Tehri State, 1908
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.
Tehri State, 1908
Tehri-Garhwal
Native State under the political superintendence of the Government of the United Provinces, lying between 30° 3' and 31° 18' N. and 77° 49' and 79° 24 E., with an area of 4,200 square miles. It is bounded on the north by the Punjab States of Rawin and Bashahr, and by Tibet ; on the east and south by Garhwal District; and on the west by Dehra Dun. The State Ues entirely in the Himalayas, and contains a tangled series of ridges with innumerable spurs separated by narrow valleys. The general direction of the main ridges is from north-east to south-west, radiating from a lofty series of peaks on the border of Tibet, which vary in height from 20,000 to 23,000 feet above sea-level. The State contains the sources of both the Ganges and the Jumna, and these two rivers receive the whole drainage. The Ganges rises in a glacier, called Gaumukh, at a height of 13,570 feet, and at first bears the name of Bhaglrathi. A large affluent called the Jadhganga or Jahnavi, which rises in Tibet, joins the Bhaglrathi at Bhaironghati. The Bhagirathi flows south-west and then south-east, and joins the Alaknanda at Devaprayag, after which the combined stream is called Ganges. The Alaknanda and Ganges form part of the southern boundary between Garhwal District and Tehri State. West of the lofty peak of Bandar- punch rises the Jumna, which flows south-west and then forms the western boundary of the State. The Supin rises north of the same peak, and after receiving the Rupin assumes the name of Tons (Northern). Jamnotri and Gangotri, near the sources of the two great rivers, are important places of pilgrimage.
Nothing is known of the geological formation of the State, except as the result of single traverses across it, which show the same general structure and composition as in the neighbouring parts of Dehra Dun and Garhwal Districts.
The flora of the State includes the vast series found in the Hima- layas, ranging from the sub-tropical species which grow in the outer ranges of low hills to the alpine flowers in the north.
Tigers are found in small numbers in the north of the State, and leopards are common in the west. Black bears and wild dogs occur in some localities. Antelope, sdmhai- or Jaran, spotted deer, barking- deer, and musk deer are also found, besides several species of wild goats and goat antelopes.
Meteorological observations are not recorded, but the climate resembles that of Garhwal District. The valleys and lower hills are subject to a very great range of temperature. Snow falls as low as 4,000 feet in the winter.
The early history of the State is that of Garhwal District, the two tracts having formerly been ruled by the same dynasty. Parduman Shah, the last Raja of the whole territory, was killed in battle, fighting against the Gurkhas; but at the close of the Nepalese War in 1815, his son, Sudarshan Shah, received from the British the present State of Tehri. During the Mutiny Sudarshan Shah rendered valuable assistance to Government. He died in 1859 without legitimate issue, and in accordance with the terms of the treaty the State lapsed ; but his eldest illegitimate son, BhawanT Shah, was allowed to succeed, and he sub- sequently received a sanad giving him the right of adoption. Bhawani Shah died in 1872, and his son and successor, Pratap Shah, in 1887. The present Raja, Sir Kirti Shah, K.C.S.I., was installed in 1894. He married a granddaughter of Maharaja Jang Bahadur of Nepal.
An ancient trident bearing an inscription stands near the village of Barahat 1 which is locally assigned to some Tibetan Raja.
The State contains 2,456 villages, but no town proper. Population is increasing rapidly. The numbers at the three enumerations were as follows: (1881) 199,836, (1891) 241,242, and (1901) 268,885. The whole State forms a single tahsil. Tehri, the capital, is the only place of importance. More than 99 per cent, of the population are Hindus. The low density, 64 persons per square mile, is explained by the mountainous nature of the country. In 1901, 6,020 persons were recorded as able to read and write. The language usually spoken is Central Pahari.
Almost the entire population is composed of three castes : Rajputs 1 Journal, Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. v, p. 347. (161,000), Brahmans (55,000), and Doms (48,000). The two first are divided into Khas Rajputs and Brahmans, who are regarded as autochthonous, and Rajputs and Brahmans descended from emigrants from, the plains. There are a few Bhotias in the north of the State. Agriculture supports 88 per cent, of the total.
There are no Christian missions in Tchrl, and in 1901 only seven native Christians were enumerated.
Cultivation resembles that in the British Districts of Garhwal and Almora. It is practically confined to terraces on hill-sides, and to small alluvial areas in river-beds. Detailed statistics are not available, but the total area cultivated is about 70 square miles. Rice, small millets such as jhangord and mandud or marud^ and wheat are the staple food-crops ; potatoes are also largely grown. A little tea is produced in the west of the State. Irrigation is provided by small channels drawn from streams, about 20 square miles being supplied in this way. The cattle of the State are small and hardy.
The forests of Tehri are very valuable. An area of 141 square miles, which has been leased to the British Government, yields valuable chlr (Pinus longifolid) and other timber. The other trees are deodar, sal (Shorea robusta), and various kinds of oak and pine. Boxwood is common in the north of the State, but is little used. Since 1884 a forest service has been organized on the same lines as in British India, with excellent results. In 1903-4 the forest revenue amounted to 1.75 lakhs, while the expenditure was only Rs. 23,000.
Tehri exports timber, forest produce, ghi, rice, and potatoes, and imports piece-goods, sugar, salt, iron, brass vessels, pulses, spices, and oil. A little borax passes through the State from Tibet, and salt is imported from the same country. There are no manufactures, except small industries of blanket-weaving and tanning. Mussoorie is the chief mart supplying the State. Timber is rafted down the rivers ; but other merchandise is carried entirely on pack-animals or by coolies.
There are about 263 miles of road, but these are not practicable for wheeled traffic. The chief lines are from the capital to Mussoorie, to Hard war, to Devaprayag, and to Gangotri.
The Raja has full powers within the State, and the Commissioner of Kumaun is the Political Agent to the Government of the United Provinces for Tehri. Executive authority is vested in an officer called the Wazir. Revenue cases are disposed of by a iahsilddr and three Deputy-Collectors, one of the latter being stationed at Rawain. There are two magistrates of the third class, sitting at Devaprayag and Kirtinagar ; the Deputy-Collectors have ordinarily powers of the second class ; and the Wazir and one magistrate exercise first-class powers. Sentences of death are passed by the Raja alone. Crime is very light. Civil suits are heard by the Deputy-Collectors ; and there are two civil courts in addition. Appeals lie in all cases to the Raja, who frequently transfers them to the Wazir or to the first-class magistrate. A limited jurisdiction is exercised by the muafiddrs of Saklana.
The land revenue and total revenue of the State for a series of years are shown below, in thousands of rupees : —
The chief items in 1903-4 were: forests (1.75 lakhs), land revenue and cesses (Rs. 95,000), stamps, excise, and presents (Rs. 65,000), fines (Rs. 24,000), and interest on promissory notes and loans (Rs. 15,000). The expenditure of 2.75 lakhs included: privy purse (1.2 lakhs), administration (Rs. 39,000), and forests (Rs. 23,000).
No proprietary rights are recognized in land except in the case of the Saklana fief. Land is divided into irrigated and unirrigated, the latter being further divided into four classes according to quality. Separate rates are assessed on each class ; the rates have not been revised for many years. The chief items of miscellaneous revenue are tolls on pilgrims carrying water from Gangotri, and excise. The latter consists of licence fees for the sale of country liquor and hemp drugs.
The principal public buildings are the Raja's palace, the courts and offices, and the jail. The expenditure on roads and buildings in 1903-4 amounted to Rs. 30,000.
An infantry force, 113 strong, is maintained, and the State possesses two cannon, which are used only on ceremonial occasions.
A small force of police is maintained at Tehrl, Kirtinagar, and Uevaprayag. Outside of these places police duties are performed by village headmen, who report to the patwaris as in the British Districts of the Kumaun Division. A new jail has recently been constructed capable of holding 250 prisoners, but the number at any one time is only about 20.
In 1901 only 2.2 per cent, of the population (4.4 males and 0.1 females) were able to read and write. The number of schools rose from 3 with 203 pupils in 1880-1 to 5 with 303 pupils in 1900-1. In 1903-4 there were 13 schools with 512 pupils. The expenditure was Rs. 8,600.
Two hospitals are maintained by the State, at which 9,000 patients were treated in 1903, including 64 in-patients, and 43 operations were performed. The total expenditure was Rs. 4,000.
Although vaccination is not compulsory, its benefits are thoroughly appreciated, and 10,000 persons were vaccinated in 1903-4, repre- senting 38 per 1,000 of population.
[Annual Administratiun Reports.]
