History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Garhwal

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -182     

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -430 

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

              Gorkhas were more or equal than Muslim invaders in cruelly harassing, oppressing and suppressing people.  Gorkha army camped in Langoorgarh for one year. The soldiers used to go for food etc to nearby villages and used to loot villages cruelly.

           There are various folk tales about oppressions of Gorkha soldiers in Gangasalan, Malla Salan, Talla Salan. The soldiers used to loot food, grains, milk, curd, ghee etc. They used to take animals with them. Gorkha soldiers used to take women with them too and women were behaved by Gorkhas as consumable items.  Gorkhas used to plough on standing crops to spread their terror.

                  Call from Deities and Goddesses

             The phrase was reinitiated or faith re-came in existence that village deities and goddesses call villagers for informing coming of Gorkhas near the village.

                 Running away from village by villagers

             People started living in forests due to cruel oppression of Gorkhas. Still, we find the ruined huts or walls in ruined conditions in villages built in the time of Gorkhas. A couple of people used to stand on top of hills and used to call their people as soon as they watch Grokhas arrival. The villagers used to run into dense forest.

   The villagers were afraid that Gorkhas would come into village by seeing smoke. The villagers stopped cooking food in day time and started cooking food in night only. People started keeping money or jewelries in a pot and that pot was dug in a cave or elsewhere.

 There was no peace in Gangaslan and Badalpur region (nearby Bhabhar, Dugdda, Dwarikhal or Langoorgarh).

  Garhwal King could not act to protect its subject from Gorkha oppressions.

                China attacking on Nepal

             Gorkhas were unsuccessful in winning Langoorgarh. Gorkhas were arranging second attack on Langoor Garh. Gorkhas were ruling Tibet. In the mean time, in 1792, Quing Empire China attacked on Nepal.

Nepal King sent message to Kumaon commander to bring armed forces to Nepal. Nepal King asked them to hand over Kumaon to Harsh Dev Joshi.

                       Treaty with Garhwal Kingdom

   It was not possible for Gorkha soldiers to be in Langoorgarh. Force was to shift to Nepal. However, wisely Gorkha commander put pressure on Garhwal King to sign a treaty. Following were the conditions of traty for Garhwal King-

1-Garhwal Kingdom would pay annual tribute for rupees three thousand.

2-On its own cost, Garhwal Kingdom would keep its advocate in Nepal court

3-Nepal court would keep advocate in Garhwal court at the expense of Garhwal Kingdom.

             Pradyuman Shah was already a weak King due to regular treacheries of his brother Parakram and Garhwal administrators. Garhwal King did not have a choice to accept insulting conditions of Nepal commander. Garhwal King accepted the conditions of Gorkha commander.

  Atkinson stated that Garhwal King used to pay annual tribute of twenty five thousand rupees. Atkinson did not mention anything about Nepali representative in Shrinagar Court. However, Repar who visited Shrinagar in Gorkha rule period (1808) mentioned that Nepal representative was there in Srinagar court. Repar also mentioned that initially annual tribute was three thousand rupees.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com14/9/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -431

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

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….

XX                     

Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period  History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal; Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period  History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district to be continued

XX

History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Dwarikhal region Langoor Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Barsudi Langoor Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Dundekha, Langoor Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Birmoli Langoor Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Kanda, Langoor Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Sainj Langoor Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Bauntha, Langoor Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Matiyali  Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Dadamandi , Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Jhatari , Sheela Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Kanda, Langoor Patti, Pauri Garhwal; History of Cruel Gorkha Oppression in Doon Chanda,  Pauri Garhwal;