Resource, Valuable Archive on Social and Economic History in Western India

H-Asia Resource, Valuable archive on social and economic history in Western India

Discussion published by Sumit Guha on Friday, September 2, 2016

Note on a valuable new resource:

Haribhakti Collection

Department of History, Faculty of Arts

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat-INDIA

Foundation: 1949

Eighteenth Century Baroda in Gujarat has not only evidenced the emergence of political potentates in Gaekwads but also the pecuniary mainstays amongst citizens. The foremost were the Haribhaktis’[i]; who are remembered for business success in areas such as money-lending/indigenous banking, coin- changing, traders in private capacity and banking; formation of Gaekwad’s State financial policy- which stimulated rural resources and commercial economy that benefitted in the making of urban Gujarat during the 18th and 19th centuries; and as philanthropists in individual capability. The business acumen and continuous support to Gaekwad fetched honours and titles like Nagar‘ Seth’ and ‘Raj Ratan' ‘Raj Mitra’ ‘Chiranjiva’&c to them by rulers and citizens. Their firm building in Vadodara dates back to last quarter of 19th century; and its location is near Mandvi darwaza in Ghadiali pol popularly known as Haribhakti ni Haveli “…made up of red and yellow wood and …stands as grandeur of 200 years past”.

This family as state bankers were Kamvisadars, traders and Nagarseths of Gaekwad`s of Baroda. Their multifunctional role is apparent as we have more than 1000bahis/ account books and around 10,000 loose sheets of correspondence and statements;kundlis, astrological charts, receipts of transactions related to religious donations, grants for educational and health infrastructure, greetings, invitations, admiration and condolence letters etc. As a whole they throw light on urban economy, traditional banking systems, history of western India, agrarian economy, socio-cultural aspects of life in western India: birth, education, marriage and death; and familial history of western India. Their firm had offices at Bombay, Pune, Surat, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. These documents are in modi-mahajani script of Gujarati and modi script of Marathi.

The collection is unique because it contains records of the merchants, traders and bankers within Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, who were linked with each-other and conducted multifarious business operations in towns and cities like- Ahmedabad, Baroda, Jambusar, Navsari, Bharuch, Dakor, Dabhoi, Patan, Gandevi, etc. The documents are in the category of Hundis, Chitthis, Yadi, Kagal, Bahis, Varats, Jamabandis, Survaiyas, Nammus, Kalambandi, Jama-Kharch, agreements etc. This collection roughly covers the period between 1730 VS to 1930 VS and deals mostly on the involvement of pre-modern bazaar economy and Gaekwad State of Baroda.

Citation: Sumit Guha. Resource, Valuable archive on social and economic history in Western India. H-Asia. 09-02-2016. https://networks.h-net.org/node/22055/discussions/142201/resource-valuable-archive-social-and-economic-history-western Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 1 H-Asia

These documents were obtained in the times of late Prof. G.D. Sharma in 1986-87 from the descendent of Haribhakti family. Besides the Haribhakti Collection, Department of History, Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda under the Prof. S. C. Misra Archival cum Library Cell had obtained Bombay Presidency Collection, Shamal Bechar Collection,Khatpatras , Bakshi Papers and rare books which are housed at Department. Sureshwar Desai Papers, Col. Alexander Walker papers in Microfilms, Mountsturat Elphinistone’s Paper on Bombay-Gujarat in Microfilms, East India Company Papers in Microfilms, Darbar Gopaldas Desai of Dhasa and Raisankali Papers obtained in 1970s & 1980s and are housed at Smt. Hansa Mehta Library of the University.

This Department was established in 1949 and a Special Assistance Programme was accredited to the Department during the VIth plan in 1979 by University Grants Commission, New Delhi. The department offers specialization in modern and medieval Indian History. Researches encompass the socio-economic history of western India with special emphasis on the process of urbanization, maritime history, and environmental history. Besides this society, gender and culture are also important areas of study. The under-graduate and post-graduate courses designed clearly reflects the direction, in which the department is growing. Young PhD scholars have recently attempted new subject-matters like history of science & technology, coastal communities and crafts & arts trends within regional history perspective.

Haribhakti family descendants were blessed without gender discrimination. Mention to Sethani Joitibai Haribhakti by French traveller Luise Rizley, who visitedHaribhakti ni Haveli in Baroda in the mid-nineteenth century is mention worthy as she managed business firm independently. The present descendants of Haribhakti family are engaged in all kind of creative professions. Their love for philanthropy is unending and their priority is education and health which is being delivered through theHaribhakti Raneshwar Mahadev Sansthan Charitable Trust.A generous donation from the trust( http://www.haribhaktirmsct.org), headed by the Mg. Trustee, Shree Gopal Ishwarlal Haribhakti, the Department of History is coming up with Haribhakti Centre for Historical Research and Studies in November, 2016 (2nd Floor). The project under this grant involves “Digitisation and Conservation” of Haribhakti Collection-manuscript; setting up of audio and visual archives of interviews of those related to it from family side, academicians, senior citizens of Baroda; and collection of research monographs carried out so far within the University on Haribhakti from History, Architecture, Art History, Gujarati, Marathi and Hindi Departments; scholars from abroad and institutions within India. It intends to offer residential scholarships, publication of documents, research monographs, and series of workshops in acquiring script skills, periodical seminars and conferences. Scholars from USA, UK, France & Japan are currently affiliated with it and visit frequently.

For further query interact with:

Dr. ADHYA BHARTI SAXENA

Professor & Head, Department of History, Faculty of Arts

Honorary Director, All India & Central Services Training Centre

Officiating Director, Centre for Urban Studies

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002, Gujarat-India

Ph: +912652791502 (History); Ph:+912652795517 (AICSTC); Mobile: +919427348719 [email protected] / [email protected] www.msubaroda.ac.in.

Historical sources (Peshwa Daftar, Baroda Record Office, British Library-India Record Office, Haribhakti Collection) reveal the lineage of Haribhakti’s from Sheth Gangadas in first quarter of the 18th century from Madhodhar village in Waghodia in the vicinity of Vadodara. His son Sheth Lakshmidas belonged to the Visalad bania community, father of two sons Haribhai & Bhaktibhai; he remained engaged in money lending business in second and third quarter of the eighteenth century. It was since 1760’s that the two brothers Hari & Bhakti got noticed for their business acumen by Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao and Prime Minister Nana Phadnawis. The later brought them to Pune and obtained their help in resolving many issues related to finances of state management. This included payment of salaries of troops, repayment of loans and financial support on special occasions, which led to establishment of Haribhakti Banking Firm at Poona in Rawivarpeth locality. The historical records reveal that the Haribhakti’s were very close to Peshwas’ personally for which they were awarded with House Tax exemption in c. 1798 in Pune; Kajapur village near Dabhoi town in Gujarat and honours"Chiranjeev Ilkab" (Lifetime Excellence) etc. from time to time. It is noteworthy that the financial managers of Haribhakti firm were equally efficient and admired by the Peshwas at Pune.