History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ Kar in Garhwal

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -171    

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -418

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

                   Sikhs Attacking on Dehradun

                   When Garhwal Court administrators were busy in infighting, Sikh, Gujjar and Rajput were busy in raiding and looting Doon valley villages.

 In 1783, Baghel Singh a Sikh Sardar of Sikh looters was ruler of Karodsinghi/Panjghadiya Misal. It was easy for his army to raid on  Sirmaur, Doon valley of Garhwal, Sahranpur, Haridwar and Bhabhar Garhwal and come easily after looting the subjects. Baghel Singh had strong 12000 Cavalier soldiers.

    Baghel Singh looted Saharanpur, Haridwar and marched towards Doab or Awadh by crossing Ganga River. Awadh naba could stop Baghel Singh. The soldiers of Baghel Singh invaded Dehradun or Doon valley. Garhwal army neither had arms to resist Baghel Singh army nor did they have courage to fight with enthusiastic soldiers of Baghel Singh.

   The people of Doon started fleeing here and there from Sikh invaders. Some people kept their costly belongings into Guru Ram Rai Durbar Sahib. It is said that soldiers did not loot Guru Ram Rai Durbar Sahib but did not leave anything from the houses nearby Guru Ram Rai Durbar. Sikh looters burnt tens of villages too.

       There was high feminine in Punjab in 1783 and Sikhs started roaming and looting Saharanpur, Haridwar, Dehradun and Bhabhar regions.

                Rakhi or Kambali Tax by Sikh Looters

  Maratha invaders used to levy ‘Chauth’ and ‘Sirdesmukhi’ tax those wanted peace from them. Sikhs started levying ‘Rakhi’ (protection) tax from nearby regions. The job of tax collector Sikhs was to protect people from other looters. Sikh looters used to collect one fifth of harvesting from people as ‘Rakhi’ tax.  The tax was also called as ‘Kambali’ as the value of tax used to equal to a blanket. Sikh Looters divided their territories for collecting ‘Rakhi’ or ‘Kambali’ tax.

  East India Company took charge of protecting Awdh from Sikh invaders. Therefore, Sikhs used to invade Doon, Haridwar and Bhabhar regularly. People were under tension and painful life. Garhwal King agreed to pay four thousand rupees as ‘Rakhi’ or ‘Kambali’ tax to Sikh invaders that they would not loot Garhwal territory.

        Sikh Sardars used to come to Doon and Bhabhar and used to collect money. There was no protection for the family who deny paying tax to Sikh Sardar.  Copying Sikh Sardar many Turks in the form of Sikh also started from Kolkatta coming to Bhabhar, Haridwar, Dehradun and Saharanpur for collecting ‘Rakhi’ or ‘Kambali’ tax. Apart paying ‘Rakhi’ or Kambali’ tax villagers used to welcome the Sardar due to terror.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com2/9/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -419

(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 ….

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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

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           History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ in Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ Tax in Lal Dhang Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ Tax in Kotdwara Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ in Bhabhar Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ in Dehradun Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ Tax  in Dhamawala Dehradun , Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ Tax in Raipur, Dehradun Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ in Rajpur Dehradun, Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ tax in Haridwar Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ tax in Rurkee Haridwar Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ tax in Sakrauda Haridwar Garhwal; History of Sikh ‘Rakhi Tax’ or Kambali’ tax in Manglaur Haridwar Garhwal;