British Administration in Garhwal -207
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -227
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History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1061
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Many writers threw light on the behavior and characters of community and individual characters of Garhwalis and Kumaonis.
Most of Garhwalis had many beliefs those are called today as blind faith. There were lesser opportunities for skill and intelligence development in villages those were far from developed territories. There were beliefs against doing business among Shilpkar, Rajput and Brahmin communities and hence, trading or innovation lacked individually or collectively. Every result was due to luck.
However, the geographical nature of Garhwal was such that cooperation, faith on nature and God, honesty became the character of each Garhwali. Garhwalis had beliefs that deities or goddesses were witnessing their each deed. Therefore, by in large, Garhwalis were truthful. Trail described that by in large, Garhwalis were peace loving, hard workers at times, patient and truthful, god fearing, expressing their emotions without mask. People were so honest that they used to leave items outside of houses without fear of theft. Locks on door were rare and even till motor roads came in Garhwal after independence, locking door were very rare. Doors on temples were unheard till motor roads.
In Kumaon and many villages of Garhwal, people used to shift in winter from hills to Bhabhar. There wouldn’t be any person left in hill village but no theft was recorded in such situation. Theft was a sin as bad as having illicit relation with own daughter.
Hill people rarely used agreement paper work for offering loan to others. Disputes were solved by taking oath before village or family deity.
Shilpkar were poor and could do theft of needy items specially food items and generally, it was accepted socially. This author is witness around 1958-60, that when a Shilpkar child snatched my metal garland and was caught red handed, my mother started cursing him. My cosine grandmother asked my mother not to curs Shilpkar child as they don’t have anything so, cursing would not harm Shilpkar. That means, society recognized the theft is because of haves not.
Trail praised Garhwalis and Kumaonis. However, Trail aso described very negative characteristics of Garhwali and Kumauni communities.
Hill people loved sitting idle. They had unstable mind and easily believed others. In rage, hastily, hill people used to do many harmful acts. They were jealous with their neighbors and brothers. Garhwalis and Kumaonis were very shy by seeing strange men. They were eager to do small conspiracy.
Lower caste people were lacking courage. Rajputs were courageous but lacking hard works that they were able to carry.
Women or wives were consumable items or animals for Garhwalis and Kumaonis. However, they loved their children and many times, parents did suicide after child death.
Males preferred sitting and gossiping especially Kumaonis (Trail). They avoid hard works. Barring plowing, females had all agricultural works, house works and other responsibilities. There was proverbs in Garhwal that the man that cooks food is either his wife slave or not male. Grass cutting, wood cutting and carrying fuel wood on head; carrying grass; carrying compost on head ; grinding with flour mill; working with Okhli-Musal; was as good as sin for males. There was fifty percent wages in road construction for males but Uttarakhand males did not enjoy those wages and preferred migrating to plains and do so leas paying jobs. They preferred selling sweets as Farivala or howkers in plains than working on road constructions in Uttarakhand.
This male avoiding works was also seen in Dehradun in sixties, seventies and even today. Garhwalis never took job of carrying goods as grains, vegetables on head and there was migration from Eastern UP or Bihar for colie type of jobs in Dehradun. There was /is hate in society for such person that works as colie in Dehradun.
Today too, majority, road construction workers are Nepalese, Bangladeshi, East UPians or Bihari and not Uttarakhandis.
People of one Pargana were suspicious of persons other persons. Kumaoni were suspicious of Garhwalis and vice versa. All hill people were suspicious of plains people and Muslims. That was right too as the most criminals of theft, dacoit, deceiving were of people from plains. (Patiram and Trail).
Though by nature, Uttarakhandis were hard workers but had bad characteristics for envying neighbors (Patiram, Garhwal ancients and moderns). Watching others progressing did not inspire them but compelled them to pull down the progressing man. They would do false complain against neighbors. Garhwalis and Kumaonis were fair till there is strict control. They were God fearing and rule fearing people. When Garhwalis were compelled by rule for carrying heavy load they were excellent at par. They could carry hard work without taking meal. However, their habits was grumbling and criticizing. However, they were so honest that masters or customers used to leave everything in their custody without any fear of theft.
Garhwalis were honest, hard worksers, faithful but were habitual of making groups. Maularam described negative parts of Garhwalis in making groups and harming society.
Before, British established courts for settling disputes, there was Lathait courts means those could snatch they used to snatch the disputable things. The strangers used win the dispute. There used to be fight among two villages regularly and there are hundreds of folk stories in evry village against other village for settling disputes by help of fear/Lathi or strength.
Addiction for taking matter to the Court
After British established court for settling disputes, a new culture developed. Some pople became addicted taking every matter to the court. Many persons became habitual of false complaining in the court against his rivals. Such persons used to do high drama (weeping, getting kindness) before court officials against rival. However, mostly it was found that the rival either told something bad for complainer or there was small dispute.
This author is witness that late Sher Singh Negi of Saur (Malla Dhangu, Pauri Garhwal) was addicted to taking matter to court for small matters too.
Extreme Courage, Hard Work and risk taking Works
There is no doubt at all that males of all ages, females and children were courageous and hard workers. They used to climb on slopy hills, used to climb on trees at unbelievable place and used to work late night and used wake before sunrise. Garhwalis used to fight with tiger, bear and big snakes.
In first wolrd war and second world war, all foreign country historians wrote about courage and faithfulness of Garhwali soldiers.
Brush described about characteristics of Pindar valleys that those people were hard workers but were not interested in getting comfortable situation ((Twenty Years in Himalayas). They were satisfied by getting bread, house and clothing. Ambitions for prosperity was lacking among Pindar valley people. Brush felt bad about people not exploiting natural resources as water, grassland, forests etc.
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,
2 A- Trail Sketch of Kumaon , Asiatic Researches
3-Pau, Garhwal settlement
4- Becket, Garhwal Settlement Report
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History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1062
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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 of Tallasaln Garhwal; History of Dashauli Garhwal; History of Nagpur Garhwal; Society 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
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