Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c19.s11: No. XI

Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c19.s11

Language: English

No. XI

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*Charter of Privileges and Immunities granted to the town of Jhalrapatan, engraved on a Pillar in that City.*

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S. 1853 (A.D. 1797), corresponding with the Saka 1718, the sun being in the south, the season of cold, and the happy month of Kartika,¹ the enlightened half of the month, being Monday the full moon.

Maharaja Dhiraj Sri Ummed Singh Deo,² the Faujdar³ Raj Zalim Singh [206] and Kunwar Madho Singh, commanding. To all the inhabitants of Jhalrapatan, Patels,⁴ Patwaris,⁵ Mahajans,⁶ and to all the thirty-six castes, it is written.

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² The Raja of Kotah.

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³ Commander of the forces and regent of Kotah.

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⁴ Officers of the land revenue.

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⁵ Land accountants.

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⁶ The mercantile class.

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At this period entertain entire confidence, build and dwell.

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Within this abode all forced contributions and confiscations are for ever abolished. The taxes called Bhalamanusi,⁷ Anni,⁸ and Rekha Barar,⁹ and likewise all Bhetbegar,¹⁰ shall cease.

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⁷ Literally ‘good behaviour.’

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⁸ An agricultural tax.

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⁹ Tax for registering.

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¹⁰ This includes in one word the forced labour exacted from the working classes: the corvée of the French system.

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To this intent is this stone erected, to hold good from year to year, now and evermore. There shall be no violence in this territory. This is sworn by the cow to the Hindu and the hog to the Musalman : in the presence of Captain Dilel Khan, Chaudhari Sarup Chand, Patel Lalo, the Mahesri Patwari Balkishan, the architect Kalu Ram, and the stone-mason Balkishan.

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Parmo¹¹ is for ever abolished. Whoever dwells and traffics within the town of Patan, one half of the transit duties usually levied in Haravati are remitted; and all mapa (meter's) duties are for ever abolished.

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¹¹ Grain thrown on the inhabitants at an arbitrary rate; often resorted to at Kotah, where the regent is farmer general.