Hamirpur District, 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
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Hamirpur District
Physical aspects
District in the Allahabad Division of the United Provinces, lying between 25° 5' and 26° 7' N. and 79° 17' and 80° 21' E., with an area of 2,289 square miles. It is bounded on the north by the Jumna, which separates it from Cawnpore and Fateh- pur, and by the Betwa^ which divides it from Jalaun and the Native State of BaonI; on the west the Dhasan separates it from Jhansi ; on the south lie the States of Alipura, Chhatarpur, and Charkhari; and on the east the District marches with Banda. The Native States of Sarlla, Jigni, and Behat, and portions of Charkhari and Garrauli form enclaves, entirely surrounded by British territory. Hamirpur lies chiefly in the great plain of Bundelkhand, which stretches between the banks of the Jumna and the outer scarps of the Vindhyan plateau. The hilly southern region is broken by scattered outlying spurs and isolated hills, some distance from the main asDect^
Vindhyan range, which does not enter the District. Their general elevation does not exceed 300 feet above the Jumna valley, or about 800 feet above the sea. Though the hills are usually treeless, the scenery is picturesque, owing to their rugged outlines, and some of the artificial lakes are exceptionally beautiful. These mag- nificent reservoirs were constructed by the Gaharwar and Chandel Rajas, before the Muhammadan conquest, as sheets of ornamental water, and consist of valleys or depressions hemmed in b}' rocky hills and massive artificial dams. Some of them enclose craggy islets or peninsulas crowned by the ruins of granite temples. The largest lake near Mahoba has a circumference of more than 4 miles ; and several lakes are used for irrigation. North of the hill and lake country the plain spreads in an arid and almost treeless level towards the banks of the rivers. Of these, the principal are the Iietwa, and its tributary the Dhasfln, neither of which is navigable. The chief drainage channel in the centre of the District is the Birma Nadi, a tributary of the Betwa.
Most of the District consists of Gangetic alhivium, which conceals the underlying rocks, except in the southern hills, where the Bundel- khand gneiss is exposed.
The District is remarkable for the absence of trees. At the com- mencement of the eighteenth century one-third of it was densely wooded ; but the jungle has been largely cleared. In the lower hills and valleys khair {Acacia Catechu)^ sej {lai^efstroe/nia parvijlora), dhawd {Anoi:^eissus latifalia), and fcndii {Diospyros tomentosa) arc the most valuable trees, but are of poor cjuality. In the plains the tamarind, hIdl {Melia Azadirachia\ and inahud {Bassia iatifolia) are commonly found. The mango is rare.
Leopards, hyenas, wolves, jackals, antelope, and hog are fairly common, while a few sdmbar and chital are also found. The usual game-birds occur, and tish, including mahseer, are common in the rivers and lakes.
The climate of Hamirpur is dry and hot, owing to the absence of shade and the bareness of the soil.
The annual rainfall averages about 36 inches, varying from 33 in the north to 39 in the south. In 186S-9 only 17 inches were received, and in 1894-5 more than 56 inches.
History
The earliest traditions connected with the District relate that it was ruled by Gaharwar Rajputs, to whom the construction of some of the embankments forming the lakes is attributed. They were followed by the Parihars, to whom succeeded the Chandels about the middle of the ninth century. During the Chandel supremacy in Bundelkhand, Mahoba in the south of Hamirpur District was one of the chief capitals of that dynasty. The Chandels adorned the town and its neighbourhood with many splendid edifices, remains of which still exist ; they also constructed some of the noble artificial lakes already described. In 1182 Parmal Deva was defeated by Prithwl Raj, the Chauhan ruler of Delhi ; after which disaster the Chandel princes abandoned Mahoba and sank in impor- tance, though they still occupied the hill fort of Kalinjar in Banda District. About twenty years later Mahoba was conquered by Kutb- ud-din, and with occasional interruptions remained in the hands of the Musalmans till the close of the seventeenth century.
In 1680 the District came into the possession of Chhatarsal, the great national hero of the Bundelas, and was the theatre of many battles during his long struggle with the imperial forces under Muhammad Khan, the Bangash Nawab of Farrukhabad and governor of Allahabad. On his death about 1734 he bequeathed to his ally, the Peshwa of the Marathas, one-third of his territories ; and Mahoba formed a portion of the region so granted. The larger part of the present District of Hamirpur fell to his son, Jagat Raj. During the next seventy years the District continued under the government of his descendants, who, however, carried on among themselves that intestine warfare which was universal in Bundelkhand throughout the latter half of the eighteenth century. Rival Rajas had forts in ever}- village, and one after the other collected their revenue from the same estates. Moreover, the Bundela princes were opposed by the Maratha chieftains ; and All Bahadur, an illegitimate descendant of the Peshwa, who had made himself Nawab of Banda, succeeded in i 790 in annexing a portion of the District. He was defeated by the British and died in 1802. The British District of Bundelkhand was formed in the succeeding year (1803), a part being granted to our ally, Himmat Bahadur, as the price of his allegiance. The town of Mahoba itself, with the surrounding country, remained in the hands of the Pandits of Jalaun, until, on the death of their last representative in 1840, it lapsed to the British. 'V^xit pargcDia known as Jaitpur was ruled by the descendants of Chhatarsal until 1842, when the last Raja, believing that our reverses at Kabul would prove fatal to British rule, revolted, and having been easily captured was removed to Cawnpore, receiving a pension of Rs. 2,000 a month. Jaitpur was handed over to another claimant, who mortgaged it to the Government, and died without issue in 1849. His territories lapsed, and have since formed part of Hamirjjur. The later history of the District up to 1857 is chiefly concerned with the difficulties of fiscal administration, which will be described later.
On the outbreak of the Mutiny, Hamirpur exhibited the same return to anarchy which characterized the whole of Bundelkhand. On June 13, 1857, the 53rd Native Infantry broke into mutiny, and the massacre of Europeans began the next day. Only one Christian escaped with life. The surrounding native chiefs set up rival claims to portions of the British territory and plundered all the principal towns. The Charkhari Raja alone maintained a wavering allegiance, which grew lirmer as the forces of General ^^^■litlock approached Mahoba. That town was reached in September, 1858, and the fort of Srinagar was destroyed. After a short period of desultory guerrilla warfare in the hilly regions of Bundelkhand, the rebels were effectually quelled and the work of reorganization began.
The most important remains of the Chandels in this District are at Mahoba, but the finest temple of large size is the three-steepled granite edifice at Makarbai, 8 miles away.
Population
Hamirpur contains 7 towns and 756 villages. Population is liable to considerable variations, owing to vicissitudes of , . season. Ihe numbers at the last lour enumerations were: (1872) 529,137, (1881) 507)337.(^^90 5i3»7-0) 'ii'<J (iV^i) 458,542. There are five Tahsils — HamIrpuk, Rath, Kulpahar, Mahoba, and Maudaha — each named after its head-quarters. The principal towns are Rath, Mahoba, and Hamirpur, the District head-quarters. The following table gives the chief statistics of population in 1901 : —
The considerable decrease between 1891 and 1901 was due to a series of bad seasons, culminating in the famine of 1895-7. The density of population is approximately the same as that of the surrounding Bundelkhand Districts, but is less than half the Provincial average. Almost the whole population speak ^^^estern Hindi, the prevailing dialect being Bundeli, which is, however, mixed with BaghelT.
Chamars (tanners and cultivators), 64,000, are the most numerous Hindu caste; followed by Lodhis or Lodhas (agriculturists), 53,000; Brahmans, 49,000; Ahlns, 31,000; Rajputs, 27,000; and Kachhis, 24,000. Basors, numbering 11,000, who perform low menial duties, and Khangars, 7,000, who are watchmen and thieves, though they claim to have once held the country, are not found outside the District in considerable numbers. Agriculture supports 64 per cent, of the population, and general labour 6 per cent. Brahmans, Rajputs, and Lodhas are the chief holders of land; and the same castes, followed by KachhTs and Chamars, are the principal cultivators.
Agriculture
A mission was opened at Mahoba by an American society in 1895, and there are branches at Rath and Maudaha; but in 1901 there were only 223 native Christians in the District.
The most important distinction between different parts of the District follows the distribution of different classes of soil. These fall into two main classes : the black or heavy soils, and the light soils. The former are called mar and kabar, and the latter partva ; but near the rivers, where denudation has impoverished the soils, a coarse gravelly soil is found, called rakar. In the north of the District the black soils predominate, while in the south there is a great deal of poor light soil overlying the rocks. Mar is the most fertile soil, and retains moisture for a long time, though an excess of rain makes it unworkable. Kabar differs from mar in that it is more easily affected by either excess or deficiency of rainfall. The autumn crops, which are usually sown broadcast, cover a larger area than the spring harvest.
The ordinary tenures of the United Provinces are found, but pattldari and bhaiyachdra mahdis predominate : some of the latter are extra- ordinarily large. The main agricultural statistics for 1903-4 are given below, in square miles : —
Gram and joivdr are the principal food-crops, covering 279 and 265 square miles respectively, or 25 and 23 per cent, of the net cul- tivated area. Oilseeds (240 square miles) and cotton (84) are the most important non-food crops ; while arhar, kodo?i, wheat, bdjra, and barley cover 94, 43, 76, 43, and 34 square miles. A little sugar- cane is grown in the south and west, and f^dn is cultivated in the south.
Like all the Bundelkhand Districts, HamTrpur is subject to cycles of varying agricultural prosperity, and no permanent advance can be traced. Either excess or deficiency of rainfall causes land to remain unfilled ; and the result is the spread of a grass called kdns {Sacc/iann?i spontaneum), which cannot be eradicated without much trouble, though it dies out after a varying period of ten to fifteen years. The spring crops are also liable to rust. The most striking change in recent years was the replacement of wheat by gram or millet, both inferior crops, after the famine of 1895-7 ; but the area under wheat is again increasing, A valuable red dye was formerly obtained from a plant called d/ {Morhida citrifolia) ; but its cultivation has ceased owing to the intro- duction of aniline colours. Consideral)lc sums have been advancetl under the Land Improvement and Agriculturists' Loans Acts, amounting to a total of Rs, 2,64,000 during the ten years ending 1900, of which 2 lakhs was advanced in the three bad years 1896-8, Between 1901 and 1904 the total advances were Rs. 82,000.
In T867 six bulls were imported from Hansi and Hissar, but ihe cross hud little effect in improving the District breed, which is on the whole inferior. Renewed attempts have recently been made to t8 hamirpur district
introduce a better strain. No horse-breeding operations are carried on. The sheep and goats are superior to those bred in the Doab, and are thus in some request outside the District.
The water-supply is defective in almost every part, and difficulties sometimes occur in supplying water for cattle. It has already been stated that the black soils retain moisture, and with ordinary seasons irrigation is not much required in them. In 1903-4 the total irrigated area was 28 square miles, of which 4 square miles were supplied by a branch of the Betwa Canal in the north of the District, and i square mile by the artificial lakes in the south. Wells supplied 22 square miles, being most used in the light panvd soil in the central and southern parts. A project for a canal from the Dhasan near the south-west corner of the District has been sanctioned ; it will water the western portion between the Birma and the Dhasan.
Soapstone is quarried at one place, and used for making toys, parts of hiikkas, vases, &:c. The roads in the south are metalled with broken granite, and elsewhere with kaukar or nodular limestone, which is also used for making lime.
Trade and Communication
Hamirpur District is almost entirely agricultural, and beyond the few requirements of the people which can be satisfied locally, there are few industries. Coarse red cotton cloth is the only communications manufacture, and the silver ware of Mau- daha is the sole product of artistic merit. A little saltpetre is made in places. There are small cotton-presses at Kulpahar and Mahoba, and at the former place hay is pressed into bales for export.
The noticeable feature in the trade of the 1 )istrict is the absence of large central markets. Joivdr, bdjra, wheat, gram, cotton, ghl, pan, oilseeds, and cloth are exported in favourable seasons ; while sugar, tobacco, spices, rice, salt, piece-goods, and metals are imported. The trade of the north of the District is by road with Cawnpore, while the railway carries the produce of the southern part. Rath is the most important trade centre, and the other markets are essentially local, merchants or their agents dealing on the spot with the cultivators and small village traders.
The Midland branch of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway from Jhansi to Manikpur passes through the south of the District. The roads have recently been improved, but communications are still back- ward, and during the rains many of the unmetalled roads become almost impassable. About 100 miles are metalled, of which 55 are maintained at the cost of Provincial revenues, and 419 miles are unmetalled. Avenues of trees are kept up on 122 miles of road. The principal routes are the roads from C'awnpore through Hamirpur town, Maudaha, and Mahoba to Saugor ; from Hamirpur, through Rath, to Harpalpur and Kulpahar railway stations ; and from Haniirpur ihrougli the east of the District to Panwarl on the raihvay.
Famine
The District appears to have escaped the terrible famines of 1783 and 1803-4. In 1 813-4, however, it suffered severely, and again in 1 819 the food supply failed, though the people had money, gained by the high prices of cotton in previous years. A succession of bad seasons culminating in the drought of 1833-4 led to famine, pestilence, and emigration, which reduced the population by a half, and were long remem- bered. Distress was less severe in 1837-8, but was still great. The District escaped famine in its worst form till 1868-9, when the failure of the rains caused the loss of the harvest, and people were reduced to eating the refuse of oilseeds, and roots and herbs. There was also great mortality among the cattle. The drought of 1877-8 did not seriously affect Hamlrpur. Early in 1894 rust damaged the spring crops, and the rains of that year destroyed the autumn harvest. In 1895 rust was again bad, and the rains ceased prematurely, causing much distress. Relief works were required early in 1896, and the still shorter rainfall of that year caused severe famine. The works were kept open till August, 1897, at a total cost of nearly 9 lakhs, besides expenditure on relief by other methods.
Administration
The Mahoba and Kulpahar tahsils are included in the subdivision of Mahoba, which is usually in charge of a resident Joint-Magistrate. The Collector is also assisted by two Deputy- . . Collectors recruited in India, and a tahs'ildar is stationed at the head-quarters of each Tahsil.
There is one District Munsif, and the whole District is included in the Civil and Sessions Judgeship of Banda. In former times Hamlrpur was noted for dacoity and robberies ; but crime is not exceptionally serious now. The escape of criminals is, however, facilitated by the way in which Native and British territory are intermingled. Female infanticide was formerly suspected, but no villages have been under surveillance since 1900.
Most of the present District was acquired in 1803-4, when it was included in the District of Bundelkhand. In 1819 this was divided into a northern and southern portion, the former, called Kalpi, in- cluding parts of the present Jalaun District and the northern parts of Hamlrpur. In 1821 the head-quarters were moved to Hamlrpur town. The Maratha method of administration was briefly a system of rack-rent pitched at the highest rate which could be paid. The ear- liest settlements, though based on the tahsilddrs' unreliable estimates and the village papers, were moderate and well distributed. From 1810, however, enhancements were made, and in 18 16 the revenue of that portion of the District which was then British territory was raised from Qi to 14-7 laklis. In the succeeding short-term settlements the revenue, though reduced, was still excessive ; and after the famine of 1833-4 half the estates in the District had been resigned by their proprietors. Speculations in land and corruption among the native officials added to the difficulties of administration.
The first regular settlement, preceded by a professional survey, was made in 1842 for most of the District ; the southern portions, which were acquired sub- sequently, being regularly settled at later dates. The assessment was based on rates which had been fixed for a large part of Bundelkhand ; it was moderate and worked well. The demand for the area referred to above was 9-8 lakhs, and the demand for the whole District io-8 lakhs. This demand was revised in 1877-9, when the revenue fixed amounted to 107 lakhs. Soil rates were framed to calculate the ' assets,' and the valuation was revised with reference to the recorded rental, fiscal history, and actual condition of each village. The term of settlement was twenty years, and in 1 893 it was decided to prolong this period for ten years more. The famine of 1895-7, however, led to extensive reductions, and an experiment was made in fluctuating assessments. In 1905 the whole District came under settlement according to the new system devised for Bundelkhand, by which the revenue will be liable to revision every five years in case of considerable variations in cultivation. The present demand for land revenue is 8-2 lakhs, or an incidence of less than 11 annas per acre, varying in different parts from 8 annas to R. i .
Collections on account of land revenue and total revenue have been, in thousands of rupees : —
No municipalities have been constituted, but seven towns are administered under Act XX of 1856. Local affairs beyond the limits of these are managed by the District board, which in 1903-4 had an income and expenditure of 1-2 lakhs. The expenditure includes Rs. 75,000 on roads and buildings.
There are 21 police stations. The District Superintendent of police controls a force of 3 inspectors, 79 subordinate officers, and 334 constables, besides 86 town police, and 1,161 rural and road police. The District jail contained a daily average of 79 prisoners in 1903.
Hamirpur compares favourably with other Districts in the United Provinces as regards literacy. This is the more remarkable in a purely agricultural community. In 1901, y^, per cent. (6-5 males and o-i females) could read and write. The total number ot public schools rose from 91 in i88o-r to 98 in 1900- 1, and the number of pupils from 3,551 to 3,720. There were 131 such schools in 1903-4, with 4)993 pupils, including 64 girls, besides 52 private schools with 708 pupils. Only 955 out of the total number were in secondary classes. Two of the schools are managed by Government and 97 by the District board. Out of a total expenditure on education of Ks. 32,000, only Rs. 2,600 was met from fees and the balance was charged to Local funds.
There were five dispensaries and hospitals in 1903, with accom- modation for 64 in-patients. In 1903 the number of cases treated was 26,000, including 575 in-patients, and i,roo operations were performed. The expenditure was Rs. 5,400, chiefly met from Local funds.
About 21,000 persons were successfully vaccinated in 1903-4, repre- senting the high proportion of 45 per 1,000 of population, although vaccination is not compulsory in any part of the District.
[IDistrict Gazetteer, 1874 (under revision) ; W . E. Neale, Settlement Report, 1880.]
