History of Parakram Group Killing Khanduri Brothers

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -187     

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -435 

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

                       Unsteady Behavior of Parakram

                    Parakram the younger brother of King Pradyuman Shah had unstable behavior for Pradyuman Shah. Many times, he tried to dislodge his elder brother Pradyuman Shah from crown and many times he created amicable relation with the King.

  By 1802, there was sour relation between Pradyuman and Parakram. There was division among administrators too for and against Pradyuman.  

        Ministers Rama Khanduri and Dharni Khanduri were supporters of Garhwal King Pradyuman Shah. Khanduri brothers increased force for protecting Pradyuman Shah. At the same time, the supporters of Parakram Shah, Shish Ram Saklani and Shiv Ram Saklani also started increasing force for Parakram.

             Battle between Uncle and Nephew

   Saklani brothers caught the King orders and told that they would not obey Pradyuman Shah. Saklani bothers surrounded the palace of Pradyuman Shah by their own force. Now, Garhwal King Pradyuman Shah was virtually under house arrest under Saklani brothers or Parakram Shah.  Saklani brothers spread the rumors that Pradyuman Shah handed over the charge of Kingdom to Parakram Shah.

          Rama Khanduri sent the message to sixteen years old prince Sudarshan Shah the son of Pradyuman Shah. Khanduri sent message to prince Sudarshan that he should act to free his father. Sudarshan came to Rama Khanduri. Khanduri brothers and Sudarshan Shah had discussion.

          As per advice of Rama Khanduri, Parakram and his supporters camped with soldiers in Shrinagar capital at various places. The soldiers of Parakram also came opposite of forces of Sudarshan Shah.

   Prince Sudarshan Shah came with force near the palace. Sudarshan Shah surrounded palace. That was surrounded by soldiers of Parakram Shah. Now , Sudarshan Shah with soldiers was surrounding solider of Parakram. Parakram took Pradyuman Shah with him and took him to Ranihat (crossing Ganga) now Tihri Garhwal.

  The soldiers of Parakram were attacking on soldiers of Sudarshan Shah from other side of Ganga (Tehri side) by guns and spears. The battle ran for many days. People ran way from Shrinagar and other nearby villages. Hundreds of soldiers and people lost their life in the battle between Parakram and his nephew Sudarshan Shah. After there was truce in Shrinagar, people returned to Shrinagar.

 This year is supposed to be 1803.

   Nepal intervened to stop this battle. Nepal King sent his emissary Chanchal Dharani to Shrinagar and asked Parakram to accept Pradyuman as King.

              Pradyuman Shah meeting with Bambshah

     In 1797, Thapadal lost power in Nepal Kingdom and Chauntariyadal got the power. Chauntariya group asked Thapadal supporting officers for returning from Kumaon. Chauntariyad sent its own officers to Kumaon.

        Chauntariya group sent its faithful officers Bambshah Chauntariya and Rudravir Shah to Kumaon.

         Bambshah , Hastidal Chauntariya and Amar Singh Thapa prepared a plan for  capturing Garhwal. They called Pradyuman Shah to come to meet them in Kumaon. Pradyuman Shah went with his guards and most probably with Dharani Khanduri to Kumaon. Bambshah and company asked him to pay the balance taxes. Bambshah threatened to capture Garhwal in case of nonpayment of taxes due from many years. Maularam wrote about Prayduman in Kumaon but did not mention the meeting place between Bambshah and Pradyuman Shah.

                                 Treachery by Parakram Shah

  Pradyuman was in Kumaon for meeting Bambshah the Nepali governor in Kumaon. Parakram pushed away the army of Pradyuman Shah from Shringaar. Getting information, Bambshah called Parakram Shah to Kumaon. Parakram went towards Kumaon via Salan.

            Murder of Rama Khanduri and Dharni Khanduri

  When Parakram was in Salan (south Garhwal), his spy killed Rama Khanduri and then beheaded Dharni Khanduri. After killing Rama and Dharni Khanduri, Parakram entered into Shrinagar.

                     Folklores about Rama and Dharni Khanduri

              For many years, there was tussle between Dobhal supporters and Khanduri supporters in Shrinagar.

   With the support of Ghamand Singh, Rama Khanduri and Dharni Khanduri became chief administrating officers of Garhwal Kingdom. They made Pradyuman Shah their pet.  Pradyuman was as good as dead without their supports.

   Opponents of Khanduri brothers killed them.

         The opponents of Khanduri brothers accused them that they snet gold Kingdom Throne to Kumaon. Opponents killed Rama Khanduri in Dhuniramni of Painkhanda and Sharni in Shitala Reti at Ganga bank near Shrinagar.

        According to Girija Datt Naithani, Khanduri brothers inspired Nepali administrators to attack on Garhwal.

  According to Vishwambar Datt Chandola, Khanduri brothers persuaded Nepal court not to levy tax on Garhwal.

A couple of records of Tehri Darbar and folklores in Tehri, Khanduri brothers sold half of throne in Nepal. Rama Khanduri used to take Rice in meal but used to make stinginess in offering millets to Pradyuman.

           However, the statements of Maularam seem to be correct because if Khanduri brothers would be opponent of Pradyuman, Parakram group would not have killed Khanduri brothers.

                          Garhwali Folklore about Baiju ki Bamni

  According to a folklore, a woman Baiju ki Bamni was there in Khanduri family. Her husband Baiju was killed with Rama and Dharni Khanduri. Baiju ki Bamni reached to her father the Rajguru of Nepal. She inspired Nepal king to attack on Garhwal. It is just a folklore that does not have any logical connection with Nepal attacking on Garhwal as they had already made plan for attacking Garhwal, Himachal Pradesh Lahore.

              Dates of Killings of Khanduri Brothers

    As per Bhakt Darshan, it is said that a Tehri Durbar handwritten records mentioned the following dates for killings of Khanduri brothers –

Dharni Khanduri visiting Nepal – April 1803

Killing of Rama Khanduri – October 1803

Killing of Dharni Khanduri – December 1803

  According to Maularam, after killing of Khanduri brother, in Bhadon (September –October 1803), there was earthquake that destroyed Shrinagar. That means, Khanduri brothers were killed in summer season.

             Losing Ravain Region by Garhwal Kingdom

       Watching the bad situation of Garhwal Kingdom,  Bashahar (Himachal ) King (Himmat Singh or Ugar Singh) attacked on Rawain region of Garhwal with the help of Jubbal King Puran Chandra. Garhwal force resisted by Bashahar captured Ravain for (west of Garhwal, Uttarkashi).  However, this author could not find mentioning name Himmat Singh as Bashahar Kingdom in the history of Bashahar.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com20/9/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -435

(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