and send Pradyuman Shah. Lalit Shah wanted to meet Harsh dev Shah.

       One day, Harsh Dev Joshi came to meet Lalit Shah with army. He entered to camp of King and suddenly went away from his camp without discussion.

             The Garhwal King paid huge money to Joshi to buy army and support. Now, Harsh Dev Joshi and other Joshi were showing their intention. Now, Joshi were ignoring Garhwal King.

  Lalit Shah got malaria in Duladi. In August 1780, Lalit Shah died. Garhwali soldiers brought the dead body of Lalit Shah to Shrinagar Garhwal.

           Lalit Shah could not send his son Pradyuman Shah to Almora. However, his greed for taking Kumaon Kingdom generated group enmities and divisions among Garhwal Kingdom administrators.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 20/12/2013

                                      References

Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 10, Kumaon ka Itihas 1000-1790

Badri Datt Pande, 1937, Kumaon ka Itihas, Shri Almora Book Depo Almora

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Justin Marozzi, 2006, Tamerlane: Sword of Islam

Bakshsingh Nijar, 1968, Punjab under Sultans 1000-1526 

The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 13 page 52 

Bhakt Darshan, Gadhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

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Majumdar R.C. (edited) 2006, The Sultanate

Rizvi, Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat

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Vishweshara nand , Bharat Bharti lekhmala

Aine-e Akbari

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The Tazuk-i-Jahangiri

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Sailendra Nath Sen, 2010, An Advanced History of Modern India

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

                           

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -223  

History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….

Himalayan, Indian History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…

  (Himalayan, Indian History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)