History of Fall of Kripa Ram Dobhal

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -169    

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -416

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

                   Authoritarian Administration by Kripa Ram Doval

               After dispatching Jaya Nand Joshi and farewell of Pradyuman Shah from Shrinagar and diminishing of Khanduri clan, Kripa Ram Doval started administrating Garhwal court with strict norms.  He centralized all power in his hands.  Kriparam Doval was chief minister, mukhtar and  Faujdar of Salan (a major source of money), He did not allow dissidents reaching to the King without his knowledge. For stopping dissidents working against him he appointed his brother in law Shrivilas Nautiyal as interior minister for the Palace and Bhavanand Nautiyal the elder brother of Shrivilas Nautiyal as exterior minister for Palace.  No person could enter palace or come without the permission of Nautiyal brothers.

 Now, it was compulsion to take permission from Kriparam Dobhal for meeting the king for subjects and administrators. Kripa Ram Dobhal started clearing the applications on behalf og the King. Kriparam Doval used to punish those who used to threaten complaining about Dobhal to the King. Work was cleared for those who used to lure Kriparam. Kriparam Dobhal appointed Dobhal people on major positions in the court.

  Kriparam Doval used to have court in his own palace. He used to take complaints and used to offer judgment accordingly. Dobhal used to meet important administrators art his residence and used to order them from there. Kriparam Doval used to send threatening letter or strict order for Faujadars (governors or executives) of far territories.

                         Conspiracy against Dobhal by Negi Clans

               Other ministers, elites and administrators were unhappy by watching the autocracy of Kriparam Doval. Those administrators understood very well that Kriparam Dobhal would like to diminish all his enemies or others too.

 Three leaders of Negi clan Ucchav Singh Negi, Sohan Singh Negi and Deewan Singh Khatri sent letter to Minyan Ghamand Singh the Faujdar of Dehradun and his brother Minyan Kedar Singh. Negi leaders wrote in letter that “From the time you migrated to Dehradun you forgot Shrinagar. Here in Shringar, Kriparam Dobhal took power in his hands. He is killing his opponents. Kriparam does not show kindness or mildness on his opponents. Kriparam Dobhal had appointed his men on major positions. He stopped Vriti (salary etc) to old recipients. Kriparam would be King very soon. Dobhal is going to snatch your post od Faujdar of Doon valley. Come to Shrinagar and clear this danger. Inform us when you coming.”

                    History of Minyan Ghamand Singh in Shrinagar

        Minyan Ghamand Singh and his brother decided to kill Kriparam Dobhal as soon as they would reach to Shrinagar. They took Bakshi Hari Singh of Jaunpur with them for Shrinagar. Ghamand Singh and Hari Singh marched towards Shrinagar with their own force. They reached Shrinagar and camped at Ulfata.

 In that night, most of the ministers came to meet Minyan Ghamand Singh covering them by blankets. They all took religious vow to kill Kriparam Dobhal. They all planned to kill Kriparam Dobhal and his supporters. Later on all came back.

                     Ghamand Singh Company Killing Kripa Ram Dobhal

  In morning Ghamand Singh asked his soldiers to be ready with arms and ammunition. Soldiers marched towards the palace. Musicians playing Daf music instruments were leading the soldiers.  When Kriparam came out of his residence, he found that soldiers of Ghamand Singh were roaming all the corners of Shrinagar.

 The informer came to Kripa Ram Dobhal and informed that he should be cautious as conspirators (Ghamand Singh) might kill him. However, Kriparam told to the informer that Ghamand Singh was his friend and he would not do anything wrong. The guards asked Kriparam about taking precautions against Ghamand Singh. Kriparam told to his guards not to worry from Ghamand Singh side. Guars became careless in allover Shrinagar from Ghamand Singh side.

     Kriparam Dobhal went to court as usual. King was on his seat. Devi Datt, Bhavanand Nautiyal, Shrivilas Nautiyal, Dhaniram Dobhal the son of Kriparam and others were sitting n their seats.

 Ghamand Singh , Hari Singh and their major soldiers entered to the court after some time. After saluting the King, Ghamand Singh and Hari Singh sat near Kriparam Dobhal. There was dead  silence in the court.

  Kriparam Dobhal told,” Ghamand Singh! Now, you met the King. Yu go to rest in your camp and come in the pre-evening. You are great Faujdar of Dehradun and we appreciate you.  Whatever would be your suggestions would be dealt with positive frame of minds by the King.”

Ghamand Singh understood that Kriparam is luring him. Minyan Ghamand Singh was sure that if this situation is delayed he would not be able to kill Kriparam Dobhal.

 Ghamand Singh went before the King and saluted him with honoring words. Ghamand Singh came towards Kriparam Dobhal pretending him to offer coins bag. In the mean time, Hari Singh and his soldiers caught Kriparam. Soldiers of Ghamand Singh caught other ministers related to Kriparam and tied them. An assistant took the King on his lap and jumped from the court and ran towards palace.

 Kriparam was uttering bad words for Ghamand Singh. Ghamand Singh beheaded Kriparam Dobhal in the palace. There was total silence allover Shrinagar. Nobody came out of residence. There was total strike in the city.

 Shrivilas Nautiyal, Bhavanand Nautiyal Dhaniram Dobhal ran towards palace.

          The King was sitting on his Kharokha of palace. Gamand Singh came before Jharokha and told to the King that since Kriparam had become dictator he killed him. Ghamand Singh requested the King to rule as usual. King appointed Ghamand Singh as Chief Minister of the Kingdom and strike was declared off.

                Prison supporters of Kriparam Dobhal

  Next morning, Ghamand Singh came again before Jharokha of palce. Ghamand Singh asked the King to hand over supporters of Kriparam Dobhal. The King told that since, supporters of Kriparam were in his shelter it was wrong on part of a Rajput King not to protect those were in asylums. Ghamand Singh promised that they would not be killed but would be kept in prison for a short time.

  After getting religious promise from Ghamand Singh, the King handed over Devi Datt, Shrivilas Nautiyal, Bhavanand Nautiyal and Dhaniram Dobhal to Ghamand Singh. Ghamand Singh put  Devi Datt Shrivilas Nautiyal, Bhavanand Nautiyal Dhaniram Dobhal into prison.

  

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com30/8/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -417

(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 Fall of Kriparam Dobhal; History of Fall of Kriparam Dobhal in context History of Dobh Garhwal; History of Fall of Kriparam Dobhal in context History of Pauri Garhwal; History of Fall of Kriparam Dobhal in context History of Chamoli Garhwal; History of Fall of Kriparam Dobhal in context History of Rudraprayag Garhwal; History of Fall of Kriparam Dobhal in context History of Tehri Garhwal; History of Fall of Kriparam Dobhal in context History of Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Fall of Kriparam Dobhal in context History of Dehradun Garhwal; History of Fall of Kriparam Dobhal in context History of Haridwar Garhwal;