Gazetteer Of The Gurdaspur District 1891-92

· 1891 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1Ohapter II.

2Gistory.

3Taluka Mirthal.

4Taluka Sarajpar.

5Subordinate

6administration.

7The kéndngos.

8Chaddbris.

9[ Punjab Gazetteer

1042 CHAP. I].—HISTORY,.

11Sambat 1869 the prince’s jigire were transferred to Kéhnawan,

12this tract was given to Kishen Singh, Wazir of the Guler Raja,

13as a reward for services rondered in the Kangra campaign.

14It was resumed on annexation, and other villages given in

15exchange.

16The four villages forming the Surajpur taluka always

17belonged to Narpur, and were absorbed by Ranjit Singh with

18the rest of that territory.

19Narpur fell in A.D. 1815, and the petty Sikh (Chiefs had

20been swallowed up before. The whole of the territory was

21brought under the general Sikh system of administration. Lala

22Sukh Diél ruled from A.D. 1815 to 1818, Moti Ram from 1818

23to 1819, Guru Wazir Lahori from 1819 to 1821. Kapdar Singh

24succeeded, but was speedily removed, end the administration

25then passed into the hands of Sardér Desa Singh Majithia,

26who, with his son Lahna Singh, held it until it passed to the

27English. Their official title was that of nézim; their duties

28and the manner in which they were performed are described

29at Jength by Mr. Barnes in para. 325 and following of his report.

30The actual administration was carried on by kardars, the nomi-

31nees of the n4zim, one of whom was appointed for each par-

32ganah. Mr. Barnes sums up the character of the kArders

33generally by saying that “ the problem of his life was to main-

34tain cultivation at the highest possible level, and at the same

35time to keep the cultivator at the lowest point of depression.”

36It is needless to enquire how he strove to solve this problem.

37The nézims and kérdérs were merely the official nominees

38of the Government of the day. Nominally at least they

39received regular salaries, though their main income depend on

40what they could extort from the people. Under these Govern-

41ment officials were another class of men, hereditary represeata-

42tives of the people, who were expected by the Qovernment to

43perform certain duties, and who were summarily deprived of

44their position if they failed to do so. These wero the kAnin-

45gos, the chaudhris, the kotwals and the village headmen.

46The kénéngo was a registrar appointed under the emper-

47ors, one for each taluka, more for the sako of a general umfoerm-

48ity with the Mughal system than because they were really

49required. “I doubt,’ says Mr. Barnes, “if their duties

50were ever more than nominal. These functions have long since

51fallen into disuse, and as their services were not required, they

52have gradually lost their privileges and emoluments, and 1etain

53nothing but the name.” It is needless to add that under the

54English system the kana@ngo has always been simply a

55official.

56Mr. Barnes says :—

57“The chandhris are anothor class of agricultural officers

58raised by the Mughals. Theso functionaries are found only in

59those districts which were reserved as imperial demesties. The

60extent of their jurisdiction seldom comprised more than eight