Indian Antiquary Vol 58

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 226

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218
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
From December 17500 matters of a secret nature, whether military or political, began to be kept apart from the rest, under the title of "Extraordinary Occurrences and Consultations," described in the Madras Records Office as Military Consultations. From September 1754 the transactions with the country powers were carried on by a committee consisting of the Governor and four members of his Council. There were occasional consultations of the whole Council on matters of special importance. This committee continued until 1758 under the altered title of "Select Committee for transacting Country Affairs." During Lally's siege of Madras (December 1758 to February 1759) the government was committed to Governor Pigot and Major Stringer Lawrence. As soon as normal government was restored, secret matters began to be dealt with by the whole board in their secret department. In 1761 the Directors ordered the reappointment of a Select Committee for affairs requiring special secrecy, consisting of the Governor and four councillors, but presumably the Council reverted at once to the practice of dealing with all secret matters in the Military and Secret Department. In 1769 the Directors directed the formation of a Select Committee to deal with political questions and military operations. That body remained in existence till 1775, their proceedings running side by side with the Military and Secret Consultations of the whole Board.
In 1778 the Directors appointed a fresh Select Committee consisting of the Governor, Commander-in-Chief and two members. This continued till the 12th February 1785, when the new form of government prescribed by the Act of 1784 came into force.
In 1786 the Directors ordered a Military Board, a Board of Revenue, and a Board of Trade to be established, and in 1800 a Marine Board was started. As early as 1774 we find the revenue consultations being separated from the others, and there was a Committee of Assigned Pevenue for the collection of all the Nawab's revenues. This continued till 1790, when the Board of Revenue was directed also to act as the Board of Assigned Revenue.
MISCELLANEA.
EVIDENCE OF AN ASOKAN PILLAR AT BHUVANEŠ VAR IN ORISSA.
[NOVEMBER, 1929
Photographs of a stone capitall and a stump of a stone pillar (in situ) having been sent me from Bhuvanesvar, in the Puri district of Orissa, I Asokan." In behalf identified them at once as of the Patna Museum I then approached the authorities through the proper channel for the acquisition of the capital. In the course of this correspondence certain information has been received, which proves that an Asoka pillar once stood at Bhuvanesvar, and, furthermore, that the remains are still associated in the local tradition with that Mauryan eniperor. Bhuvanesvar thus dates back as an important site to the time of the great Asoka. I append (with permission) copy of a letter from the Subdivi. sional Officer of Khurdâ, in whose jurisdiction Bhuv. anesvar lies, setting forth the information referred to. K. P. JAYASVAL.
Copy of letter No. 2217 dated the 21st-2nd May 1929 from the Suba visional Officer, Khurdâ, to the Collector of Puri.
With reference to your Memo. No. 3366 dated the 2nd May 1929, forwarding a copy of the Assistant
Curator, Patna Museum's letter No. 115T dated the 25th April 1929, proposing to acquire a part of an Aśoka pillar lying near the Rameswar Temple at Bhubaneswar amicably, I have the honour to report that I visited the spot on the 13th instant in presence of the following gentlemen of the locality including the Marfatdars of the Temple and the Manager of the Bhubaneswar Temple Committee. It appears from an enquiry on the spot that this piece of stone: is part of a pillar which is popularly called an Asoka Stambha and it is now kept on the bank of an historic and sacred tank called Aśoka Kunda.' On the Asokastami day, which is observed as a great festival ct Bhubaneswar, the pilgrites sprinkle their person with water of the Kunda and then touch the remains of the Asoka Stambha, eat buds of Asoka flowers, visit the Rameswar Temple and pay their obeisance to the idol and then go home. The number of pilgrims attending the mela is very large. Therefore the Manager of the Temple, the Marfatdars and the public object to the acquisition of the part of the Stambha in question by Government on religious grounds. Under the circumstances it is not at all desirable that this
26 Foster-A Guide to the India Office Records (1919), pp. 74-80.
1 This photograph is reproduced in the March-June issue, 1929, of the JBORS.
2 Apparently la, meaning "agent." Want of space has necessitated the omission of the long list of names given.-JOINT EDITOR.