Administrative History of Uttarakhand: Kumaon and Garhwal (An Old and Rare Book)

About the Book This study is a pioneer attempt to reconstruct the Administrative History of Uttarakhand (Kumaon and Garhwal) during the rule of East India Company on the basis of primary sources, hitherto untouched.

The book in its seven chapters deals with various aspects of administrative policies of British masters during the Company Rule (1815-1857). With the British takeover in 181S, the Garhwal was divided into two parts British Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal State.

British Garhwal became a part of Kumaon Commissioner and in Tehri Garhwal State; the erstwhile Parmar rulers were reinstalled.

Realizing the geo-political importance of Uttarakhand British molded their policies in this region. They did not interfere with the local traditions as far as possible to maintain a friendly area in the north.

It is believed that the book will prove beneficial to the academicians, scholars and all those having interest in the regional history.

About the Author Dr. Ajay Arora did his M.A. and Ph.D. (History) from Kumaon University, Nainital (U.P.). Presently he is working as Head, Deptt. of Tourism, Kumaon University, Nainital. His areas of interest include Regional History, Tourism Management and Marketing. Currently he is working on prospects of Adventure Tourism in Kumaon.

Preface Uttarakhand (Kumaon and Garhwal) is an integral part of the Indian heritage. The earliest references regarding this area all cited in the Skanda Purana (Kedar Khand), Manas Khand and the Mahabharata in the Van Parva. Its magnetic pull has been drawing painters and philosophers, mystics and sages since a very long time. Even today Badrinath, Kedamath, Jageshwar, Gangotri, Jumnotri etc. are the home of the great Gods for the Hindus.

But from the historical viewpoint, Uttarakhand remains a relatively unexplored area. The rugged topography and an inaccessible terrain" at least in the past has bred insularity in outlook and to a certain extent an indigenous political history.

With the British Occupation of Uttarakhand (Kumaon and Garhwal) in 1815, Garhwal was divided into two parts, British Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal State. British Garhwal became a part of Kumaon commissioner, known as British Garhwal or Garhwal District and in Tehri Garhwal State, the rest while Parmar rulers were reinstalled. Prospects of trade with Tibet through the passes of Kumaon and Garhwal led the British to annex the area. But later the proximity of Uttarakhand to Western Tibet largely molded the British policies in this region. The need to check the growth of Russian influence in Central Asia added to the importance of the Uttarakhand in the eyes of the British masters. Realizing the geo-political advantage of annexing Uttarakhand the British geared lip their adll~i; 1istration accordingly.

The present study is a pioneer attempt to collect, collate and synthesize the administrative history of Kumaon Commissioner and Tehri Garhwal State during the Company rule, 1815-1857.

I must avail this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Ajay S. Rabat, Head, Department of History, Kumaon University, Nainital, for his valuable suggestions and. persistent encouragement which has facilitated the culmination of the work.

I would like to record my heartfelt gratitude for Prof. H.N. Dixit, Head, Department of Sanskrit, Kumaon University, Nainital, for his valuable suggestions and help in publication of this work.

Acknowledgements are also due to Mrs. Sushma Rawat for her encouragement during the course of the study, to my wife Geetanjali for her assistance, Mr. Surendra K. Singh, the typist, Mr. Arun Kumar Chaudhary, Proprietor A.R. Printers, Shri Shyam Lal Malhotra Proprietor, Eastern Book Linkers, Delhi for undertaking the publication of the work, officials of National Archives, New Delhi, State Archives, Lucknow, Regional Archives, Nainital and the Central Library, Kumaon University.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages