British Land Settlement in Bhabhar Garhwal

 British Administration in Garhwal   -20         

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -36

            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -874

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

      The land revenue settlement in Bhabhar Garhwal was different than Garhwal hills as exclusive was Bhotiya regions in Garhwali Kingdom and Nepal rules. Initially, British continued the system as it was.

        Bhuri Singh Negi Goldar was in charge of East Bhabhar (Pataldun to Kotdwara ) for land revenue settlement in King Jaikrit Shah time around 1783. His job was to collect land tax and for protecting border regions from enemies and dacoits and Negi was also to collect import and export taxes.  Bhuri Singh Negi used to pay soldiers salaries  from income from export and import (English Pre Mutiny).

       Bhuri Singh Negi encouraged tribal community as Boksa and other farmers for farming in his designated Bhabhar land. Garhwal King did not take revenues or tax from Bhuri Singh collected from farmers by Bhuri Singh.. Sayanas of Bungi, Paino, Bijlot Pattis used to take tax from cattle keepers those used to take their cattle for grazing to Pataldun or Bhabhar in winter. Bhuri Singh managed Pataldun and Bhabhar for 20 years till 1803 when Gurkha won Garhwal. It is said that Negi fled to plains and died there.(Atkinson , page 284) .

       Gurkha handed over the region Pataldun and Bhabhar to dSayanas of Bungi, Paino, Bijlot Patties for land revenue settlements time to time. The Gurkha conditions for settlement were same as with Negi by Garhwal Kingdom.

 In 1815, Lal Singh Negi the son and heir of Bhuri Singh Negi reached to Garhwal. He applied for getting back the rights of collecting taxes. British administration did not return him the job of collecting taxes. However, British administration offered him Pataldun region.

 The income in 1823 from Pataldun was as follows (Atkinson)-

Gold dust from rivers tax – Rs. 271

Kath –Bans (wood cutting ) Tax ----- Rs. 612

Land Tax--------------- Rs 701

 British government vanished export and import tax taken at Ghat in 1818 as per Traill suggestions.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 14/8/2016

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -875

*** History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun, (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli) Garhwal (1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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

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References  

 1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page 168-69

2- Atkinson, Himalayan districts vol.3 page 284

3- English Pre Mutiny Records, Settlement letters issued Vol.1, 1837-39

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History of British Rule, Administration , Policies, Revenue system,  over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule , Administration , Policies Revenue system  over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Dehradun , Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, ,Revenue system  over Bageshwar  Kumaon, Uttarakhand ;

History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;