Death of Hastidal in British-Nepal War in Gannath Hill

 Second British Attack on Almora -11

           

                 History British Campaign for Capturing Kumaon -54

                                                                                                                                 

          Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) -269

            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -798          

                                                           

                          By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)

                Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas reached at Katarmal on 9^th April1815, However, Nicholas was busy in collecting supply , gun collection and loaders for two weeks. The British army was camping in Katarmal, Syahidevi, and Dhamas. There were 2500 soldiers. Gurkhas were sure that British army would capture Bageshwar road. Therefore, on 22^nd April morning, Nepalese Resident Bamshah sent  around 250- 300 soldiers towards Gannath with Hastidal.  Gannath hill was situated 15 miles away in north of Almora. Gannath hill was in between Kali and Koshila (Kaushiki) Rivers. When that information reached to British camp, Nicholas guessed that Hastidal party wanted for weapon supply and money from west of Kali River. However, later on the reality opened that Gurkha wanted to protect Upper Kumaon region that Gurkha would have communication with Kathmando through Bhotiya region –Johar and Daram.   

  Since, Gurkha Communication line with Tarai and Bhabhar was broken, it was essential for them that they protect upper Kumaon region. From Upper Kumaon region, Gurkha could communicate with West Kumaon, Garhwal and Himachal. It was not wise decision to keep army in Almora.

               Hastidal marched for Gannath hill through Kalamtiya Hill road. Hastidal wanted establishing camp at Gannath that left wing of Gurkha battalion would be safe from British army at Havalbaugh. The Gurkha tried for keeping Hastidal March secret. However, citizens spread news immediately to British camps.

 Nicholas sent a company under  Captain Butterfield to west of Kumaon for winning citizens faith and buying food from Kumaonis.

           On 22^nd April, Nicholas sent 5 companies under seventh battalion under Major Paton and 5 flank companies under Captain Laze for attacking on Hastidal Company.  There were total 900 soldiers, 6 ponds Gun and a mortar.  Gurkha army led by Hastidal reached at Gannath. Before Gurkha could  establish camps, British army attacked on Gurkha army.  

 (From writings of B D Pande, Atkinson, Preamble, Sanwal, Saxsena, Fraser etc) 

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 12/5/2016

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -799

*** 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           

                 

Atkinson E.T., 1884, 1886, Gazetteer of Himalayan Districts …

Hamilton F.B. 1819, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal and the territories

Colnol Kirkpatrik 1811, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal

Dr S.P Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 5, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda

Bandana Rai, 2009 Gorkhas,: The Warrior Race

Krishna Rai Aryal, 1975, Monarchy in Making Nepal, Shanti Sadan, Giridhara, Nepal

I.R.Aryan and T.P. Dhungyal, 1975, A New History of Nepal , Voice of Nepal

L.K Pradhan, Thapa Politics:

Gorkhavansavali, Kashi, Bikram Samvat 2021 

Derek J. Waller, The Pundits: British Exploration of Tibet and Central Asia page 172-173

B. D. Pande, Kumaon ka Itihas

Balchandra Sharma, Nepal ko Aitihasik Rup Rekha

Chaudhari , Anglo  –Nepalese Relations

Pande, Vasudha , Compares Histriographical Traditions of Gorkha Rule in Nepal and Kumaon

Pradhan , Kumar, 1991, The Gorkha Conquests , Oxford University  Press

Minyan Govrdhan Singh , History of Himachal Pradesh

A.P Coleman, 1999, A Special Corps

Captain Thomas Smith, 1852,Narrative of a Five Years Residence at Nepal Vol.1

Maula Ram/Mola Ram  , Ranbahadurchandrika and Garhrajvanshkavya

J B Fraser , Asiatic Research

Shyam Ganguli, Doon Rediscovered

Minyan Prem Singh, Guldast Tabarikh Koh Tihri Garhwal

Patiram Garhwal , Ancient and Modern

Tara Datt Gairola, Parvtiy Sanskriti

John Premble, Invasion of Nepal

Chitranjan Nepali, Bhimsen Thapa aur Tatkalin Nepal

Sanwal, Nepal and East India Company

Nagendra kr Singh, Refugee to Ruler

Saxena, Historical papers related to Kumaon

Paper Respecting Nepal War by East India Company (papers in Stock)

Basu, Rise of Christian Power in India)

Moti Lal Ghosh, an article in Amrit Bazar Patrika

XXX

History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Sirmour Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Kangara Himachal Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Baghat Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Tehri Garhwal, Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Punar Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Uttarkashi Garhwal, Bageshwar Kumaon, Uttarakhand;  Nahan Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Dehradun Garhwal, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History Himachal Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal;  History of Nepal, History of Doti Nepal, History of Nepalese/ Gurkha regime

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