Rasamala Athva Gujarat Prantno Itihas

SR No.: 034594
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Alexander Kinlock Farbas
Publisher: Farbas Gujarati Sabha
Publication Year: 1922
Total Pages: 642
Language: Gujarati
Classification: Book_Gujarati
File Size: 46 MB

Page 47

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ફાર્મસજીવનચરિત્ર એપ્રિલ સન ૧૮૫૮ ના લાર્ડ કાસિંગના ગુપ્ત રાજલેખ,–જેથી બળવા પછી લખનાર હાથમાં આવ્યું એટલે અયોધ્યામાંના વતનવાળા (ભૂમિસ્વામી) કુલીન ગૃહસ્થનું સર્વસ્વ હરી લેવાનું અથવા જતી કરવાનું હતું, એવું સમજી તે
should proceed against his “domestic enemies" in Kathiawar whenever necessity required. If the British Government had really acted upto this contract, the result must have been either the annihilation of the Rajput aristocracy througout Guzerat, or else a state of affairs similar to that which has so long obtained in the dominions of the Nawab Vazir of Oude. The catastrophy was fortunately averted. Lord Wellesly had himself suggested that an amicable arrangement might be effected which should guarantee to the Gaikwar Government its revenue and at the same time preserve the rights of the half subdued chiefs for whose redaction that Government sought our assistance. The suggestion approved itself alike to the sagacity of Colonel Walker, and to the honest-mindedness of Jonathan Duncan, and these two eminent men together worked out a settlement well known at least on this side of India, which while it has preserved the estates of the Jhalas and the Gobils, and rescued the Gaiekwar Government from bankruptcy, has also ensured to Guzerat for half a century such tranquillity as was hitherto unknown to her, at least since the day on which the sceptre of Unbilpur was struck from the hand of Bhim Dova II”. Page 185.
We suppose it must be the party which alone had the power of preventing it,—that is to say, the British Government. It was not necessary that we should have left the king and chiefs to tear each other unchecked in 0 ade any more than in Guzerat; a disinterosted intervention in 1801 would not have been less just than annexation (not perhaps wholly disinterested) half & century afterwards; and certainly it is in the tranquillity of the territories of Baroda for the last half centary that we behold the fruits of a wise and righteous policy rather than in the turbulence of those of Lucknow.