Harsh Dev Joshi inviting Gorkha for Attacking on Kumaon History of Gorkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) -25 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -544

   Harsh Dev Joshi inviting Gorkha for Attacking on Kumaon

History of Gorkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) -25

  

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -544

                        By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

              There was no hope for Harsh Dev Joshi getting help from Awadh Nabab and Garhwal King Pradyuman Shah. He stayed in Barely. Barely Subedar (Governor) used to offer him stipend for Rs ten daily. In Nepal, by 1790, Gorkha Kingdom captured small and middle area Kingdoms of East of Kali River. Kumaon Kingdom started in west of Kali River. Harsh Dev Joshi decided to take help from Gorkha for ruling Kumaon. Harsh Dev Joshi invited Regent Bahadur Shah for attacking on Kumaon (West of Kali River).

              Regent Bahadur Shah was ambitious as his father Prithvi Narayan Shah. Bahadur Shah was anxious to capture Kingdoms as much as he could. Bahadur Shah was aware about disturbances in Kumaon Kingdom. After getting invitation from Harsh Dev Joshi, Bahadur Shah sent letter to Harsh Dev Joshi that if Harsh Dev helped Gorkha, Harsh Dev would be appointed ruler of Kumaon. Harsh Dev Joshi offered various secrets of Kumaon to Gorkha Regent Bahadur Shah. Harsh Dev also collected soldiers and offered to serve Gorkha. Bahadur Shah forgot the Dharmaptra or Treaty to Kumaon of 1788.

                  Attack on Kumaon

        In January 1790, for capturing Kumaon Kingdom, Gorkha Regent Bahadur Shah sent Gorkha army led by Sardar Amar Singh Thapa, Captain Golaiyan, Captain Ranveer Khatri, Subba Jognarayan Mall, Subba Faud Singh, Sugbeer Singh .

 After crossing Kali River, one army marched to Sor and other marched to Visung patti.

  The information of Gorkha reaching to Sor and Visarg reached to Almora. There was chaos in Almora after getting Gorkha March in Kumaon. Mahendra Chand collected people those were capable to fight. Mahendra Chand marched with army towards Gangoli. Lal Singh with army marched towards Kalikumaon region.

           Mahendra Chand defeated Gorkha army in Gangoli be sudden attack on Gorkha army. Gorkha army had to run towards Kalikumaon region. In Kalikumoan region, Amar Singh Thapa attacked suddenly on Lal Singh Army at Gautadgaon , near Kolagarh. Amar Singh Army defeated Kumaon Army and killed two hundred Kumaoni soldiers. Lal Singh ran towards Tarai. Mhendra Chand started march to support Lal Singh. In the way, he learnt the fleeing of his uncle Lal Singh to Tarai. Mahendra Chand also ran to Tarai. Lal Singh met Mahendra Chand in Rudrapur.

  There was no resistance from Kumaon Kingdom for Gorkha Army. Gorkha Army reached to Almora with super ease. There was a little resistance from Kumaoni army in Havalbag and Gorkha defeated the army without any difficulty. On Chaitra Krishna, February 1790, Gorkha army entered into Almora. Harsh Dev Joshi with his small army and Gorkha Kaji Jagjit Pande greeted Gorkha army.  With the help of traitor Harsh Dev Joshi , Gorkha Kingdom captured Kumaon without any resistance.

                     Gorkhas Offering Importance to Joshi and Pant

  Harsh Dev Joshi helped Gorkha Kingdom representatives in establishing general administration.  Joshis were unhappy with Lal Singh and Mahendra Chand because of their suppressive acts. Joshis allover Kumaon helped Gorkha Administrators.   Gorkha appointed Joshis as Kamdar (administrative representative) in Jhinjad, Danya, Digauli, Kalone, Oliyagaon and Galli villages. Gorkha Administrators appointed Chaudhari the Kamdar of Dwara and appointed many Pants the Kamdar of Gangoli, Uprada, Syunrakot and Khunt. Other important personalities were appointed Kamdar of various regions by Gorkha Administrators. Gorkha Administrators offered the Kumaon Pundits for rituals, medical facilities too.

            Gorkha Administrator of Kumaon used to take suggestions from harsh Dev Joshi for various purposes. Harsh Dev Joshi was sure that he would get chance to become Chief Administrator of Kumaon again. He also advised Gorkha for capturing Garhwal.

* Read about Gorkha attack on Garhwal in next Chapter …

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com30/1/2015

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -545

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

XX

                    Reference

Hamilton F.B. 1819, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal and the territories

Colnol Kirkpatrik 1811, An Account of Kingdom of Nepal

Dr S.P Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 5, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda

Bandana Rai, 2009 Gorkhas,: The Warrior Race

Krishna Rai Aryal, 1975, Monarchy in Making Nepal, Shanti Sadan, Giridhara, Nepal

I.R.Aryan and T.P. Dhungyal, 1975, A New History of Nepal , Voice of Nepal

L.K Pradhan, Thapa Politics:

Gorkhavansavali, Kashi, Bikram Samvat 2021 

Derek J. Waller, The Pundits: British Exploration of Tibet and Central Asia page 172-173

B D pande, Kumaon ka Itihas

Sharma , Nepal kin Aitihasik Rup Rekha

XX

History of Gorkha Rule in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh; History of Gorkha Rule in Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh; History of Gorkha Rule in Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh; History of Gorkha Rule in Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh; History of Gorkha Rule in Tehri Garhwal, Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh; History of Gorkha Rule in Uttarkashi Garhwal, Bageshwar Kumaon, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh; History of Gorkha Rule in Dehradun Garhwal, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh;

XXX

History of Attack of Gorkha Army on Kumaon; History Battle of Gangoli between Kumaon and Gorkha Army; History Battle of Kalikumoan between Kumaon and Gorkha Army; History Battle of Gautadgaon  between Kumaon and Gorkha Army;

स्वच्छ भारत !  स्वच्छ भारत ! बुद्धिमान भारत