Tehri Garhwal Gorkha Invasion and British Rule

Tehri Garhwal Gorkha Invasion and British Rule

Tehri Garhwal Gorkha Invasion and British Rule : Tehri Garhwal district, nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, has a long and eventful history. Strategically located, it was conveted by invading powers but also fiercely defended by its rulers – the Panwar kings of the Garhwal Kingdom. This article provides a comprehensive account of two major events in Tehri’s history – the Gorkha invasion of 1803-1815, and the advent of British colonial rule in 1815.

Gorkha Invasion of Garhwal Kingdom

The Gorkhas of Nepal, led by ambitious rulers like Prithvi Narayan Shah and Amar Singh Thapa, embarked on a campaign of expansion into the hill kingdoms of the Himalayas in the late 18th century.

Causes of Gorkha Success

Several factors aided the Gorkhas in defeating the hill kingdoms like Garhwal and taking over their territory:

• Political instability and internal conflicts in the Garhwal court over succession
• Weakening of the Garhwal army and administration after the devastating earthquake of 1803
• Treaty between Harsh Dev Joshi of Kumaon and Nepal, allowing Gorkha army passage through Kumaon to attack Garhwal
• Disunity among the Garhwal chiefs, with some aligning with the Gorkhas

Invasion and Fall of Srinagar

In 1804, taking advantage of the political turmoil and destruction caused by the 1803 earthquake, Amar Singh Thapa led the Gorkha forces to attack Srinagar, the capital of Garhwal. After intense fighting, Srinagar fell in 1804.

The Gorkhas captured half of the Garhwal kingdom up to the Alaknanda river by 1805. King Pradyuman Shah fled to the plains of Dehradun. The invading Gorkhas imposed heavy taxes on the people and persecuted the local chiefs. Their rule was deeply resented by the people for its cruelty and exploitation.

Battle of Khurdabuda and End of Gorkha Rule

In 1814, the exiled Garhwal king Pradyuman Shah’s son Sudarshan Shah made an alliance with the British East India Company to drive out the Gorkhas. In the decisive Battle of Khurdabuda fought near Dehradun in 1815, the Gorkhas were defeated by the combined forces of Sudarshan Shah and the British. Subsequently, by the Treaty of Sugauli between Britain and Nepal, the Gorkhas relinquished all control over Kumaon and Garhwal.

Advent of British Rule

With the defeat of the Gorkhas in 1815, Garhwal came under the paramountcy of British India. However, the British restored Sudarshan Shah, son of the dead king Pradyuman Shah, as the ruler of Tehri state, while directly administering the eastern part merged with British Kumaon.

Administrative Setup

The British divided their Garhwal holdings into two districts – Pauri and Tehri. Later Uttarkashi district was also carved out. The British ruled these districts via the Commissioner based in Almora. Native chieftains called Lambardars, Kanungos and Patwaris assisted the British administration.

Impact of British Rule

• Introduction of new systems of land revenue, taxation, policing and judiciary
• Construction of roads, schools, post offices etc but only in limited area
• Stationing of British army units mainly for border security and Tibet trade
• Limited spread of Western education, railways and other modern influences
• Persistence of traditional social structure and customs in rural hinterland

Though resented by radicals, the British rule was also seen as stable and less oppressive by some sections after the disruptive Gorkha rule.

Later History of Tehri State

Meanwhile the Tehri royal family actively assisted the British in maintaining control over their mountainous territory. Prominent rulers were Kirti Shah and Narendra Shah. However dissent against their rule surfaced in the early 20th century, culminating in the Tehri satyagraha of 1940s led by Sridev Suman which demanded democratic reforms.

Finally under the last king Manvendra Shah, popular protests forced Tehri state’s accession to the Indian union in August 1949. In January 1950, Uttar Pradesh government took over the administration of Tehri and the princely state ceased to exist.

Conclusion to Tehri Garhwal Gorkha Invasion and British Rule

Tehri Garhwal Gorkha Invasion and British Rule, the early 19th century saw great turmoil in Garhwal, as it passed from the hands of its own kings into Gorkha and then British control. The colonial rule introduced modernization in some spheres, while reinforcing traditional authority in other ways. Nonetheless Garhwal society was deeply impacted, setting the stage for its emergence as a key district of modern Uttarakhand state after India’s independence.