Documenta Nepalica

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

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A letter from Jagat Jaṅga that, following a request of Jimmāvāla Kaisāṅ Khunu, announces the appointment of Chāṅvā Chiriṅ Khunu as a co-jimmāvāla of 14 villages in Syārabhoṭ (VS 1936)

ID: L_1200_0009B

Edited and translated by Rajendra Shakya in collaboration with Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2019-11-18; Last modified: 2020-10-20
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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, 2020. 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 letter from Jagat Jaṅga informs village headmen of the appointment of the two brothers Kaisāṅ Khunu and Chāṅvā Chiriṅ Khunu jointly as jimmāvālas of 14 villages in Syārabhoṭ at the request of the former brother, who stated that he alone would not be able to continue fulfilling the duties that come with the post.

Diplomatic edition

[1r]

[Seal of Jagat Jaṅga]

1स्वस्तिश्री∙मद्राजकुमारकुमारात्मज∙पूर्वतर्फकाकम्यांडीङ्‌जनरलश्रीजग
2तजङ्गवाहादूर∙राणाकस्यपत्रम्‌¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
3आगेअठार∙सयषोलामध्ये∙स्यारभोट्‌सिवच्यातगाउ∙तांजुगाउ∙वलाक्‌‌
4गाउ∙मेपागाउ∙चुपलिङ्‌गाउ∙लुत्रुगाउ∙तोफागाउ∙यार्जुगाउ∙पाचपा
5र्वावोर्सिगाउ∙पारोगाउ∙निलुनगाउ∙ङाकगाउ∙छिलु[?][?]
6उ∙कामुषिया∙जेठावुढा∙घ्यापो∙रैतिहरु∙गैह्रके∙यथोचित[?]∙[?]
7३४सालदेषिहजुरलाईआय़ाको¯ ¯१¯साहेवकाषांगीषुव़ाछदा∙अठारसयषोलास्यारभो
8ट्‌जगाको∙लोकाभारठेककोनगदिजिन्सिवुझाउदार∙पट्टाकवुलियेत∙फेरफारगर्नुपर्दाऔ∙अरु
9जोकामपरिआयापनि∙जिम्माव़ाल्‌ङवाङ्‌षुनुकाछोराकैसाङ्‌षुनुसगकासल्लाहराषिका
10मकाजगर्नु∙केहिकामकाजपरिआउदामद्दतमाग्योभन्या∙तिमिहरुसवैलेमद्दतदिनुभं∙
11न्या¯ ¯१¯साहेववाटउर्द्दिकोदस्षतगरिवक्सदा∙सोउर्द्दिवमोजिम्‌∙परिआयाकोकाम∙
12काजचलायाकोथिञ्याँदोसाधकामुलुककोकामछ∙साविक्‌वमोजिम्‌सनदगरिवक्स्यागा
13उगाउवाटलोकाभारकोठेकवुझायानवुझायाकोर∙गाउगाउकामुषियाफेरफारभयानभय़ा
14कोपनिथाहाहुन्याथियो∙केहिकामकाजपरिआउदापनिहरषहुन्याछैनभनि¯ ¯१¯वाट[?]
15वक्स्याका∙३१सालफागुणसुदि६रोजकादस्षतस्मेतल्याई∙हाम्राहजुरमाविंतिपार्दाहामि
16वाट∙पनिकैसाङ्‌षुनुलाई∙जिम्माव़ालीथामि¯ ¯ ¯१¯ ¯वाटगरिवक्स्याकादस्षतवमोजिम्‌३४
17सालमाघसुदि१०रोजमा∙हामिवाटदस्षतगरिवक्स्याकोहो∙निजजिम्माव़ालकैसाङ्‌षुनुले
18३५सालतककोदामकाम∙गरि∙१९३६सालदेषिमयकलैलेजिम्माव़ालिकामकाजगर्न∙
19सकदिन∙मेरोदाज्यूछाङ्वाछिरिङ्‌स्मेतहामि२भाईकानाउमा∙जिम्माव़ालिपट्टागरिवक्स्याका
20मचलदोहो∙भनिहाम्राहजुर∙मावितिपार्दा∙सोवमोजिम्‌∙३६सालकावालिदेषिसाविकवमो
21जिमलोकाभारथितिथामि∙निजजिम्माव़ालकैसाङ्‌षुनुर∙निजकादाज्युछाङ्‌वाछिरिङ्‌का
22नाउमाजिम्माव़ालिकोपट्टागरिदिनुभनिहामिवाटमर्जिभयाकोवेहोरा[?]अडाका[?]
23व्वाचतुर्मोहनउपाध्या∙लेहाम्राहजुरमाविंतिपार्दा∙सोवमोजिम्‌∙३६सालकावालिदेषिजि
24म्माव़ालकैसाङ्‌षुनुरछाङ्‌वाछिरिङ्‌षुनुस्मेत्‌जना२कानाउमा∙सोमाथिलेषियाकागाउ
25चौधकोजिम्माव़ालगरिवक्स्याकोछ∙तसर्थ∙अवउप्रांत∙तिमिहरुसवैले∙साविक्‌वमोजिम्‌
26आफ्नाआफ्नागाउको∙लोकाभारठेकवुझाउदार∙पट्टाकवुलियेतफेरफारगर्नुपर्दाजिम्मा
27व़ालछाङ्‌वाछिरिङ्‌षुनु∙रजिम्माव़ालकैसाङ्‌षुनुमार्फत्‌गर्नु∙केहिकामकाजपरिआउदा
28जिम्माव़ालछाङ्‌वाछिरिङ्‌कैसाङ्‌षुनुहरुकासल्लाहलेगर्नु∙निजजिम्माव़ालहरुलेमद्दतमागे
29भन्यातिमिहरुसवैलेमद्दतदिनुसाविक्‌दरिचलिआयावमोजिम्‌∙वहालिपनिचलाउनदिनु
30योलेषिवक्स्याकाउर्द्दिवमोजिमगर्‍‍यानौभन्या∙तिमिहरुलेवुझाउनुपर्लासोवुझिकामगर
31ईतिसम्वत्‌१९३६सालमितिवैसाषवदि१०रोज४शुभम्‌¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯

Translation

[1r]

Hail! A letter from the Eastern Commanding General Śrī Jagat Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā, a prince born of a prince

Āge: To the mukhiyās, jeṭhā-buḍhās, ghyāpos1 , ryots and the like of Sivacyātagāũ, Tāṃjugāũ, Balākgāũ, Mepāgāũ, Cupaliṅgāũ, Lutrugāũ, Tophāgāũ, Yārjugāũ, Pācapārvā2 , Borsigāũ, Pārogāũ, Nilunagāũ, Ṅākagāũ, Chilunagāũ, [and] Phulavegāũ of the Syārabhoṭ sector of the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region

Yathocita Uprānta: A petition was submitted to us with the [following] details: “In regard to the khuvā [of] the khānagī of ¯ ¯1¯3 that was transferred to you starting from the year [VS 19]34 (1877 CE) in accordance with the [Rāṇā] Roll [of Succession]4 , we carried out any work that needed to be performed in accordance with an order signed by ¯ ¯1¯, which stated: 'When submitting lokābhāra revenue in cash and kind on land in Syārabhoṭ in the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region, and when amending a lease contract [or] loan deed, or whenever there is any work to be carried out, do it in consultation with Kaisāṅ Khunu, son of JimmāvālaṄavāṅ Khunu. You all shall support [him] if [he] asks for any assistance in a time of need.'

"The work is [that] of a borderland region. If [you] had issued a sanada as usual, it would have been known whether or not the contractual amounts [collected] under the lokābhāra from the villages have been submitted and also whether there have been any changes in [the appointment] of mukhiyās in the villages5 . There would not be any opposition either when some work needs to be carried out.”

Along with it [was a document] issued on [Satur]day, the 6th of the bright fortnight of Phālguna in the year [VS 19]31 (1875 CE) under the signature of ¯ ¯1¯. We, too, instated Kaisāṅ Khunu in the post of jimmāvāla, on [Tues]day, the 10th of the bright fortnight of Māgha in the year [VS 19]34 (1878 CE) in line with the [similar] document signed by ¯ ¯1¯.

The said Jimmāvāla Kaisāṅ Khunu performed his duties up to the year [VS 19]35 (1878 CE) and [then] submitted a petition to us, stating: “I will not be able to perform the duties of a jimmāvāla alone from the year [VS 19]36 (1879 CE) on. Things would work out if you formalized a jimmāvāla lease contract in the name of us two brothers, [so as] to include my elder brother Chāṅvā Chiriṅ.”

Accordingly, after we sent a marjī ordering that a lokābhāra arrangement be made for [the period] from the harvest of the year [VS19]36 (1879 CE) onwards, as usual, and that a jimmāvāla lease contract be formalized in the name of the said Jimmāvāla Kaisāṅ Khunu and his elder brother Chāṅvā Chiriṅ, Caturmohana Upādhyā, subbā of the Bandobasta Aḍḍā, wrote to us, informing that in accordance with the details of [the marjī] he had [formalized a lease contract] in the name of the two persons, Jimmāvāla Kaisāṅ Khunu and Chāṅvā Chiriṅ Khunu, appointing them as jimmāvālas of the 14 villages6 mentioned above from the harvest of the year [VS19]36 (1879 CE) onwards.

Therefore, from now onwards, when as usual you submit revenue due under the lokābhāra of your villages or need to amend the contract agreement, all of you shall do so through Jimmāvāla Chāṅvā Chiriṅ Khunu and Jimmāvāla Kaisaṅ Khunu. Whenever something needs to be done, act in consultation with Jimmāvālas Chāṅvā Chiriṅ [and] Kaisaṅ Khunu. If the said jimmāvālas ask for any assistance, you all shall lend help [to them]. Allow [them] to [collect and] use the rent that has been imposed regularly. You will have [a price] to pay if you do not comply with what is written in this order. Be informed [of this] and act accordingly.

Wednesday, the 10th of the dark fortnight of Vaiśākha in the [Vikrama] era year 1936 (1879 CE). Auspiciousness.

Commentary

This document approves the appointment of two persons as jimmāvālas for 14 villages of the Syārabhoṭ sector of the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region. Jimmāvāla Kaisāṅ Khunu requests the state to appoint his brother Chāṅvā Chiriṅ Khunu along with him to the post so that both can look after matters together. The move will eventually prove to be disastrous for Kaisāṅ, as we learn from another document L_1200_0030, dating from 1900 CE. Either Chāṅvā manages to increase his influence among the people within the next two decades or so, or Kaisāṅ to become so unpopular among the people that Chāṅvā eventually has Kaisāṅ removed, while continuing to hold on to the position of jimmāvāla himself.

Another document, E_3446_0007, issued about 15 months earlier than this one has similar content. The reference ‘¯ ¯1¯’ in that document is to Western Commanding General Dhīra Śamśera Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā. As both documents were issued at about the same time, the unclear reference ‘¯ ¯1¯’ of this document is also probably intended for Dhīra Śamśera.

Notes

1. The word ghyāpo is unclear, but it appears to derive from a Tibetan term referring to some village official. The Tibetan word rgyal po (king, chieftain) is similar to ghyāpo, but if it is related to it, the referent in this case is unlikely to have been even a village chieftain, since at the beginning of such documents persons are addressed in the order of their rank. [⇑]

2. The term Pācapārvā translates as 'the five sectors'—the tsho nga, as the locals call them—of Upper Tsum. These five sectors are Chokhāṅga/Pāro, Ṅgāka, Phurbe, Cule and Nile. The names of these sectors are given separately, with Pācapārvā representing them collectively. Another document, Tsum_0001_0026, calls Pāro village a district (jillā). For more on the modern forms of the names of these villages, see the notes of Tsum_0001_0008 [⇑]

3. The referent here is not known, as there is no mention of any names in the space above the main text. The top part of the document may have been left out when microfilming. See Commentary. [⇑]

4. A word here is not readable in the original. But another document, E_3446_0007, with similar text makes it clear that this word is rola, meaning the Roll of Succession of the Rāṇās. [⇑]

5. It is not clear what this line actually means, as we do not know the content of the sanada mentioned in it. [⇑]

6. There are names of 15 villages mentioned in the series of names at the beginning of the text. However, one of those names, Pācapārvā, collectively represents five villages also mentioned in the series. Hence there are altogether 14 villages only. [⇑]

Glossary

Word	Notes
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.
Bandobasta Aḍḍā	n. the Land Revenue Administration Office (Sever 1993: 478).
jeṭhā-buḍhā	n. lit. "knowledge elder"; 1) a village headman responsible for local affairs such as the maintenance of law and order (M.R. Pant 2002: 133; Shaha 1982: 29). 2) an official at the royal palace, royal messenger and investigator (Whelpton 1991: 283). At an earlier time the jeṭhā-buḍhās, "elder statesmen, held intermittent positions as emissaries to district officials or to the courts of foreign states". By 1843 only one remained, described by Hodgson as the "personal attendant of (the) Rajah". A few years later, we find the jetha-budha under the Kadel Chowk with three sipahis under him; his name also is linked with the "chaya kotha" or tea room. By then his days of glory obviously were over“ (Edwards 1975: 107 ).
jimmāvāla	var. jimavāla, jimmavāla, jimvāla; n. a chief contractor (ṭhekedāra) who, before the introduction of the land administration, collected revenues from the lands in the hill region and submitted them to the government (Parājulī et al. 1995: s.v. jimmāvāla).
khānagī / khānkī / khāngī	n. 1) salary, wages, or an annual emolument. 2) emoluments of government employees and functionaries, generally in the form of land assignments (M.C. Regmi 1978: 227; cf. M.C. Regmi 1978: 860; Adhikari 1984: 351). 3) rents accruing from the lands assigned to jāgiradāras (cf. M.C. Regmi 1965: 18-19).
khuvā	var. ṣuvā; n. 1) non-irrigated land (pākho) given as emolument for government employees (jāgira) (cf. Adhikari 1984: 352; Michael 2012: 132) . 2) revenue from homestead taxes of different categories (mostly in cash) in the hill region which formed a part of the jāgira assignment (M.C. Regmi 2002: 301 ; cf. M.C. Regmi 1978: 468, 860 ; M.C. Regmi 1999: 137). 3) small division of country, district, province (Turner s.v. khuvā)
lokābhāra	[S.] n. "a system under which the local community undertook liability for payment of the stipulated revenue through a representative designated for that purpose" (M.C. Regmi 1978: 162)
marjī	n. an order from the mukhtiyāra, Prime Minister or other high-ranked officers.
mukhiyā	var. mukhīyā, muṣiyā, muṣīyā; n. a designation for an administrative post used at the local, district and central level. At the local level mukhiyās functioned as village headmen and revenue functionaries (Pant and Pierce 1989: 93; M.R. Pant 2002: 134; cf. M.C. Regmi 1988: 269). District headmen were also called mukhiyās. In the central administration, mukhiyās were writers who kept accounts or supervised officials of lower ranks (Edwards 1975: 107 ; cf. M.C. Regmi 1978: 228 ; M.C. Regmi 1978: 862 ; Kumar 1967: 16).
Rāṇā Roll of Succession	The Rāṇā roll of succession fixed the names of lawful claimants to various high offices of the state in hierarchical order from the top-most post of prime minister and commander-in-chief (prāimaminisṭara yaṇḍa kamyāṇḍara ina cipha) downwards. It was initiated by Jaṅga Bahādura Kũvara Rāṇā after his return from Europe in 1856 (and revised by him in 1860 and 1868). Later, Vīra Śamśera Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā and other prime ministers either made new rolls or revised the existing ones (Kumar 1967: 66). The offices were: 1. commander-in-chief general (kamyāṇḍara ina cipha janarala) 2. western commanding general (paścima tarphakā kamyāṃḍiṅ janarala) 3. eastern commanding general (pūrva tarphakā kamyāṃḍiṅ janarala) 4. southern commanding general (dakṣiṇa tarphakā kamyāṃḍiṅ janarala) 5. northern commanding general (uttara tarphakā kamyāṃḍiṅ janarala) followed by: - generals (janarala) - lieutenant generals (lephṭena janarala) - major generals (mejara janarala) - lieutenant colonels (lephṭena karṇela) - colonels (karṇela) - etc. (Kumar 1967: 66, 100).
sanada	var. sanad; n. a regulation, order, decree or certificate of appointment, esp. from the prime minister (prāimaminisṭara yaṇḍa kamyāṇḍara ina cipha) or the commander-in-chief general (kamyāṇḍara ina cipha janarala); "government orders" (Karmacharya 2001: 327).
śrī	[S.] n. word of blessing, can be used as apprecatio, in which case it means 'good fortune' (Pant and Pierce 1989: 12), can be used as a prefix to names of persons and gods, in which case it means 'venerable' or 'glorious' respectively. The number of śrīs used varies, depending on context.
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).
yathocita uprānta	See uprānta.