Shilpkar (Craftsmen), Harijan or Scheduled Castes of Garhwal in 1865

 British Administration in Garhwal   -160

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -180

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1012

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

    Before, independent, craftsmen caste was called ‘Doom or Dome’. Now, this word is unconstitutional.

  There was heavy demand for craftsmen (Shilpkar or S.C.) , farmers  under contract (Tihari) and women. The service providing community was craftsmen or Shilpkar society. Upper Caste farers required shilpkar for big or small farming , hut building and other activities.

          There were two major classes of Shilpkar or Harijan.

    Dancers, singers and music instrument players came under Entertaining class as Badi, Auji, Bhat, Hurkya.

  People require entertaining class at auspicious occasions.

   Auji was important class as they were Dhol-Damau players. Auhi had seven or ten villages under them.

 On every first day of month, Auji used to play Dhol-Damau at every courtyard. In marriage or other auspicious day, Auji used to play Dhol –Damau.

 Badi was another important entertaining community. They were dancers and singers.      

     Under real Craftsmen class were iron smith, metal smith, carpenters, and producers of various home- farm appliances nd labors for various activities.

   Shilpkar used to make wood, bamboo utensils and other utensils.   Shilpkar used to plow fields and also they erected farms by digging jungles. They used to carry grooms and brides at marriage procession through pinus or Dola.

 It was a must to have one or two Shilpkar families in each village.

 Kamin brought Harijan from here and there and established them in each village. Kamin were responsible for providing labor to British officers in their tour to rural regions. Kamin used to send Shilpkar/Harijan for that work.  

 The population of British Garhwal (todays’ Pauri, Chamoli and Rudraprayag) was 248742 in 1860 and out of this the Shilpkar ? Harijan population was 35992.

          

   

   

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References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-44 from Vishnu Singh Gorla Rawat collection

2-Joshi, Khas Family law

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 16/8/201710History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1013

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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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

Forest settlement , History of British Rule, Administration , Policies, Revenue system,  over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; Forest settlement , 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; Forest settlement ,  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 ; Patwari , Civil Police History of British Rule, Forest settlement,  Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;