prajamandal movement shimla

Shimla & Kinnaur (including Bushahr, Theog)

Dumh /dujam Movement (Bushahr State, against cash tax system): 1859
Theog Peasant Movement (Against forced labor and high taxation): 1898
Revolt in Beja and Theog Thakurais: 1898
keonthal 1897
Dodra Kwar Revolt (Ranbahadur Singh’s attempt to make the region independent from Bushahr): 1906
Rampur Bushahr Movement (Non-cooperation against officials and British forest exploitation): 1906
Theog and Madhan Movement (Early signs of revolt): 1926–1928
Bushahr Praja Mandal Satyagraha (Against interim council): 1947 (March)
Independent Theog Government (Established by Praja Mandal post-independence): 1947 (Aug 15)

History Notes: Dumh Movement 1859

            What is Dumh?

            A traditional, organized, and peaceful protest where subjects abandoned their villages and retreated to forests to show fury against unjust laws, halting agricultural production and state revenue.

Key Figures

King Raja Shamsher Singh

Leader Mian Fateh Singh

Outsider Official Paras Ram

Intervention G. Carnac Barnes (Superintendent) & William Hay

Causes of Unrest

Tax Reform: Munshi Shyam Lal (1854) introduced Cash Revenue (Malguzari) instead of traditional goods.
Lack of Currency: Farmers lacked physical money to pay taxes.
Administrative Change: Abolition of the hereditary Dynasty Waziris (e.g., Puari Wazirs of Kinnaur).
Measurement: Unfair land measurement conducted in 1854.

The Method

“Subjects left their homes to hit the state where it hurt most: Agricultural Production and Revenue. Once reconciled, they returned to their farming activities.”

The Settlement (Result)

Following British intervention by G. Barnes, three major demands were accepted:

✓ Abolition of the Leasing System ✓ Restoration of Dynasty Wazirs ✓ Tax Collection in Kind (Produce/Commodities)

History Notes: Theog Movement 1898

Resistance Against Begar

Movement Overview

In 1898, the farmers of the Theog-Thakurai region rose in defiance. Unlike the peaceful retreat of the Dumh movement, this was a stubborn refusal to submit to administrative disturbances caused by new land settlements.

Key Leader: Devi Ram Keola

A courageous figure who spearheaded the peasant’s refusal to yield to state pressure.

Primary Causes

Issue	Description
Begar System	The practice of forced, unpaid labor demanded by the British and the Princely State.
High Taxation	Excessive financial burden placed on farmers following land settlement changes.
Settlement Disturbances	Confusion and irregularities in the 1898 land settlement process.

The Outcome

State Reaction: The state government, realizing the farmers would not back down, provided relaxations to the people with British assistance.
Consequence for Leadership: Devi Ram Keola was sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment for his role in organizing the protest.

History Notes: Beja Movement 1898

Ruler: Thakur Uday Chand

Target: The Princely Administration

The Conflict

In 1898, the people of Beja reached a breaking point against the local Thakur. Unlike other movements that were purely economic, this featured a direct physical challenge to the state’s military authority.

Key Event: Agitators captured and detained two soldiers of the Princely State.

Suppression of the Revolt

Faced with an uprising he could not handle alone, the ruler took the following steps:

British Assistance: Thakur Uday Chand sought the direct help of the British Government to restore order.
Military Force: The movement was suppressed through the combined pressure of state and British influence.
Mass Arrests: Several prominent leaders of the agitation were identified and imprisoned to break the morale of the peasants.

Historical Context

The Beja movement highlights the “Double Burden” of the Himalayan peasantry: they were squeezed by the local Thakur’s demands while being kept in check by the overarching shadow of British imperial power.

History Notes: Dodra Kwar Revolt 1906

Ran Bahadur Singh VS Raja of Bushahr

The Spark of Rebellion

Unlike previous movements focused on taxes, this was a Political Secession movement.

The Goal: To make Dodra Kwar an independent territory, free from Bushahr’s control.
The Defiance: Ran Bahadur Singh stopped depositing the state’s revenue/income into the Bushahr Treasury.
Public Support: The local population supported him, viewing him as a nationalist figure fighting against the central state.

The Suppression & Outcome

British Intervention: The English officer in charge of the Shimla Hill States led a command to arrest the rebel leader.

Capture: Ran Bahadur Singh was caught and arrested in Shimla in 1906.

Captivity: While in prison, he eventually agreed to return the withheld state income.

End of Life: Due to severe illness, he was released from prison. He passed away shortly after in Shimla.

History Notes: Pt. Padam Dev’s Social Reform

Leader: Pt. Padam Dev (Brahmin Youth)

In the 1920s, Pt. Padam Dev emerged as a fearless reformer, waging a fierce struggle on behalf of the lower castes against oppressive social practices in the hill states.

Practices Opposed

*Note: ‘Reet’ involved the sale and purchase of women for matrimonial purposes.

The Stokes Connection:
Pt. Padam Dev was instrumental in the spiritual transformation and conversion of Samuel Evans Stokes (Satyanand Stokes) to Hinduism.

The Cost of Reform: His bold actions brought upon him the “wrath of the Raja and the higher castes.” Despite the immense social and political pressure, he continued his work fearlessly.

Satyanand Stokes – Anti-Begar Movement

In 1921, Satyanand Stokes (an American-born social worker who settled in Kotgarh) launched a massive agitation against the Begar System (forced/unpaid labor) in the Shimla Hill States.

Method: Articles

Used the power of the press to write numerous articles, creating widespread awareness about the “slavery” of hill people.

Method: Conferences

Organized landmark conferences at Kotgarh and Rampur (Bushahr State capital) to unite the farmers.

“He shifted the movement from local complaints to a nationalist platform, directly challenging the British influence in the Hill States.”

The Bushahr Result

Following Stokes’ conference in Rampur, Raja Padam Singh (1914-1947) was heavily influenced. The King eventually gave an assurance regarding the resignation of the residency and administrative reform, signaling a victory against the Begar system.

Theog Revolt 1926-1928

In October 1926, the people of Theog Thakurai rose against the administration. This movement was unique due to its high-profile leadership and the brutal response from the British-backed state.

Mian Kharak Singh
Role: Brother of the Rana and primary leader.
Key Ally: His wife, Devwati, who provided critical support.
Royal Defectors: Surprisingly, the Rana’s son Karamchand and the Rajmata also supported the public openly.

Chronology of the Struggle

1926: Initial protest begins; later weakens as Kharak Singh moves to Khaneti.
1927: Movement is reignited from Khaneti with renewed public and royal family support.
The Crackdown: Rana sought British help. Deputy Commissioner Salisbury dispatched specialized police from Shimla.

The Suppression:
‘Baluchi’ and ‘Jehlemi’ police forces were deployed. They perpetuated large-scale atrocities against the citizens to break their spirit and resolve.

Wider Impact

The Theog revolt did not happen in isolation. It was fueled by “new zeal and inspiration” from similar movements in:

Madhan Kumharsain Ghanahatti Ghund

Final Outcome: Mian Kharak Singh was arrested, and the public gathering was forcibly dispersed by the police.

Topic: Himalayan Riyasti Praja Mandal (HRPM)

Formation: Organized in December 1938.
Purpose: To direct the activities of political and social workers in the numerous hill states.
Founder Members:
- Sarvshri Chiranji Lal Verma, Bhag Mal Sautha, Pt. Padam Dev, Govind Singh, Gian Chand Totu, Surat Parkash (Theog), Devi Dass Musafir (Madhan), Bhaskra Nand (Bhajji), Mansha Ram Chauhan, Hira Singh Pal, Sita Ram, etc.
Activities: Undertook programmes of organizing public meetings in various Shimla Hill States to “arouse people.”
Key Figure: Pt. Padam Dev (Secretary, HRPM) was a “great force” in launching these activities.

Topic: State & British Repression

Ban by Ranas: The Ranas of small states like ‘Ghund’, ‘Theog’, ‘Balsan’, ‘Baghal’, ‘Bhajji’, ‘Beja’, ‘Darkoti’, and ‘Keonthal’ banned the entry of Praja Mandal workers.
Pretext: They claimed it was state policy that “no outsider be allowed to represent the case of their subjects.”
Arrests: Local workers of the HRPM were arrested.
British Reaction:
- British authorities became “suspicious and watchful.”
- They warned state governments against the activities of the HRPM and its sister organizations.

Topic: ‘Bhai Do, Na Pai Movement’

Context: This famous movement followed the British repression.
Meaning: “Neither to give recruits for the British army nor money for war funds.”
Significance: It was essentially an extension of the civil disobedience movement.
Outcome: Led to the imprisonment of Praja Mandal workers.

Re-activation (1945): Praja Mandal activities, which had been suppressed, were re-activated.

Other Organizations: People organized other groups like:

‘Sudhar Sammelan’
‘Sewak Mandal Delhi’
‘Bushahr Prem Sabha’

Action: Refusal of ‘Begar’ (forced labor) at a number of places.

Key Leaders & Strategy:

Pt. Padam Dev: Was working from Shimla.
Pandit Ghanshyam, Satya Dev Bushahri (and many others): Continued working from within the state.

‘Bushahr Praja Mandal’ (Satya Dev Group):

Launched a Satyagraha in March 1947.
This was followed by large-scale arrests and firing by state police.

Other Participants:

Thakur Sen Negi: Took an active part in the movement in later years.
Low-paid employees: Established a ‘Bushahr Rajya Karamchari Sangh’.

Political Developments (1947-1948):

18th April 1947: The Raja conceded the demand for setting up a representative assembly, but his sudden death prevented this from happening.
18th May 1947: The Political Agent (in consultation with the Council of Regency) nominated an interim council without taking the Praja Mandal into confidence.
Agitation Continues: The Praja Mandal (PM) agitation continued in response.
October 1947: The interim council decided to hold elections for the Vidhan Parishad. The PM group (led by Satya Dev Bushahri) decided to cooperate and contest the elections.
Election Result: The Praja Mandal won all the seats.

Merger:

15th April 1948: The state became part of Himachal Pradesh and merged with India.

Theog, Madhan Movement

Independent Theog (1947)

15th August 1947: With the coming of freedom, the Praja Mandal captured the state of Theog and set up an independent government.
Government Officials:
- Chief Minister: Surat Parkash
- Advisor: Dr. Y.S. Parmar
- Secretary: Shri Devi Dass
Significance: It was “incredible” that Theog merged with independent Himachal at a time when other princely states were opposing their merger with India.

Post-Merger Attack

Rana’s Attack: Five to six months after the merger, the Rana made an armed attack, looting the treasury and ancient records.
Intervention:
- This news was conveyed to Sardar V.B. Patel by Dr. Y.S. Parmar.
- Sardar Patel sent a police force.
- The Rana was arrested and exiled from the state.