A document from Phattye Śamśera formalizing an annual lokābhāra contract for Ruibhoṭ village (1959 VS)
ID: L_0922_0003
Edited and
translated by Rajendra Shakya
in collaboration with
Yogesh Budathoki and Nadine Plachta
Created: 2018-08-11;
Last modified: 2023-01-24
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Abstract
This document from Phattye Śamśera sanctions a lokābhāra contract under the mukhiyā of Ruibhoṭ village without any demand for collateral and calling for payment in a single instalment in the month of Māgha.
Diplomatic edition
[1r]
[Seal of Phattye Śamśera]1स्वस्तिश्रीमद्राजकुमारकुमारात्मजश्रीपश्चीम्तर्फकाकम्यांडीङ्जनरलफ[...]2णाबाहादुरकस्यपत्रम्¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
3आगेअठारसयेषोलामध्येदोचेतर्फकुतांपट्टीरुईभोट्गाउकामुषीया
4रैतीहरूकेहाम्राषान्गीमादरीयाकोषुवा१८सयेषोलामध्येदोचेतर्फकागाऊसावीक्[...]
5रहरूवाटलोकाभारकाजगाहुनालेम्यादनटासीवेजमांनीमालोकाभारकोसालवसालीपट्टागरिवक्सेकोहोहजुरवाटप
6नीसावीक्वमोजीम्हजुरलाईसोषुव़ाछंज्यालसालवसालीलोकाभारकोपट्टागरीपाउभनिगाउगाउकामु[...]
7जीम्माव़ालहरूस्मेतलेहाम्राहजुरमावींतीचढाउदाजाहेरभयोतसर्थसोहाम्राषान्गीकाषुव़ा१८सयेम[...]
8दोचेतर्फकागाउगाउलाईसावीक्चलीआयावमोजिम्हाम्रीलाइयोषान्गीछंज्यालसालवसालीकोक[...]
9लियेतलेषाईसोवमोजीमपट्टागरिदीनुसावीक्माम्यादनटासीवेजमानीमादीआयाकोहुनालेम्या[...][...]
10रधनजमानीस्मेतलीनुपर्दैनभंन्या५९सालमाघवदी५रोज१मातहसीलअडाकानाउमादस्कत्गरि[...]
11क्सेमुतावीक्अठारसयेषोलामध्येदोचेतर्फकुतांपट्टीरूइभोट्गाउ१कोइस्तक्सम्वत्१९५९सा
12लआश्वीनवदी१रोजदेषी६०सालभाद्रसुदी१५रोजतक्वर्ष१कोमीतिलेहामीलाईयोषान्गीछं[...]
13लसम्मसालवसालीसिवाये¯ ¯१¯अंककल्यानधनधर्माधीकारपंचषतरहतावहताउडंतागडं
14तारकमीझारावेदर्तारकंकलंवाहेकव़ाज्वीसेर्मासाउन्याफागुस्याफलसीर्तीचुषत्स्मेत्सावीक्
15दरिचलीआयाकोरकंमकलंरअैनवमोजीम्काडंडकुंडमर्योअपुतालीचाकचकुईमारीमेटीवेमौ
16जरीसावीक५८सालसम्मकोलोकाभारकाठेक्चुषत्वमोजीम्वर्ष१कोठेककोमोरु२२२क
17स्तुरीविना१रचुषत्कोमोरू७|||/|१स्मेत्ज्मामोरू२२९|||/|१लेषीयाकोनगदजीन्सीमारैतानलो
18काभारकोठेकगरिवकस्यौंरस्तिचलाईवस्तीवसाईगाउघरअवादगुलजारगरिरैतीराजीराषीसावीक्
19दरीचलीआयावमोजीम्असुलतहसीलगरिलेषीयावमोजीम्कोनगदजीन्सीसालवसालीयकैकी
20स्तामाघमैन्हामाजीम्मावाल्मुषीयामार्फत्चुक्तीगरिहाम्रातहसीलअडादाषीलगरिरसिदलीनुक
21दाचीत्मुषीयाजीम्मावाललेदाम्कामहीनामीनापारीमर्योभाग्योनासीयोभनितीमिमुषीयारैती[...]
22रूकाघरघरानावाटवुझाउनुपर्लासर्कारवाटरहामीवाटफर्मायसीमालकेहीकामलेषीआयासावी
23कवमोजिमगाउमाचल्याकादरभाउलेषरिदगरिसोमालचलानगर्दाअघीचलीआयाकाअडावाट
24चलाईदाषीलगरिकामतामेलगर्नुठेकवाहेकतीम्रागाऊभरमाभयाकामैनकस्तुरीअनेत्रवेचविषन्
25नगर्नुजोभयाकोल्याईहाम्रातहसीलअडादाषीलगर्नुसालआषीरभयापछीजोदाषीलभयाकोरसिदहरूल्या
26इव़ासीलवाकीगरिफारषतीलीनुकवुलवमोजिमकानगदजीन्सीमा¯ ¯२¯पर्योअथवाजगामाउठनस
27केननोक्सानभयाभनिकौनैकुराकोयकदाम्मीन्हामोजरापाउन्याछैन¯ ¯३¯काजात्राआजापुजादसै
28मामुलीषर्चगैह्रसावीकवमोजीम्कट्टीनघटाईठेकवाहेकतीमिहरूकाघरघरानावाटचलाउनुलो
29काभारकाठेकमानफाभयापनीनोक्सान्भय़ापनिरैतीगैह्रसंगदामासाहीकाहीसावलेलीनुदीनुअ
30सुलतहसीलमामीलामुद्दाइन्साफगर्दाअैनवमोजीम्जाञीगर्नुवीजाईवीदुतनगर्नुगाउघरमापरिआ[...]
31कोझगदामुद्दातीमिमुषीयाहरूलेछिन्ननस्केकोरमुषीयाहरूकानाउमानालीसगर्न्याहरूकोस्मेत्
32झगदामुद्दाअैनवमोजीम्हेरीइन्साफगर्न्याहाकीं१हामीवाटषटाइपठाईवक्स्यौंलातीमिमुषीया[...]
33लेछीनेकाझगदामुद्दामाभयेकाआम्दानीलोकाभारकाज्मामाराषनुहाकिंलेछीनेजतीनीजैलेहाम्राहजुर[...][...]
34षीलगर्नेछयोलेषीयावमोजीम्नगरीघटीवढीपारीघुसरोसवत्सरसलामीषाइनञावढतारकंक[...]
35लगाईलीयोवीजाइवीदुतगरिदुषदीयोभनिकोहीरैतीकराउनआयोसावीत्ठहर्योभन्याअैनवमो[...]
36म्तीमिहरूलेवुझाउनुपर्लामैनकस्तुरीजोभयाकोहाम्रातहवीलदाषीलनगरीकसैलेदवाइछपाइअ
37नेत्रवेचवेषन्गरायाकोठहर्योभन्यारकीस्तावंडीमावुझाउनुपर्न्यासालवसालीकायकैकीस्तामाघमै
38न्हामादाषीलगर्नुसकीनभन्याकीस्तानाघ्यावापत्नगदीकोकीस्ताषीलापीसुदरजीन्सीमालकोअ
39सनवजारकादरभाउलेमोलस्मेत्तीमिमुषीयारैतीमाजोफेलापर्छउसवाटवाकीउठाइलीलोका
40भारतोडीवक्स्यौलाभनिसाविक्वमोजिम्सालवसालीलोकाभारठेक्कोपट्टागरिवक्स्यौंलोकाभार
41पट्टाजानीजगामाचलनगरइतीसम्वत्१९५९सालमीतिमाघवदी५रोज१शुभ्म्¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
Translation
[1r]
[Seal of Phattye Śamśera]
Hail! A letter from Commanding General of the Western Front Phattye Śamśera Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā, a prince born of a prince
Āge: To … … …1 , the mukhiyā, and ryots of the Ruibhoṭ village beyond Kutang in the Doce sector within the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā [region]
“As the villages in Doce sector within the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā [region that are] the khuvā[s] registered as our khānagīs were customarily [leased] by former jāgīradāras as lokābhāra land, you too have been making annual lokābhāra leases [with us] without [either] a [seven-day] deadline notice [or] surety [requirements]. We beg you to provide us with annual lokābhāra leases as usual for as long as the khuvā[s] remain yours.”
This came to our notice after the mukhiyās together with the jimmāvālas of the various villages made petition to us. Therefore, in accordance with previous custom, have [them] (i.e. the other mukhiyās)draft annual agreements and [then you (i.e. the mukhiyā of Ruibhoṭ)] formalize [lokābhāra] leases in accordance with them for the villages in the Doce sector of the Aṭhāra Saya [Kholā region that are assigned as] the khuvās of our khānagī for as long as this khānagī remains with us.
In accordance with an authorization (lit. signature) given under the Tahasila Aḍḍā's name on Sunday, the 5th of the dark fortnight of Māgha in [Vikrama] era [19]59 (1903 CE) that states: “No notice of the deadline need be posted, nor is collateral required, since [lokābhāra contracts] have been granted without posting a notice or putting up collateral in the past”, we, for as long as this khānagī remains with us, have sanctioned a raitānalokābhāra contract for the 1 village of Ruībhoṭ [situated beyond] beyond Kutang in the Doce sector withing the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā [region] for 1 year beginning from (istaka) the 1st of the dark fortnight of Āśvina in the year VS 1959 (1902 CE) to the 15th of the bright fortnight of Bhādra in the year VS 1960 (1903 CE) at the stated cash and kind [rate] totalling 229 mohararupaiyā̃s, 3 sukās, 1 ānā, 1 paisā 1 dāma for 1 year, comprising the previous contractual amount due on lokābhāra contracts up to the year [VS 19]58 (1901 CE), namely 222 mohararupaiyā̃s along with 1 musk pod and the [fines for] faults (cuṣat)2 [committed by holders of] pagarī [contracts] of 7 mohararupaiyā̃s, 3 sukās, 1 ānā, 1 paisā 1 dāma. There is a complete exemption for the appropriate sermā, sāunephāgu, syāphala3 and, sirto [revenue], and also, in accordance with the Ain, for registered customary taxes and levies and for daṇḍakuṇḍa, maryo-aputālī, and cākacakui; but not on rāja-aṅka4 , kalyānadhana, dharmādhikārapañcakhata, arrearages (rahatā, bahatā, uḍaṃtā, gaḍaṃtā)5 , jhārā levies upon rakamī households, [and] unregistered customary taxes and levies (rakamakalama).
Keep the ryots well disposed by overseeing affairs, founding settlements and making villages and households and crops to flourish (ābāda guljāra garī). Collect revenue as listed and managed previously and submit it in cash and kind according to what is recorded [to be paid], clearing the amount due annually in a single instalment in the month of Māgha through the jimmāvālas and mukhiyās. Deposit it at our Tahasila Aḍḍā and obtain a receipt.
In the case where a mukhiyā or jimmāvāla mishandles money matters [and then] dies or runs away, or [the money is otherwise] lost, then you, the mukhiyā and ryots, shall pay from your household property. When [there are orders] in writing for grains or [other] needed items, make the purchase at the current rate in the village, as it was done previously. When dispatching such items, do so from the government office (aḍḍā) that was previously used. Unless [under terms of] a contract, do not sell elsewhere the wax and musk available in your village. Deliver all [available wax and musk] to our Tahasila Aḍḍā. When the [fiscal] year comes to an end, bring all receipts for the deposits [of levies and goods], hand over the ledger (vāsila bā̃kī)6 and obtain a phārakhatī. You shall not receive the remission of even a single dāma in cash or kind contracted to be paid for any reason, whether that there is -2-7 or that you failed to collect [what is due] on [lokābhāra] land or that you have incurred a loss.
Besides [the commitments] under a contract, you shall bear the basic expenses and the like from your own households for the religious processions for and worship of -3-8 during the Dasaĩ festival, without any reduction in the previous outlay. In cases of profit or loss in the lokābhāra contract, proportionally distribute to the ryots etc., or collect from them, [the surplus or shortfall]. Follow the rules set by the Ain when collecting revenue and adjudicating lawsuits among ryots. Do not cause injury and oppression.
We shall send 1 hākima to look into and adjudicate, in accordance with the Ain, cases involving disputes that arise in villages and households that you mukhiyās fail to settle, and also cases involving disputes of persons who file lawsuits against the mukhiyās. Deposit the revenue from the cases and disputes that you mukhiyās settle into the lokābhāra account. All [the revenue from cases] the hākima settles will always be delivered to us by him personally.
If you do not act in accordance with what is written here and go against it by taking bribes or embezzling sarsalāmī payments, imposing and collecting new, superfluous levies, or [otherwise] causing injury and oppression so as to make [ryots] suffer, and if any ryot comes to complain and [such wrongdoing] is proven, then you shall have to pay [the penalty] in accordance with the Ain.
If anyone is proven to have concealed wax or musk that is available [in the village] and sold it elsewhere instead of delivering it to our treasury, and if [anyone among you] is unable to deposit the instalment that is to be paid as a single annual instalment in the month of Māgha, then you shall have to pay interest on the instalment for having crossed the instalment [deadline], and at market rates for goods at Asana. What is due shall be exacted from you, whether mukhiyā or ryot, whosoever is found [wanting], and the lokābhāra [contract] shall be annulled. We have therefore formalized the annual lokābhāra lease contract under the previous terms. Be informed that it is a lokābhāra lease and tend the land.
Sunday, the 5th of the dark fortnight of Māgha in the [Vikrama] era year 1959 (1903 CE). Auspiciousness.
Commentary
This letter from Phattye (Fateh) Śamśera sanctions land being assigned under a lokābhāra contract to the mukhiyā of Ruibhoṭ in the cluster of villages around Kuṭāṃbhoṭ in the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region without taking surety from them. It is clear from other documents (L_0923_0004 and L_1200_0029) that Phattye Śamśera’s father, Dhīra Śamśera, had sanctioned a similar scheme in 1868 CE, but one without any clauses regarding the taking of surety and the posting of a seven-day deadline notice. Hence it appears that these clauses were introduced only later, requiring potential contractors henceforth to put up property as surety to win the lokābhāra contract and to post a seven-day notice publicly in the village so that objections to awarding the contract could be aired. Another document (L_0922_0002) mentions that the local contractors had been making payments in full since the year 1865 CE, which suggests that that was the year in which the sanctioning of land in Ruibhoṭ began. That document also sanctions the lokābhāra contract without taking surety or requiring a seven-day notice.
The Ain (Legal Code) published in 1888 includes an article on ‘Rakama Bandobastako’ (On revenue-collection arrangements), which contains a section that sheds light on the lokābhāra contract system:
12. In case the inhabitants of any village stipulate arrangements under the lokabhar system within a period of six months after an ijara has been issued for a collection of revenue from that village, undertaking liability to pay the amount stipulated by (the ijara), and designate a representative through which they stipulate such payment, and also furnish a responsible person as surely for that purpose, then lokhabar arrangements shall be made with them, subject to payment (of the stipulated amount) in installments, even though of the advance of the amount stipulated by him. After lokhabar arrangements are once sanctioned, (the function of collecting revenue in that village) shall not be granted to another person in the same year even if he offers a higher amount. If such a higher offer is received in the following year, (the applicant) shall be granted (the ijara) only if the inhabitants of the village undertake to bear liability for the increased amount. Such increased amount shall not be collected from the villager on a compulsory basis; only the amount stipulated by them previously may be collected. (Regmi 1980: 67).
Almost all of the documents from Kutāṃbhoṭ and Ruibhoṭ mention that the lands from these areas were assigned as an emolument (khānagī) to the commanding general of the eastern front. The present document, however, deals with land from the same area but situated in the Doce sector, which was assigned as a khānagī to the commanding general of the western front, the seniormost among the four commanding generals. Indeed, almost all the documents from the Tsum valley assign emoluments (khānagī) to the commanding general of the western front.