A copy of a patra from General Bhīmasena Thāpā ordering Vicāri Pāratha Khaḍkā to provide money and other assets owed to Makuṃda Siṃ (VS 1879)
ID: E_3420_0005
Edited and
translated by Julia Shrestha
Created: 2025-02-17;
Last modified: 2025-12-03
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Abstract
The document, of which the present is a later copy, was issued by General Bhīmasena Thāpā to Vicārī Pāratha Khaḍkā in connection with a dispute in the Phedāp area involving Maṃjita Rāī's landed properties and the amounts due him from the collection of contract money under the ṭhekkathiti system. It orders the addressee to recover the contractual sums and deliver them to Makuṃda Siṃ, son of Maṃjita Rāī.Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1श्री13.2३
3(छाप)
4श्रीविश्वेश्वर1स्वस्तिश्रीजनरलभीमसेनथापाकस्यपत्रम्
2आगेविचारिपारथषडकाकेयथोचित्उप्रांतफेदापको
3मंजितराईकोठेककोमोहोरभित्रकाकुरियाछेउकाठेकरूपिया
4पंजन्सिँश्रीहाङ्सोयंवाजगजितलेषेचलापारिगरिअटकाईराष्या
5छन्मंजितकाषायलकोजिमिजगाषेतषरकसुवारामापनिहाम्रो
6होभनिआईलाग्याभनिमंजितकोछोरोमकुंदसिंञाहाकराउन
7आयोतसर्थजाचलेदियाकातिर्जावमोजिमकुरियाछेउका
8ठेक्कारूपैञाअसुलगरिभराईवेहोराईदेउजिमिजगापनि
9मंजितकोअंसजोछमंजीतकाछोरालाईवेहोराइदेउकंपुमा
10दरियाकापैसाषेचलागरिअट्क्याउन्याहिमाइसालाईभारि
11दंडगरईतिसंवत्१८७९सालभाद्रशुदिरोजशुभम्
Translation
[1r]
3.
31
(Seal)
Śrī
Hail! [This is] a letter (patra) from the venerable General Bhīmasena Thāpā.
Āge: To VicāriPāratha Khaḍakā.
Yathocit uprāṃta: "In Phedāp, Paṃjan Sĩ [and] Śrīhāṅ Soyaṃvā Jagajita,3 have interfered in and obstructed the [collection of] contract money (ṭhekarūpiya) from the kuriyā tenants covered by the mohora of Maṃjita Rāī.They came claiming: 'The land of Maṃjita's estate—wet crop fields, [and] pastureland within privately held non-irrigated slopes (text: Maṃjitakā khāyalko jimijagākhetākharakasuvārāmā) also belongs to us.'" Thus Maṃjita's son Makuṃda Siṃ came here to complain.
Therefore, in accordance with the tirjā certificate provided by the inspection, recover the contract money [previously collected (i.e. what the other two presumbably pocketed)] from the kuriyā tenants and give it over in full for free use. Give the land and fields—the portion that belongs to Maṃjita—to Maṃjita's son for the free use of them as well. Impose heavy punishment on those who have interfered and aided in the blocking of money recorded in the General Army (kampu) [register].
... day, in the bright fortnight of Bhādra in the [Vikrama era] year 1879 (1822 CE). Auspiciousness.
Commentary
This copy of a letter issued by General Bhīmasena Thāpā, addressed to a government-deputed officer named Pāratha Khaḍkā, concerns a dispute in the Phedāp area over properties belonging to Maṃjita Rāī. Maṃjita Rāī held subbāṅgī rights, granting him authority over tax collection under the contractual ṭhekkathiti system (see Regmi 1965: 108–111 on ṭhekkathiti in eastern Nepal). The letter is a response to a complaint submitted by Maṃjita's son, Makuṃda Siṃ (see also the edition of E_3420_0008 granting Maṃjita Rāī subbāṅgī status, and E_3420_0007, which confirms that his son Makuṃda Siṃ—there written as Mukunda Siṃ Rāī—succeeded him in that office).
Following mention of interference by Paṃjan Siṃ and Śrīhāṅ Soyṃvā Jagajita—presumably also local functionaries and possibly also holders of subbāṅgī rights—the letter refers to contract money collection entitlements established during a prior state inspection. It instructs Pāratha Khaḍkā to ensure that the due payments and rightful lands are restored to Makuṃda Siṃ, and to impose heavy punishment on anyone obstructing the collection of contract money registered for the general army.
Dated VS 1879, the letter reflects the administrative procedures and land governance practices of the Gorkhali state in eastern Nepal in the early 19th century, and the nature of local conflicts arising from the implementation of state-conferred entitlements.