Mines and Mineralogical Occupations in British Garhwal

 British Administration in Garhwal   -197

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -217

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1050

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

     Agariya, or Agri Harijans used to mine iron, copper ores. Agari were expert in mining and transforming ores into metal from centuries. Garhwal kings offered them agriculture lnd near mines.  Trail recorded such owners as farmers. Therefore, miners had to leave the low profit jobs and had to start new occupation. In first half century of British rule, Agariyas were still taking mines and metallurgy as occupation. Later on, they cooperated with European contractors and at the end mining was stopped by this old class.

    Ghaloti used to make Bronz utensils and Tamota were engaged in other metals as  Bras vessels production. Shrinagar was trade center for both the works. Copper water vessels of Shrinagar as a brand was famous in British Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal and Dehradun. Hindus preferred donating copper vessels to daughter at her marriage. Copper scriptures are still there in many temples especially in Shrinagar and Binsar.

 There were producers of idols and ritual utensils from irons, silver and copper in Shrinagar.

  Dhoni or Dhunar used to extract gold dust from Alaknanda River and Ganga sand. There were 15 persons engaged in gold dust extraction in Shrinagar in 1819. Gold dust extractor used to earn rs four per month. There were Dhunars in Dhunarun Bagi (Bichla Dhangu) those used to extract gold dust from Ganga-Nayar sand at Vyaschatti.

 Gold dust was found up to Chandighat in sand of Ganga. There was gold dust in sand of Ramganga too.

       Every village has one or two iron smith families and iron smiths were a must for every farmer. Jaspur village of Malla Dhangu is still famous for iron and other metal smith jobs in Gangasalan and part of Tehri.  Iron smiths used to make iron farming appliances, ritual idols etc. Villagers used to pay wags to them in kind of grains.

  Tirbar a harijan class used to produce sword, Khunkari. In old age, they used to produce, arrows and other weapons.

   

     

References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-456

2- Atkinson, Himalayan Districts Vol.2

3-Moorcrft et all, Travels in Hindustan Vol 1 page 9-56

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 16/10/2017 History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1051

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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)

 History of British Garhwal, History of Devalgarh Garhwal; History of Badhan Garhwal; History of Barasyun Garhwal; History of Chandpur Garhwal; History of Chaundkot Garhwal; History of  Gangasalan Garhwal;  History of Mallasalan Garhwal;  History ofTallasaln Garhwal; History of Dashauli Garhwal; History of Nagpur Garhwal; Sociity  in British Garhwal. History of British Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith in Chamoli Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith of Pauri Garhwal ,  Social and Culture History of Rudraprayag Garhwal