Women in British Garhwal

British Administration in Garhwal   -161

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -181

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1013

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

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            The woman was important asset for agriculture works and pasturing works. Womn was also useful for kitchen works that was not possible by Harijan or Shilpkar. Becket reported that she was capable of working for 60 years and used to produce up to 50 years. Women were not allowed plowing.

 The following population figures confirm that there was shortage of women in Garhwal –

 Year ---------------------Male Pop------------------------Female Population

1841-------------------------71534---------------------------60882

1853--------------------------- 120027------------------------113299

 That was why there was a custom of Takka marriage or offering money to bride’s father by groom’s family and without marriage procession and rituals. ‘Kanyadan was custom in upper caste and prosperous Thakur.  Prosperous man had many wives. Wives were there for works. In case of death of elder brother, younger brother used to marry /keep his Bhauj.  Far devar were ready for keeping widow Bhauj (elder brother’s wife). There was demand for ‘Dhanti female (thrown out of family). Marrying with widow Bhauj or Dhanti was very useful in remaking of barren land useful for agriculture.

  Many widows had land but there were no males for them in family. For solving such problems, women started keeping ‘husband’.

            More the children was sign of prosperity because children were useful for agriculture works. If any mn married with married women the new husband hd to pay money to ex-husband. 

   

   

XXX   

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

3- Paw- Garhwal Settlement page 44

4-Becket, Garhwal resettlement report - 29

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 17/8/201710History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1014

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

-

(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;   

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

 British Administration in Garhwal   -160

       -

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.

          

   

   

XXX   

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

Xx

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

-

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

-

(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;  

Kamin, Sayana or Regional Villages Chiefs

 British Administration in Garhwal   -159

       -

History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -179

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1011

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

    Kamin , Sayana played important role in establishing villages in initial period of British rule. They established many new villages and signed ‘Kaul Patta (agreement) for paying tax on behalf of villages under their jurisdiction. There was barren land everywhere in Garhwal and population was scanty. Most of villagers did not have resources for plow , seeds and arranging agricultural appliances. Most of villagers did not have money for paying tax. Kmin and Sayan paid tax in money on their behalf. Kamin supplied seeds, agro-appliances to their farmers and help them for erecting huts. Kamin through luring or through threats, used to make situation for famrers that they stay in the village.

XXX   

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

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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 -1012

-

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

-

(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; 

Re-migration of Garhwalis from Plains

  British Administration in Garhwal   -158

       -

History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -178

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1010

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

   Before, British rule started, in Gorkha rule, thousands of Garhwalis migrated to plains of India.

    The news spread about suitable and better British administration than local Kings all over India. Migrated Garhwalis also came to know about citizen oriented rule in British Garhwal. Migrated Garhwalis started coming back to their villages. Salves sold by Gorkha could not return back. Most of their huts were intact as they left. Retuned Garhwalis had to repair their huts and resettled there .Their land was now, barren. With efforts, they remade land suitable for farming. No authorities stopped them for regaining their rights.

    However, in some cases, where the land was super fertile, Sayanas, and strongmen in absence of owners captured the land those escaped from their villages. When they returned the new owners did not offer back their land.  

  Vishnu Singh Gorla Rawat informed to Dr Dabral an incident of Gujdu patti. A family had to flees from Ruindali Bhandar village in 1810 as the family could not pay tax.when in 1821, the family returned, they saw that Kamin established another rKhaikar on that land. The case came before Trail in 1833.

XXX   

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

Xx

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 14/8/201710History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1011

-

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

-

(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; 

Kulvir Singh Rawat: A Modern Garhwali Poet

(गढ़वाल,उत्तराखंड,हिमालय से गढ़वाली कविता  क्रमगत इतिहास  भाग - )

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 (Critical and Chronological History of Garhwali Poetry, part -)

  By: Bhishma Kukreti

    Kulvir Rawat published a couple of Garhwali poems of couplets and conventional styled poems. His poems are satirical and inspirational as well

 Kulvir was born in 1958 in Sukai, Bangarsyun, Pauri Garhwal.

कुलवीर का दोहा  (गढ़वाली दोहे  )

रचना --   कुलबीर सिंह रावत  

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'कुलबीर' अपणि जगामा , सब्बि बणदन प्वाछू 

हाथी ब्वगदन जै गदिना , उबै आंद वख माछू। 

कबि नि हैंसा कै फरि , कबि नि कारा घमंड 

उब उठाया जैन मुंड।  वैकु फुट   बरमुंड। 

'कुलबीर'  हर्चण को आंद बगत , हूण बैठद च्यार 

भितर  बुसेंदन चौंळ अर बाड़ खांद उज्याड़। 

क्या तू अई दगड़ा लेकी , क्या तिन दगड़ी लिजाणा 

म्यारू -म्यारु केकू कद्दी ? सब कुछ यखी छुटि  जाण। 

अपणा कर्मों की कचम्वळी , खाण प्वड़द हर कै 

अपणो तमसू  यखि    द्यखदा मनिख , सोचि समझि कै रै। 

अपणा दुःख से दुःखि नि मनखि , हैंका सुख से परेशान 

घुंड -मुंड फुके किड्याण कख ? फिर बि बण्यु पधान।  

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 2017

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चमोली गढ़वाल , उत्तराखंड , उत्तरी भारत कविता , लोकगीत  इतिहास ; रुद्रप्रयाग गढ़वाल , उत्तराखंड , उत्तरी भारत कविता ,लोकगीत  इतिहास ; टिहरी गढ़वाल , उत्तराखंड , उत्तरी भारत कविता , लोकगीत  इतिहास ; उत्तरकाशी गढ़वाल , उत्तराखंड , उत्तरीभारत कविता , लोकगीत  इतिहास ; देहरादून गढ़वाल , उत्तराखंड , उत्तरी भारत कविता , लोकगीत  इतिहास ; हरिद्वार गढ़वाल ,उत्तराखंड , उत्तरी भारत कविता , लोकगीत  इतिहास ; 

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History and review of Garhwali Poems, Folk Song from Uttarkashi Garhwal, Uttarakhand, South Asia; History and review of Garhwali Poems, Folk Song from Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, South Asia; History and review of Garhwali Poems, Folk Song from Dehradun Garhwal, Uttarakhand, South Asia; History and review of Garhwali Poems, Folk Song from Rudraprayag Garhwal, Uttarakhand, South Asia; History and review of Garhwali Poems, Folk Song from Chamoli Garhwal, Uttarakhand, South Asia; History and review of Garhwali Poems, Folk Song from Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, South Asia; History Garhwali poems from Haridwar ;