Documenta Nepalica

Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal

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A rukkā of the king forbidding abuse of porters and directing hulākī porters to carry the loads only for state purposes (VS 1905)

ID: DNA_0016_0023

Edited and translated by Manik Bajracharya in collaboration with Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2019-05-20; Last modified: 2019-11-05
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Published by Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal, Heidelberg, Germany, 2019. Published by the courtesy of the National Archives, Kathmandu. The copyright of the facsimile remains with the Nepal Rashtriya Abhilekhalaya (National Archives, Government of Nepal). All use of the digital facsimiles requires prior written permission by the copyright holder. See Terms of Use.
The accompanying edition, translation/synopsis and/or commentary are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Abstract

This rukkā of the king directs hulākī porters all over the country to carry only the ammunition, cash or money bags belonging to the army. It also prohibits priests, officials, courtiers and so on from abusing the hulākīs by forcing them to carry their personal belongings for free.

Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1श्रीदुर्गाज्यू\

1श्रीगुरु

1445

[royal seal]

1स्वस्तिश्रीमन्महाराजाधिराजकस्यरुक्का¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
2आगेमेचिपश्चिम∙महाकालीपूर्वभरमुलुक्‌काअडाअडाका¯¯पुरोहितचौत
3रीयाजनरलकाजिकम्यांडरकर्णेलक्‌र्णेलसर्दारकपतानसुव्वाकुंमेदानसु
4वेदारकंपुकाजाचकिजिल्लादारठेकदारद्वार्‍याथरिरकमिगैह्रप्रतिपुर्वपश्चि
5मकाभारादारहरुआँउंदाजाँदार∙रकमीजाचकिगैह्रआउंदाजाँदासदरवा
6टगल्लिगल्लिमावेगारिपक्रि∙भारिवोकाउंदा∙सारादुञाँलाई∙साह्रैविजाईवि
7च्छतहुनजाँदोरहेछर∙सोकुराश्रीमद्राजकुमारकुमारात्मजश्रीप्राइममि
8निष्टरयानकम्यांडरइनचिफ्‌जनरलजङ्गवहादुरकुव़रराणाजीमार्फत
9हाम्राहजुरमाजाहेरभय़ोअवउप्रांतमेचीपश्चीममहाकालीपुर्वकाकागत्या
10हुलाकि∙थापल्याहुलाकिहरुलेलालमोहरवमोजीमहाम्राजंगीषजानारुपैया
11पैसातोडाकाभारिअघिदेषिचलीआय़ावमोजीमवोकनु¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ पुरोहीत
12जनरलकाजिकम्यांडरकर्णेलअरुभरभारादारगैह्रआउंदाजाँदाररक
13मिजाचकीजिल्लादारगैह्रकाभारिवेगारिमानवोकनु∙कंपुपल्टन्‌कंपनी
14गैह्रकाषेतकाकुलावादवि∙ग्रंदार∙भत्क्याविग्र्याकासागुवनाउंदाउसैठाऊ
15कागाउघरकागुहारलेनपुग्दामुक्त्यारकादस्षतवमोजीमझारागुहा
16रगरिवादकुलोसागुवनाउन्याकामगर्नुयेतिवाहेकअरुभरभारादा
17रजाचकिरकमीजिल्लादारगैह्र्कसैलेपनीज्यालामजुरिनदीउसैवे
18गारिमाभारिनवोकाउनुहाम्रासदरवाटपनीतीनसहरगाउभरअम्वल
19माविनामजुरिनदीकसैलेवेगारिपक्रीभारिनवोकाउनुभंन्यावन्देजव़ा
20धिव़क्त्यौंजस्‌लेयोवंन्देजनाघिज्यालामजुरिनदीवेगारिमाभारिवोका
21उलाउस्‌लाईभारिदंडसासनाहोलाईतिसंम्वत्१९०५सालमितिपौ
22षवदि५रोज६शुभ्मं¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯

[1v]

1मार्फत्‌वंवाहादुरकव़रराणाजी

1मार्फत्‌जङ्गवहादुरकव़रराणाजी

Translation

[1r]

Glorious Durgā

Venerable Guru1

4452

[Royal seal]

Hail! [This is] an executive order (rukkā) of the venerable supreme king of great kings.

Āge: To [Venerable Guru]3 , priests, cautarīyās, generals, kājīs, commanders, colonels, saradāras, captains, subbās, kumedānas, subedāras, inspectors (jācakī) of the kaṃpus, jillādāras4 , ṭhekadāras, dvāryās, tharis, rakamīs etc. of various offices (aḍḍā) within the entire territory west of the Mechī and east of the Mahākālī.

It seems that when bhārādāras, rakamīs, jā̃cakīs and so on from the east and the west travel back and forth, they seize begārī [labourers] and make them carry loads from headquarters to different [village] quarters, which is a matter of great pain and unease to all subjects. We have been informed of this by the venerable prince and son of a prince, Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief General Jaṅga Bahādura Kũvara Rāṇā.

From now on the kāgatyā hulākīs and thāpalyā hulākīs from west of the Mechī and east of the Mahākālī shall carry (only) loads containing military materials (khajānā), cash or money bags (toḍā) for our army in accordance with a lālamohara as has been done since earlier times. [Hulākīs] shall not carry loads [as] begārīs for [the Venerable Guru]5 , priests, generals, kājīs, commanders, colonels and other bhārādāras etc. when coming and going, or for rakamīs, jācakīs, jilādāras and so on. When irrigation channels[or] embankments in fields belonging to kampus, palṭanas or kampanīs etc. are damaged, or when repairing the broken-down bridges (sāgu), and local assistance is insufficient, accomplish the task of repairing the embankments, irrigation channels and bridges by calling upon jhārā assistance in accordance with a letter (daskhata) from the mukhtyāra 6 . Except in these cases, no other bhārādāras, jācakīs or jillādāras are to obligate someone to carry loads as a begāri without paying him wages. I have made the prohibition (bandeja) that nor shall anyone seize a begārī [labourer] and make him carry loads without payment from our headquarters (i.e., Kathmandu) to the three cities,7 , villages and the entire [capital] district. Whoever disobeys this prohibition and makes [the hulākīs] carry loads as begārīs without payment will be subject to heavy punishment.

Friday, the 5th of the dark fortnight of Pauṣa in the [Vikrama] era year 1905 (1848 CE). Auspiciousness.

[1v]

Through (mārphat) Baṃ Bāhādura Kũvara Rāṇā.

Through Jaṅga Bahādura Kũvara Rāṇā.

Commentary

This executive order of King Surendra Vikrama Śāha, addressed to priests, government officials and military personnel, outlaws the exploitation of hulāka porters for personal purposes. It reflects the central government's repetitive attempts to control the misuse of porters. A plethora of documents announcing similar regulations were issued to officials in different parts of the country.8 The present document bear witness the state's intention to use the hulāka system for strictly military purposes; having them work on outside obligatory (jhārā) projects now required a written sanction from the commander-in-chief himself (cf. RRC_0044_131-32 (RRS 7.6: 110)). It prevents in particular hulākīs from being used as begārī porters, that is, porters forced to carry loads for free

This document has been signed by Bam Bahādura Rāṇā and Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā on the back side as witnesses.

The hulāka mail system in Nepal proved to be highly efficient throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Reformed by Bhīmasena Thāpā and later on by the Rāṇās, it provided a useful means of transporting military ammunition and government mail during the Gorkha expansion. As mentioned in the current document, the hulāka porters were of two kinds, namely kāgatyā- and thāpalyā-hulākīs. Kāgatyā (var. kāgate) hulākīs were assigned to transport mail, and thāpalyā (var. thāple)-hulākīs to transport goods. Both were provided with rakamī land for their services (cf. MA-KM 1854 2.11).

The hulāka remained a service limited to the government’s own use until 1878, when it opened up to the general public through the formation of a postal service department, the Nepāla Hulāka Ghara.9

Notes

1. This probably refers to Baḍāguruju, the chief royal preceptor. [⇑]

2. A number of unknown significance written in the upper margin. [⇑]

3. Words inserted from the upper margin. [⇑]

4. A district-level functionary? [⇑]

5. Inserted from the upper margin. [⇑]

6. The commander-in-chief of the Nepalese army. [⇑]

7. I.e., Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. [⇑]

8. An ordinance issued by Bhīmasena Thāpā in 1809 had already prohibited the exploitation of hulāka porters in a similar manner (see RRC_0006_1015, section 4). [⇑]

9. Cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal_Post, accessed 6 June 2019. [⇑]

Glossary

Word	Notes
aḍḍā	var. aḍā; n. an office, post or station where state functionaries carry out their duties.
āge	[fr. S. agre] adv. lit. "henceforeward" (Riccardi 1976: 150 n. 6), especially used in administrative and legal documents to mark the beginning of a text or paragraph. In its function it is similar to uprānta.
begāra	[fr. P.] var. begārī, bigārī; n. 1) a work exacted with no or meager payment. 2) forced and unpaid labor for purposes such as porterage, construction and digging (cf. R. Shaha 1990/vol.1: 207, M.C. Regmi 1978b: 854; cf.: M.C. Regmi 1999: 136). 3) Requisition of labourers for emergency requirement (M.C. Regmi 1965: 53). 4) compulsory porterage services, usually unpaid (cf. Michael 2012: 130).
bhāradāra / bhārādāra	var. bhārā n. lit. "burden bearer"; a generic term for high-level functionaries and courtiers.
cautariyā	var. cautarīyā; n. 1) in the early Shah period, a royal collateral appointed as principal officer of the state, often kings' second and third sons; 2) later a title with no specific functions attached, granted to several male descendents of the Śāha kings at a time. Cautarīyās held different higher administrative posts, like governors (cf. Adhikari 1984: 98–99; Kumar 1967: 164-165; J.C. Regmi 1981: 32–35; M.C. Regmi 1995: 42-43); descendents of different Śāha kings of earlier periods could be nominated thus.
daskata / daskhata	[fr. P. dastkhata]; n. 1) signature, especially that of the prime minister (Adhikari 1984: 347); 2) a missive signed by the prime minister (see also lālamohara daskhata and rukkā daskhata or another high official.
dvāre	var. dvāryā, duvāryā; n. 1) a local revenue collection official (e.g. M.R. Pant 2002: 132; M.C. Regmi 1970: 149) who can arrest offenders and try petty cases (Stiller 1981: 379). 2) a gatekeeper at the royal palace who collects certain levies (Edwards 1975: 106; M.C. Regmi 1978: 226); 3) a village headman in the Kathmandu Valley (M.C. Regmi 1970: 149).
jā̃cakī	var. jācakī, jācaki; n. examiner, inspector (Parājulī et al. 1995: s.v. jā̃ca).
jhārā	n. forced labor, unpaid work or assistance exacted from the people by the government or a landlord for the cause of the state or public welfare; can also be commuted into cash payment (M.R. Pant 2002: 133; M.C. Regmi 1988: 267).
kājī	var. kāji; n. “an officer of ministerial rank superintending civil and military affairs“ (M.R. Pant 2002: 133; cp. Edwards 1975: 105).
kampanī	[fr. Engl. company] var. kampani; 1) n. a limited company; 2) n. a military company (cf. discussion under kampu); 3) adj. belonging to the government; 4) n. an Indian rupee (see also kampanī rupaiyā).
kampu	[from E.] var. kaṃpu; n. 1) “regular army“ (Adhikari 1984: 351); the Kampu Daphadarakhānā was responsible for dealing with land assignments for the kampu (Whelpton 1991: 283). However, the exact structure of the kampu still remains obscure. 2) one of three categories of army units in the early 19th century, the other two being palṭana and kampanī or company (Hamal 1995: 33). A kampu comprised different palṭanas (M.C. Regmi 1979). According to Hamal (1995: 32), however, in the early 19th century those companies stationed in the Kathmandu Valley and under the command of the general were called kampu, while those outside palṭana.
kumedāna	var. kummedāna; n. a military officer, "commissioned officer equivalent to a Seond Lieutenant" (Adhikari 1984: 352).
lālamohara	var. lālmohara, lālamohar, lālmohora; abbreviated mohara; n. royal document bearing the red seal.
mārphat / mārphata	var. marphaṭ, mārphaṭa; “through (the person of)“ (Pant and Pierce 1989: 93).
mukhtiyāra	var. mukhtyāra, muktyāra, mukhtāra; n. title of the chief minister in the pre-Rana and the early Rana period, and of the commander-in-chief in most of the Rana period; title of a Regent or Prime Minister (Kumar 1967: 167; M.C. Regmi 2002: 301 ; M.C. Regmi 1999: 137 ; Adhikari 1984: 353; Whelpton 2005: 263; Whelpton 1991: 284; M.C. Regmi 1995: 77).
palṭana	[fr. Eng. platoon] var. palṭan; n. regiment, battalion (Turner 1931: s.v. palṭan); army unit, according to Adhikari (1984: 158) smaller than a kampu. According to Hamal (1995: 32), in the early 19th century those companies stationed in the Kathmandu Valley and under the command of the general were called kampu, while those outside palṭana. Commonly, however, both were known as palṭanas.
rakamī	adj./n. a holder of rakama land.
rukkā	[fr. A. ruq'a] n. an executive order, short note, missive from the highest authority. The king, the crown prince, but also queens and the Rāṇā prime ministers issued rukkās.
sardāra	n. “a top-ranking official next in hierarchy to a kājī“ (M.R. Pant 2002: 135; cf. Pant and Pierce 1989: 94; M.C. Regmi 1978: 163 ; M.C. Regmi 1978: 229 ; M.C. Regmi 1978: 865; M.C. Regmi 1999: 137); "A military officer in the early Shah period; later, the designation of a civil officer also." (Kumar 1967: 167 ); "Kumar states they were of the nobility and "occupied civil and military offices of importance". Our sources place four of them in charge of the districts of Ilam, Salyan, Jumla, and Pokhara, and one at the fort at Chisapani. One was in China (perhaps as a member of the mission sent to the Emperor); one was a dittha of the courts; two were dadas (see below); and two or three were designated as "hajuria". Hajurias were "always present" with the King and served as personal attendants and body guards." (Edwards 1975: 105 ).
subbā	var. subā; n. 1) governor or chief administrative officer of a province or district (cf. Kumar 1967: 168; Krauskopff and Meyer 2000: 185; M.R. Pant 2002: 135; M.C. Regmi 1999: 137; M.C. Regmi 2002: 303). 2) civil officer ranking higher than a mukhiyā, but lower than a sardāra (Stiller 1981: 382). According to Edwards subbās were stationed at Gorkha (cf. also Michael 2012: 134) and Chitwan, “with five others being administrators in the Terai” (Edwards 1975: 106). Edwards further mentions that “men of subba rank were also assigned in the capital to the Kumari Chowk, and Kat Bhandar offices, where they were the deputies of the kaji and kapardar in charge” (ibid.). 3) headmen of the Limbu community in the far-eastern hill regions (M.C. Regmi 1978: 229; cf. also 1978: 865).
subedāra	n. commander of a military company (cf. M.C. Regmi 1999: 137) consisting of 100 soldiers (N.R. Pant et al. 1969: 383), often placed in charge of a district (M.R. Pant 2002: 136; M.C. Regmi 1978: 229). According to Stiller (1981: 382), he is [below the subbā] the second highest commissioned officer, and, according to Whelpton (1991: 286), he is immediately senior to the jamadāra.
tharī	var. thari; n. 1) head of a clan (thara), elder; 2) "nonofficial tax collection functionary (in the hill districts)" (M.C. Regmi 1978: 867).
ṭhekadāra	var. ṭhekaḍāra, ṭhekādār, ṭhikidār, ṭhekdār; n. contractor. 1) person who holds a ṭheka for the collection of taxes (M.C. Regmi 1988: 270). 2) farmer who rents his land.

Bibliography

MA-KM [The Mulukī Ain of 1854; Kānūna Mantrālaya's edition] = Kānūna tathā Nyāya Maṃtrālaya (ed.). VS 2022. Śrī 5 surendra vikrama śāhadevakā śāsanakālamā baneko mulukī ain. Kathmandu: Kānūna Kitaba Vyavasthā Samiti.