British Strategy for Capturing Garhwal, Kumaon

Anglo Nepalese War with   Reference to Gurkha Rule over Uttarakhand & Himachal -32

History of Gorkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) -152   

             History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -674

                          By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student) 

                                        Appointment of Frazer

                 Governor General handed over the war job for Western Region to Ochterlony. Hastings appointed William Frazer as Political Advisor for Third Battalion for capturing Dehradun and Garhwal. Frazer and Gardener were working under Delhi Resident Metcalf. Both were having mustache as Hindus. Frazer and Gardener were liberal with Hindus and did not hate the Hindu culture as their contemporary British officers used to hate. Both the officers were liked by Indian and were famous.

            The Company sent William Frazer to Haridwar in second week of October 1814 just before the war. Company Secretary Johan Adam ordered William that he should find out details about heir of Garhwal Kingdom and his families. The idea was to make the heir as King of some portion of Garhwal. William Frazer had to be with the Army that would march for capturing Dehradun, Karyadun, and Shrinagar. William was asked to assure Garhwalis about East India Company freeing Garhwalis from Gurkha Rule. His job was to provoke Garhwalis against Gurkha and Garhwalis not allowing Gurkha fleeing towards East.

         William Frazer was asked for obeying the order of Major General Gillespie.  William Frazer had to create cordial relation with ex prince of Shrinagar and elite Garhwalis. William Frazer was assured that after capturing Garhwal he had to be the administrator of that region. William was asked to get information about income in the region as soon as Company wins the territory. He was asked to assure Garhwalis but not to assure Garhwal King for offering any Portion of Garhwal.

         The letter of 22^nd October 1814 by Company Secretary  to John Adam shows that Governor General did not decide how much region of Garhwal would be given to ex King of Garhwal.

(*Based on Jon Premble, Sanwal, Saxena )

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com23/7/2015

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -675

*** History of Gorkha/Gurkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) to be continued in next chapter 

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

XX                    Reference

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Nepal Itihas, Garhwal Itihas, Kumaon Itihas, Himachal Itihas; Gurkha/Gorkha ka Kumaon par  Adhikar Itihas , Gurkha/Gorkha Garhwal par Shasan Itihas;  Gurkha/Gorkha Rule in Kumaon, Garhwal Uttarakhand; History Gurkha/Gorkha  Rule in Himachal,