Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c8: Glossary
Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c8
- Language
- English
Glossary
c8.1
(Most of the following explanations have been taken from H.H. Wilson’s *A Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms*, published in 1855. Others are based on the present writer’s own understanding of them)
c8.2
| *Abkarry:* | Revenue from duty on intoxicants, etc. |
| *Amlah:* | The collective head native officers of judicial or revenue court under the European judge or collector. |
| *Bazars:* | Shopping areas, markets. |
| *Bunds:* | Widespread non-cooperation and resistance to government, particularly in Maharashtra |
| *Brahmins:* | Hindu caste of scholars, priests and ascetics. |
| *Cherucoons:* | Chief peons |
| *Chokeydars:* | Watchmen. |
| *Choudries:* | Heads or representatives of areas or groups. |
| *Chubootra:* | Place where the head of the police is usually stationed; a police office or station. |
| *Chunam:* | Lime |
| *Clashy:* | A tent-pitcher, a matross. |
| *Cooley:* | Labourers |
| *Coss:* | A distance of about 2 miles. |
| *Cutcherry:* | A law court; a place where any public business is transacted. |
| *Cutwall:* | Chief officer of police for a city or town. |
| *Cutwally:* | Office of a *Cutwal*. |
| *Dhurm Puttree:* | Communication binding the recipients by a religious oath to join or conform to some commonly arrived decision. |
| *Dhurna:* | Sitting usually at the door of a house as a protest against some wrong doing by the particular householder. The person or persons protesting were to observe strict |
c8.3
fast and consequently the alleged wrongdoer was expected to fast also and abstain from his usual occupations and amusements.
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*Dingy:* A passage boat.
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*Dubass:* A native man of business in the service of a European; one who speaks two languages.
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*Durkhast:* An application.
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*Durzees:* Tailors.
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*Dusserah:* A major Hindu festival celebrated in September or October signifying Rama's victory over Ravana.
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*Dustucks:* A permit, a passport; also a writ, a warrant.
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*Faqueers:* A religious mendicant, usually a Muslim by religion.
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*Gentues:* Hindoos (originally applied to Telugu-speaking people by Europeans).
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*Gomastah:* An agent; a steward employed to collect rent, money, etc.
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*Goshains:* A particular Hindu religious order.
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*Hartal:* Shutting up or closing all the shops of a market as a passive resistance to exaction.
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*Hujams:* Barbers
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*Jagirdar:* Holder of an assignment of revenue; in this instance seemingly of a large one.
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*Jolahirs:* Weavers
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*Jummabundy:* A statement exhibiting the particulars of the public revenue, its amount and how assessed.
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*Kahars:* Water-carriers, palankin-bearers, etc.
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*Khelaut:* A dress of honour.
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*Kist:* The portion of annual revenue assessment to be paid at specific periods in the course of the year.
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*Koonbees:* An India-wide numerous Hindu caste of peasants or those engaged in agriculture.
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*Koor*: Self-immolation as a protest.
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*Korees*: A caste of growers of vegetables, etc.
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*Lac*: A hundred thousand (1,00,000).
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*Lohars*: Blacksmiths (perhaps also applied to manufacturer, of iron and steel who seem to have been fairly numerous and powerful at this period).
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*Mahajuns*: Merchants and bankers.
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*Mahrattah*: Originally residents of Maharashtra; in this instance apparently refers to warriors from amongst them living in Benares.
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*Malgoozaree*: Revenue assessment.
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*Mehulla*: A locality or a ward in a town or city.
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*Mistrees*: Mechanics
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*Mofussil*, *mofusil*: Usually used for non-urban areas.
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*Mohullahdars*: Government appointed persons responsible to the police for providing information about the respective *mehullas*.
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*Moosuddies*: Writers, clerks; in this instance seemingly assessors or collectors of tax also.
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*Mujlis*: An assembly.
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*Mullahs*: Boatmen.
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*Naib*: A deputy.
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*Nazir*: A supervisor, or officer of court charged with the serving of process, etc.
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*Nizamut affairs*: Department of police and criminal law.
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*Peons*: Footmen foot soldiers; inferior officers of police or customs, or courts of justice.
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*Pergunnahs*: A demarcated area of many villages several of which went to constitute a *chakla* or *zila*, i.e. a present-day district.
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*Perwannahs*: Orders, written precepts, permits or passes.
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*Phatucks*: City or *mehulla* gates.
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*Phatuckbundee*: Contributions for the expense of looking after the *phatucks*, i.e., watch and ward of the city.
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| *Punch:* | Council of any caste, group, or area. |
| *Pottahs:* | A document specifying the conditions under which land is held by a tenant, etc. |
| *Rajpoots, Raujpoots:* | A warrior caste amongst the Hindus. |
| *Ryots:* | Peasants. |
| *Sayer:* | Sources of revenue other than agricultural land. |
| *Shastra:* | Scripture, works of authority. |
| *Sooltauns:* | Kings. |
| *Syce:* | Driver of a horse-carriage, a coachman. |
| *Tallua Nallah:* | Name of a locality in Benares. |
| *Talook:* | An estate, including many villages. |
| *Tahsildar:* | Government officer incharge of a *tahsil* (part of a district) for revenue and law and order functions. |
| *Thannahdars:* | Officers incharge of *thannahs* (police stations); also employed in enforcing payment of government revenue. |
| *Traga:* | Self-immolation as a protest. |
| *Urzee, arzee:* | Representation; a petition. |
| *Vakeel:* | A lawyer; in this instance a government pleader. |
| *Zillah:* | A district. |