History of Fall of Minyan Ghamand Singh

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -170    

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -417

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

   After Minyan Ghamand Singh taking charge as Chief Minister of Garhwal Kingdom, ministry started working as usual. Ministers were attending court in morning and afternoon. However, Minyan Ghamand Singh also proved to be authoritarian. Minyan Ghamand Singh started taking decision without taking advices from ministers and elites. He was more atrocious than Kripa Ram Dobhal. Due to his atrociousness other ministers and elites became his opponents. Ghamand Singh had his own strong army with him in Shrinagar. Therefore, goldar (police and army officers) did not oppose Ghamand Singh openly. Goldar were afraid that Ghamand Singh would fire them from their posts.

                       Conspiracy of Goldar (defense and police officers)

   Due to a couple of orders, the Goldar were terrified. Vijay Ram Negi was paternal uncle of Ajabram Negi. Vijay Ram and Ajab ram belonged to Kainyur of Chopdakot of Chaundkot region. Both were Goldar in Shrinagar court. Vijay Ram requested Ghamand Singh for his salary as he was going to his village for marriage of his niece. Ghamand Singh refused to pay his salary. Vijay Ram went to his village without taking proper permission from anybody. Ghamand Singh was displeased by behavior of Vijay Ram. The ministers told to Ghamand Singh that “you had become atrocious and do not take their advices. You did not pay salary to Vijay Ram. We don’t like your dictatorship. You go back to Doon (Dehradun).” The ministers requested him to kill Nauityals and Dobhals. Ghamadn Singh refused to do so as he had taken vow not to kill them.

   Ghamand Singh complained to the King about the misbehavior of ministers. The weak King was pleased by knowing the fraction among Ghamand Singh and other ministers. He ordered Ghamand Singh to correct the ministers. The King spread the news that he was ill.

 The ministers became afraid that now Ghamand Singh would finish them.

 Ajab Ram Negi went to see the King with Ghamand Singh. Ajab ram Negi got money for his sister’s marriage from the king.

  Conspiracy of Goldar against Ghamand Singh in Kainyuar Chaundkot

        Dhannu Gaddi the Chief Commander of Garhwal army in Kumaon that was sent with Lalit Shah, his assistants Lachman, Baliya and Kewal Gaddi the Goldar from Shrinagar met in Kainyuar, Chaundkot.  They planned that after the marriage of sister of Ajab Ram they would attack on Ghamand Singh. Three Negi leaders of Shrinagar were also with that party for diminishing Ghamand Singh.

                          Letter from Goldars

   Goldar sent letter to Minyan Ghamand Singh that he was regularly paying salaries to his army but did not pay salaries to armed forces but not paying salaries for other Goldars. Goldar threatened Ghamand Singh that if he did not pay their salaries they would attack on Shrinagar.

   Ghamand Singh showed the letter to Ministers and the King in Shrinagar. The ministers 9infact they were with Goldar in conspiracy) told that the army under Dhannu Gaddi was Garhwal army in Kumaon. Ministers suggested Ghamand Singh to pay salary of force under Gaddi. There was no enough money in the treasury. He could not send payment to Dhannu Gaddi.

  Goldar send threatening letter again to Minyan Ghamand Singh.

                             Attack on Shrinagar

             Now, goldar were not in waiting mood. Goldar marched towards Shrinagar with Sovan Singh Negi (a messenger of Ghamand Singh who brought letter of Ghamand Singh). Ajab Rram attacked on Shrinagar. Most of ministers went in the camp of Ajab Ram.   

 Ghamand Singh freed Shrivilas Nautiyal, Bhava Nand Nautiyal, Dhaniram Dobhal and Devi Datt. Ghamand Singh told them that he was going forward to defuse the rebel (Goldar and ministers) and asked Nautiyals to protect Shrinagar.

    Armies of Ajab Ram, Vijaya Ram,  Dhannu Gaddi , Kewal gaddi surrounded the army of Ghamand Singh from all sides. The battle started between them.

  Then a commander Ummed Singh came to Goldar with request to stop war and come to Shrinagar to administrate. Maularam wrote that he offered gold coins to them.

                   Court Poet Maularam Protecting Shrivilas Nautiyal and Party

 The rumor spread that Goldar forces captured Shrinagar and now the force would kill Ghamand Singh.

   In night, Shrivilas Nautiyal, Devi Datt and Dhaniram Dobhal went to Maularam for getting protection from Goldar leaders (as in past, ministers and Goldar wanted to kill Nautiyal and Dobhal party and Ghamand Singh protected them due to his vow).  

    Maularam sent a letter to Ajab Ram to allow him to get asylum to Shrivilas, Devi Datt and Dhaniram. Maularam informed that Nautiyal party would help to Ajab Ram party.

   Ajab Ram came to Shrinagar. Ghamand Singh was in Ulfata with his army. Baliya and Kewal Ram had force at Ojhabag. Lachman was at Damki just opposite of Ghamand Singh’s force. Vijay Ram had camp at Harbans Haveli, Dhannu Gaddi was managing force at Ganga bank and Ajab Ram was at Chaunri (terrace). There was gun firing from all sides on the army of Ghamand Singh. In night, Ghamand Singh ran away from Shrinagar. Goldars followed Ghamand Singh and Ghamand Singh ran to plains away from Garhwal territory. A commander Kedar Singh from the force of Doon also ran to plains away from Garhwal.

   Maularam reached to the king in night with Shrivilas Nautiyal and party. The King was pleased to see Nautiyal party alive.

  Next day, the King Jai Kirti Shah invited all Goldars in the court and pardoned all Goldars. He asked them to administrate well. There was peace for some time after fall of Ghamand Singh.

   Jai Kirti Shah appointed Ummed Singh as Faujdar (Governor) of Doon valley.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com31/8/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -418

(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