History of Pradyuman Chandra as Garhwal King

(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

                          

                     (History of Panwar Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 230

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

             There is no agreement among historians for whether Garhwal King Jaya Kirti Shah died by natural death or conspirators killed Garhwal King. Jaya Kirti was eldest step brother of Pradyuman and Parakram.

       After the death of Jaya Kirti Shah, Ajab Ram and other selfish people looted the Kingdom wealth and then after sent the message of death to Almora. Pradyuman, Parakram and Harsh Dev Joshi came to Shrinagar Garhwal in 1786. Pradyuman Chandra took the oath of Garhwal King as Pradyuman Shah. Pradyuman Shah was puppet of Harsh Dev Joshi. Harsh Dev Joshi wanted that Pradyuman Shah become King of Garhwal too that Joshi could command both the territories.

               Parakram Shah aided by hi supporter wanted that he become Garhwal King.  Faujdar Ajab Ram was stern supporter of Parakram. Ajab Ram had his own small army. Ajab Ram was opponent of Harsh Dev Joshi. Harsh dev Joshi killed Ajab Ram through somebody. The Garhwali administrators and elites were in terror. They came to understanding that Harsh Dev Joshi was a cruel administrator and selfish too. Garhwal Kingdom administrators and elites came to conclusion that king maker Harsh Dev Joshi can’t be beneficial to the kingdom. They beat Harsh Dev Joshi and Harsh Dev Joshi had to flee Kumaon. Harsh Dev Joshi could not correct the mess in the Kumaon Kingdom administration.

                          Mohan Chandra becoming super Active

                     As soon as Pradyuman went to Shrinagar, Mohan Chandra (the ex Kumaon King in exile) became active for taking Kumaon kingdom. Mohan Chandra got the support of Tarai ruler Nand Ram. Mohan Chandra sent message for Parakram Shah in Shrinagar. Parakram Shah was annoyed by his elder brother becoming Garhwal King too. Parakram collected army for supporting to Mohan Chandra.

  Nand Ram aatacked on Kumaon from foothills of Kumaon and Mohan Chandra along with his brother Lal Singh attacked on Kumaon from Kali Kumaon side. The army reached to Naithanagarh of Dora Talla patti of Pali Pargana. The army of Parakram Shah also reached at Naithanagarh.

      Harsh Dev Joshi was there with army. Most probably Pradyuman Shah did not send Garhwal army to help Harsh Dev Joshi. Hundred of Kumaon soldiers were annoyed by behavior of Pradyuman Shah that though he was Kumaon King but his heart was for Garhwal. Such Kumaon patriotic soldiers deserted Harsh Dev Joshi.

  Mohan Chandra defeated Harsh Dev Joshi. Harsh Dev Joshi fled towards plains.

    Mohan Chandra took the administration of Kumaon Kingdom. However, the mess in Kumaon was deep that he could not correct the mess.

  Parakram declared himself as Garhwal King.  There was situation of civil war in Garhwal Kingdom.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 28/12/2013

                                      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

Devidas Kaysth, Itihas Kumaon Pradesh

Katyur ka Itihas, Pundit Ram Datt Tiwari

Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

Atkinson, History of District Gazette

Menhadi Husain, Tuglak Dynasty

Malfujat- E Timuri

Tarikh -e-Mubarakshahi vol 4

Kumar Suresh Singh2005, People of India

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

Mahajan V.D.1991, History of Medieval India

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

Rizvi, Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat

Tarikhe Daudi

Vishweshara nand , Bharat Bharti lekhmala

Aine-e Akbari

Akbari Darbar

Tareekh Badauni

Eraly Abraham, 2004 The Mogul Throne

The Tazuk-i-Jahangiri

Maularam- Gadh Rajvansh Kavya

Ramayan Pradeep

Annatdev’s Smriti-Kaustubh

Sarkar, History of Aurangzeb

Jadunath Sarkar, History of Aurangzeb

Sarkar, fall of Mogul Empire

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 -231  

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…)

Xx

Notes on History of Kumaon, Himalaya; History of Pithoragarh Kumaon, Himalaya; History of Champawat Kumaon, Himalaya; History of Bageshwar Kumaon, Himalaya; History of Nainital Kumaon, Himalaya; History of Almora Kumaon, Himalaya; History of Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Himalaya; History of Kumaon, Himalaya, North India; History of Kumaon, Himalaya, South Asia;