History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom

(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

                                        

                     (History of Panwar Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 233

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

              History repeats itself because nobody learns from History. Indian Kings never learned from History and foreigners ruled India. Politicians never learned from History and Indian political establishment is in danger. Kumaon and Garhwal faced adversary due to inter-rivalries among administrators and Kings. Garhwal and Kumaon had to pay heavy price by attack from Nepal.

                       Mahesh Chandra as Kumaon King (1788-1790)

          Ruling period of Mahesh Chandra – 1788-1790 (fifteen month)

Contemporary Kings

Garhwal- Pradyuman Shah (1786-1804)

Nepal- Gorkhadhis Ranbahadur

  Mahesh Chandra was crowned on Kumaon Kingdom around last part of 1788 and in February Gorakha captured Kumaon.

  Lal Singh defeated the army of Harsh Dev and Pradyuman Shah in Chukam. Harsh Dev ran away to Garhwal. Lal Singh, Parakram Shah and Mahesh Chandra the son Mohan Chandra with a reasonable army reached to Almora. Parakram would have sit on the crown. However, Parakram Shah took gift of rupees forty thousand and handed over the crown to Mahesh Chandra.

                          Suppression of Joshi

 Lal Singh took charge of all highest position of Deewan and Bakshis. He appointed his own trusted men on other important positions. Joshis were culprits in disestablishing Mohan Chandra.  Lal Singh suppressed Joshis and threw away from Kumaon. Many Joshis were put in jails. Many Joshis were hung as punishment. Lal Singh captured properties of many Joshi families.

                  Harsh Dev Joshi becoming Activate

  Garhwal King Pradyuman Shah awarded Harsh Dev Joshi the Jagir of Padyulsyun. However, due to terror of Parakram Shah, Harsh Dev Joshi had to leave Garhwal. No record is available about Shiv Chandra a small time Kumaon King. Harsh dev Josh reached Bareli and took shelter under Subedar Mirza Menhadi Ali beg. Beg was regional commander of Awadh ruler. Harsh Dev Joshi wanted to collect Army.

  Awadh ruler came for hunting in Tarai near Haldwani in 1789. Lal Singh met Awadh ruler. Lal Singh requested Awadh ruler to provide protection to Kumaon King Mahesh Chandra. In return of protection from Awadh ruler, Lal Singh handed over Tarai to Awadh. Now, order from Awadh ruler, Mirza Menhadi Ali Beg did not help Harsh Dev Joshi to collect army.

         Harsh Dev Joshi was in Bareli. Before,  January 1790, Gorakha army of Nepal Kingdom attacked on Karnali, Doti, Dailekh, Baitdi kingdoms 9today in Nepal) and captured all Katyuri kingdoms in kali valley till the border of Chand Kingdom or Kumaon Kingdom.   Kumaon Kingdom was in west of Kali River.

            Harsh Dev Joshi thought of taking benefits from the opportunity. Nepal King Ran Bahadur was ambitious King. He was aware the weakness of Kumaon and wanted to take over Kumaon Kingdom. Nepal King sent a letter through his Kaji Jagjit Pande to Harsh Dev Joshi mentioning that if Harsh Dev Joshi help Nepal Kingdom at the time of Nepal army attacking on Kumaon, Nepal King would offer Harsh Dev Joshi a highest position. Harsh Dev Joshi offered all secretes of Kumaon to Nepal King.

 Though, two years back Nepal King had a religious treaty (dharm patra)  with Kumaon King Mohan Chandra.

        

             Attack by Gorakha Army on Kumaon

         Ran Bahadur sent his Gorakha army led by Jagjit Pande, Sardar Amar Singh Thapa, Captain Goliya, Captain ranvir Khatri, Subba Jognarayan Mall, Subba Faud Singh, Shurbir Khatri etc to attack on Kumaon on 30^th January 1790.

  The Gorakha army crossed Kali River and departed two battalions to capture Sor and Bishung Patti. As soon as people came to know the news of attack from Gorakha army the situation became perplexed and everywhere there was confusion due to terror of Gorakha army.  

   Mahesh Chanra collected the warriors from people and along with his permanent army marched towards Gangoli. Mahesh Chandra attacked on Gorakha army suddenly and defeated Gorakha army. Gorakha army had to run towards kali Kumaon where Amar Singh Thapa was ready. Lal Singh reached with his army to Gautada  (Katolgarh) Kali Kumaon. Amar Singh Thapa attacked on army of Lal Singh and defeated army led by Lal Singh. Lal Singh had to run to Tarai.

     Winning in Gangoli, Mahesh Chandra started marching with speed to help his uncle Lal Singh. When Mahesh Chandra came to know about deafet of Lal Singh and his running to Tarai, Mahesh Chandra also ran to Kota Tarai without fighting the battle. Lal Singh met Mahesh Chandra in Kota.

               Now, there was no resistance for Gorakha army. Gorakha army marched towards Almora. Gorakha army defeated a small Kumaon army in Almora.

             On 1^st February 1790, Gorakha army entered in Almora. Harsh dev Joshi was with Nepali commander Jagjit Pande.  Harsh Dev Joshi and his men provided all help to Gorakha army. Nepal captured Kumaon Kingdom very easily.

      Joshis were against Mahesh Chandra and they welcomed Nepali army. Gorakha commanders appointed Joshis of Jhinjhad, Danya, Kalin, Oliyaganv, and Galli as administers (Kamdar) of Kumaon. Other caste people were also appointed administrators. Pant of Gangoli, Uprada, Syunarkot and Khunt also got administrative post in Gorakha rule. Chaudhari of Dwara got positions too.

      Gorakha commanders took help of Kumaon Brahmins for rituals and medical aids. Gorakha appointed Kumaon strong youth into Nepali army.  Kumaoni people showed their flexibility and started living smoothly under Nepali governance.

        Harsh dev was satisfied to see Mahesh Chandra and Lal Singh out of Kumaon. Gorakhas rulers used to provide respect to Joshi and used to take his advice time to time.

                      Attack of Gorakha army on Garhwal

                  In 1790, Nepal was ruling on Kumaon.  Now, Nepal King wanted to capture Garhwal Kingdom. Harsh Dev Joshi helped Gorakha army for chalking out the strategy. However, no Garhwali became ready to deceive own motherland.

  Gorakhas army was divided into many parts to attack on Garhwal though various places. However, Garhwal army defeated Gorakha army everywhere due to unity.

                 Nepal Attacking on Tibet

             In summer of 1791, Nepal King sent his army led by Nayab Bahadur Shah to attack on Tibet. China came to help Tibet and sent huge army to attack on Nepal in 1792.

                            Mahesh Chandra becoming Active

         When Nepal arm forces were busy in attacking on Garhwal, Mahesh Chandra and his uncle Lal Singh were busy to consolidate their positions.

              He marched with tiny army towards Almora. However, Nepal army defeated Mahesh Chandra in Badakhedi. Mahesh Chandra had to run towards Tarai and took shelter in Kilpuri. He established his head quarter in Kilpuri

      He once again attacked on Gorakha though Kali-Kumaon road. Mara group in Kumaon was now against Mahesh Chandra as now they accepted Nepal rule over Kumaon.

              Nepali army in Shrinagar

   Amar Singh Thapa reached Shrinagar with a small army in Shrinagar. There was treaty between Nepal Kingdom and Garhwal Kingdom.

 Gorakha commander informed to Garhwal King that they are appointing Harsh Dev Joshi as in charge of west of Kali river. Prince Parakram Shah informed Amar Singh Thapa about traitor, deceiving nature of Harsh Dev Joshi.

  Amar Singh Thapa arrested Harsh Dev Joshi and put him in Jail. Amar Singh Thapa and Jagjit Pande informed Harsh Dev Joshi that he had to visit Nepal for proving his loyalty before Nepal King.

 Harsh dev Joshi had to go to Nepal with Nepali armed force. One day, they reached to Gangoli . Harsh dev escaped from the camp of Nepal armed force. He reached to Johar. Johar was not under Nepal.

                       Harsh Dev Joshi hid there in Johar. Johar elites informed Lal Singh and Mahesh Chandra about Harsh Dev Joshi being in Johar.

          Lal Singh sent his one of relatives Padama Singh with soldiers to arrest Harsh Dev Joshi. Johar people handed over Joshi to Padma Singh. On the path, Harsh Dev Joshi advised Padma Singh that since Padma Singh was direct descendent of Chand dynasty he was supposed to be Kumaon King. Harsh Dev Joshi promised Padma Singh for making him King. Simple hearted Padma Singh freed Harsh Dev Joshi. Harsh Dev and Padma Singh reached to Shrinagar. Garhwal King refused to help Harsh Dev Joshi. Padma Singh returned to Tarai. Harsh dev Joshi stayed in Shrinagar for some time.

                         Last Try by Mahesh Chandra

            With the help of soldiers of defeated Nabab Gulam Mohammad Khan of Rampur, Mahesh Chandra and Lal Singh attacked on Kumaon. Amar Singh Thapa defeated Mahesh Chandra and captured Kilpuri fort.

     Lal Singh met Awadh ruler to attack on Tarai where Nepal army captured the territory. Awadh attacked on Tarai of Kumaon to get rid of Nepal army. British had relationship with Awadh and commercial relationship with Nepal governments. British mediated to stop war.  

 This was the end of sovereign Kumaon Kingdom.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 31/12/2013

                                      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 -234  

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; History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom; History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom (including Pithoragarh); History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom (including Nainital); History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom (including Almora); History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom (including Bageshwar); History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom (including Champawat); History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom (including Almora); History of Sad End of Sovereign Kumaon Kingdom (including Udham Singh Nagar);