Kherwara
Kherwara, 1908
Cantonment included in the fifth or Mhow division of the Western Command of the Indian army, and situated in 23' 59' X. and 73 degree 36' E., in the south-west corner of the State of Udaipur, Rajputana, about 50 miles south of Udaipur city. It stands in a valley 1,050 feet above the sea, and on the banks of a small stream called the Godavari. Population (1901), 2,289. Kherwara is the head-quarters of the Mewar Bhll Corps, which was raised between 1840 and 1844, with the objects of weaning a semi-savage race from its predatory habits, giving them honourable employment, and assisting the Mewar State in preserving order. The uniform of the Bhll sepoy of those early days was a scanty loin-cloth (he would wear no other) ; his arms were a bow and arrows ; and his distrust and suspicion was such that he would serve for daily pay only, deserting if that were withheld. Throughout the Mutiny of 1857 the corps remained staunch. At that time a squadron of Bengal cavalry was stationed here, and left in a body for Nimach after endeavouring to persuade the Bhils to join them. The latter followed up the squadron, killed every man, and brought back their horses and accoutrements to Kherwara. A detach- ment operated against Tantia Topi's adherents in Banswara and Partab- garh, and gained the Mutiny medal. The corps received its colours in 1862, and was placed under the Commander-in-Chief in 1S97. It con- sists of eight companies (seven of Bhils and one of Hindustanis), and furnishes detachments at Kotra, Udaipur city, and the town of Dungar- pur. Much good has been effected by the enlistment of these hill- men ; and, through the influence of those in the service and of the numerous pensioners in the districts, the Bhils have largely forsaken their predatory habits. During the famines of 1899-1900 and 190 1-2 the corps did excellent work in hunting down dacoits and keeping order generally. Besides > the regimental school and hospital, the cantonment contains a school maintained by the Church Missionary Society, which has a branch here, and a hospital with accommodation for 10 in-patients, which is kept up from private subscriptions and a grant from the Darbar. The commandant of the Bhll Corps is also Political Superintendent of the Hilly Tracts, a wild country, com- prising the two bhumiats or districts of Kherwara and Kotra, con- taining altogether 361 villages and 34,296 inhabitants, almost all of whom are Bhils. The villages are for the most part held by petty Girasia chiefs, who pay a small tribute or quit-rent to the Mewar Darbar. The principal chiefs in the Kherwara district are the Raos of Jawas, Para, and Madri.
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
