A patra from Saṃgada Siṁ and Raṇasura Bhaḍārī to Bhīmasena Thāpā re the battle at Bharatpur (VS 1882)
ID: DNA_0002_0008
Edited and
translated by Manik Bajracharya and Rajan Khatiwoda
Created: 2014-12-25;
Last modified: 2023-07-20
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Abstract
In this letter, Saṃgada Siṃ and Raṇasura Bhaḍārī writes from Silagaḍhī to General Bhīmasena Thāpā about the British siege of Bharatpur in 1825-26. They report how the British used cows on the front line, and on the number of people killed during the battle. It mentions that Bharatpur was victorious in the battle.
Diplomatic edition
[1r]
⟪नं१२५⟫1स्वस्तिश्रीसर्वोपमाजोग्यत्यादिसकलगुनगरिष्टराजराज्यभारोद्धा2रणसामर्थश्रीश्रीश्रीजनरलसाहेवभिमसेनथापामहास
3यकाचरनतलेषुईतःसंगदसिंरणसुरभडारिकोसेव़ापुर्वकपत्र
4मिदम्ईतनिकतांहांचरणछेमकुसलभय़ाहाम्रोउद्धारप्रतिपा
5लहोलाआग्येञांहांकोसमाचारभलोछउप्रान्त:भरतपुरकोषैष
6वरपाय़ासुन्याकोविन्तिगरिपठाउलाभनिचिठिचराईपठाय़ाको
7हो:गंगाराम्गुनानन्दकुमैय़ार:हल्कारालेकह्याकोषवर:फि
8लंगिकोरभरतपुरकोपुसमालाडाईभयेछफिलंगिकोपल्ट
9न्३२तुरूक्सव़ार८हजारतोप४हजारहिन्दुलेगाईमार्न्या
10छैनभनि५।६सय़गाईवयल्अघिलाईविचविचमागोराका
11लाकिल्लाभित्रपसिफयेरवोलेछभरतपुरलेपनिफयेरवोलि
12तरव़ारहांल्दाफिलंगिको४।५हजारषेत्रह्याछन्अरुसाहे
13पहरूपनि४।५जनाषेत्रह्याछन्हासिसाहेपलाईकसैले
14षेत्रह्योभन्छन्कसैलेघामात्रैलाग्याकोछभन्छन्भरत
15पुरकोलस्करडेढलाषरहेछ२।३हजारषेत्येस्कापनिभय़ा
16छन्लाडाईभन्याभर्तपुरलेजितेछफिलंगिहटिकिल्लादेषि
17८कोसमागईवसिरहेछकुमैयावाहुन्हरूतांहाआयाकाछ
18न्विस्तारचरन्माविन्तीगर्न्याछंहांमिहेरूलाईआग्याआया
19दर्सन्गर्नआईपुग्दाहौभनिअघिविन्तिगरिपठाय़ाकोहो
20आग्याआईपुग्निवित्तिकैदर्सन्गर्नआईपुगौलाविज्ञेषुकि
21मधिकम्ईतिसम्वत्१८८२सालमितिमाघवदि९रोज४मुकामसि
22लगढिसु
23भम्
Translation
[1r]
No. 1251
Hail! This letter is from Saṃgada Siṃ and Raṇasura Bhaḍārī with homage to the feet of thrice venerable General Sāheba Bhīmasena Thāpā, who is able to bear the heaviest burden for king and kingdom, and is most respected on account of all his incomparable virtues.
Things are fine here. If everything is fine there with you, we will be uplifted and protected. Furthermore, the tidings here are good.
Uprānta: I earlier sent a letter saying that I would send [you] the news I received or heard concerning [the fort of] Bharatpur. The following is news told [to me] by Gaṅgārāma [Kumaiyā], Guṇānanda Kumaiyā and a postman: A battle broke out between the British and [the people of] Bharatpur in the month of Pauṣa. The British had 32 regiments, 8 thousand cavalry, and 4 thousand cannons. Aware that the Hindus do not kill cows, [the British] took five to six hundred cows and bulls to the front, and the white and black (i.e. the British and Indian) [soldiers] entered the fort and started firing. [The soldiers of] Bharatpur fired back and attacked with swords, killing four to five thousand British [soldiers]. Moreover, four or five sāhebas were killed. Some say Hāsi Sāheba2 has been killed, others only that he sustained injuries. The Bharatpur troops numbered 150,000. Two to three thousand [soldiers] were killed on their side. Bharatpur was victorious in battle. The British withdrew and have encamped at a place eight kosas from the fort. Kumaiyā Brahmins have arrived there [where you are]. They will report the details to you. If we get orders [from you, we will go] there [and] have your darśana upon arrival; we have sent a request [to this effect]. As soon as we get orders, we will [set off and] have your darśana upon arrival. What more to say to a knowledgeable one?
Wednesday, the 9th of the dark fortnight of Māgha in the [Vikrama] era year 1882 (1826 CE). Residence: Silagaḍhī. Auspiciousness.3
Commentary
The storming of Bharatpur by the British, under the leadership of Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere, began in 10 December 1825 and the fort was captured on 18 January 1826 (cf. Creighton 1830: 1-38). This contradicts to the report in the present document that Bharatpur eventually emerged victorious. Even though the date of the document, Māgha 9, is much later than 18 January 1826, given the delay in communications, it is possible that the writer is reporting some interim situation prior to the final outcome.