Jashpur
Jashpur
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Tributary State in the Central Provinces, lying between 22 degree 17' and 23 degree 15' N. and 83 degree 30' and 84 degree 24' E., with an area of 1,94s 1 square miles. Till 1905 it was included in the Chota Nagpur States of Bengal. It is bounded on the north and west by the Surguja State ; on the east by the RanchI District of Bengal ; and on the south by Gangpur, Udaipur, and Raigarh. Jashpur consists in almost equal proportions of highland and lowland. On the Ranchi side the magnifi- cent table-land of Uparghat attains an average elevation of 2,200 feet above the sea, and is fringed by hills which in places rise 1,000 feet higher. On the east the Uparghat blends with the plateau of Chota Nagpur proper ; while on the west it springs from the lowland region known as the Hetghat in a scarped fortress-like wall, buttressed here and there by projecting masses of rock. The Uparghat again is divided by a slight depression from the still loftier plateau of Khuria, which occupies the north-western corner of the State, forming the watershed between the lb and the Kanhar, a tributary of the river Son. This plateau consists of trap-rock topped with volcanic laterite, overlying the granite and gneiss which form the surface rocks at lower elevations. The lowlands of the Hetghat and of Jashpur proper lie in successive steps descending towards the south, broken by ranges of low hills, isolated bluffs, and bare masses of gneiss and other metamorphic rocks. The granite of this low region frequently rises into bare round knolls, the most conspicuous of which is called the Burha from its fancied resemblance to an old man's bald head. The principal peaks are Ranijula (3,527 feet), Kotwar (3,393 feet), and Bharamurio (3,390 feet). The chief river is the lb, which flows through the State from north to south. Several waterfalls are found along its course, the finest being formed by the rush of its waters over a square mass of trap-rock, where it passes from the high table-land of the Uparghat into the flat country of Jashpur proper. Owing to numerous rapids, the river is not navigable below these falls. The smaller rivers of Jashpur are mere hill streams, all of which are fordable except at brief intervals during the rains. In the north these are feeders of the Kanhar, and flow towards the valley of the Ganges, while on the south they run into the lb and contribute to the river system of Orissa. Gold is obtained in small quantities from the banks and bed of the lb river, near the Gangpur border, by the Jhora Gonds, who wash the soil ; they make over the gold to the Raja and are paid by him in rice. Iron is procured in a nodular form in the hilly tracts, and is smelted by aboriginal tribes for export. The forests consist largely of sal (Shorea robusta),sissu (Dalbergia Sissoo), and ebony (Diospyros melanoxylon) ; but owing to their distance from the railway there is as yet little demand for the timber. Those near the Gangpur border have recently,
1 This figure, which differs from the area shown in the Census Report of 1901, was supplied by the Surveyor-General. however, been leased to a contractor. Besides timber, the chief jungle products are lac, tasar silk, and beeswax, all of which are exported, sabai grass (Ischaemum angustifolium), and a large number of edible roots and indigenous drugs. The jungles contain tigers, leopards, wolves, bears, buffaloes, bison, and many kinds of deer.
The State of Jashpur was ceded to the British Government by the provisional agreement concluded with Mudhojl Bhonsla in 1818. Although noticed in the second article of this agreement as a separate State, Jashpur was at first treated in some measure as a fief of Surguja, and the tribute, the amount of which was last fixed in 1899 at Rs. 1,250, is still paid through that State. The chief, however, is not bound to render any feudal service to Surguja. The population increased from 113,636 in 1891 to 132,114 in 1901. They dwell in 566 villages, and the density is 68 persons per square mile. The large increase is due chiefly to the inducements held out to immigrants to settle in the State, where the area of cultivable waste is very large. The people have also benefited by the introduction of sugar-cane and wheat cultivation, and roads have been constructed from the capital to the borders of Ranchi, Surguja, Udaipur, and Gingpur. The most numerous castes and tribes are Oraons (47,000), Rautias (12,000), Korwas (10,000), Ahirs or Goalas and Nagesias (9,000 each), and Chiks and Kaurs (7,000 each). A rebellion of the Korwas gave con- siderable trouble some years ago. Pandrapat and the table-lands of the Khuria. plateau afford excellent pasturage ; and Ahirs or cowherds from Mirzapur and elsewhere bring large herds of cattle to graze, the fees paid by them being a considerable source of income to the State. Many Ahirs have settled permanently in Khuria. The trade is con- fined to food-grains, oilseeds, and jungle products, and is carried on by means of pack-bullocks.
The relations of the chief with the British Government are regulated by a sanad granted in 1899, and reissued in 1905 with a few verbal changes due to the transfer of the State to the Central Provinces. Under this sanad the chief was formally recognized and permitted to administer his territory subject to prescribed conditions, and the tribute was fixed for a further period of twenty years, at the end of which it is liable to revision. The chief is under the general control of the Commissioner of Chhattisgarh as regards all important matters of administration, including the settlement and collection of land revenue, the imposition of taxes, the administration of justice, arrangements connected with excise, salt, and opium, and disputes in which other States are concerned ; and he cannot levy import and export dues or transit duties, unless they are specially authorized by the Chief Commissioner. He is permitted to levy rents and certain other customary dues from his subjects, and is empowered to pass sentences of imprisonment up to five years and of fine to the extent of Rs. 200 ; but sentences of imprisonment for more than two years and of fine exceeding Rs. 50 require the confirmation of the Commissioner. Heinous offences calling for heavier punishment are dealt with by the Political Agent, Chhattisgarh Feudatories, who exercises the powers of a District Magistrate and Assistant Sessions Judge ; the Commissioner occupies the position of a Sessions Court in respect of such cases, while the functions of a High Court are vested in the Chief Commissioner.
The revenue of the State from all sources in 1904-5 was Rs. 1,26,000, of which Rs. 50,000 was derived from land, Rs. 11,000 from excise, and Rs. 7,000 from forest. The expenditure in the same year was Rs. 1,05,000, including Rs. 22,000 spent on administration, Rs. 35,ooo on domestic charges, and Rs. 6,000 on public works. The State maintains 199 miles of roads. The current revenue demand is Rs. 60,000 per annum, collected through lease-holders, called thekadars, with whom the villages are settled. The latter fix and collect the assessment payable by each cultivator in the village, and the amount is not changed during the term of the settlement. The thekadar, have no rights beyond that period ; but the lease is generally renewed with the old thekadar, and a son generally succeeds his father, though no hereditary rights are recognized The State maintains a police force of 12 officers and 35 men, and there is also a body of village police who receive a monthly salary. There is a jail with accom- modation for 102 prisoners at Jashpurnagar, where the State also maintains a dispensary at which 2,000 patients were treated in 1904-5. In the same year 6,ooo persons were successfully vaccinated. In 1901 only 862 persons could read and write ; but some new schools have been opened by the State since that time, and in 1904-5 there were 15 schools with an attendance of 300 pupils.
2015: Kunjara pays tax to old royals
Apr 08 2015
Pay lagaan or give up land, ex-royal's diktat to villagers
Rashmi Drolia
Jashpur royals, associated with the ruling BJP, are embroiled in a controversy in Chhattisgarh after they allegedly issued a `mahal ka farman' (palace edict) to Kunjara villages residents , ordering them to vacate land or pay rent and tax till date after a private survey of land. The issue came to light a day after Jashpur scion Vikramaditya Singh Judeo allegedly tried to mow down a school director under his SUV over a land dispute on Monday . Judeo, who is also wanted in other cases, is now on the run, with police on his back. Residents of Kunjara village, 55km from Jashpur Nagar, say royals and their supporters have been forcing 20 families to vacate land.
Locals claim they consider themselves as `raja ki praja' (king's subjects) and have been serving the palace for more than a century .“Royals recently conducted a survey to assess land owned by them and zeroed in on Kunjara village and allegedly asked them to shift out or pay lagaan (tax),“ said a villager.
“We are spending sleepless nights since the `farman' was issued last month.They claim half of village land of 52.77 acres belongs to royals. But small chunks were donated to families by Raja Vijay Bhushan Singh Judeo, ,“ said Sukhni Bai, resident of Kunjara village.
Another villager, Ravishankar, told TOI that he was asked to pay lump sum tax of Rs 12,300 for residing on the land. “We don't have any other place to go, though some families have begun moving out. We don't have money to pay rent or tax,“ he said.
However, the villagers have another worry as well.“Who would serve the palace if we move out? Who would wash Raja's feet if we go,“ asked Sukhni Bai.
Another villager said, “More than respect, it's fear.
We don't take any stand or go to police. The royal writ runs large.
Our ancestors have served them, but it's their land and they will take it away,“ Two government buildings of the forest and public works department, both in Kunjara village, were demolished about a month ago. Speaking to TOI, Jashpur divisional forest officer, K Macchio, said, “Forest department was not informed or notified about the demolition. We are verifying whether land belonged to the palace.“
State home minister Ram Sewak Paikra said, “Government is treating the incident seriously . Guilty would not be spared.“
