'These archival compilations were prepared by Sri. Dharampal under different themes over a ten-year period, between 1996 and 2006. The collection of archival material that he had either copied down by hand from the originals, or in very rare cases photocopied, were digitized during this period by different groups of people, largely in Sevagram and partly in Chennai. The digitized versions have been corrected against the version of the archival material Dharampalji had with him (the 'originals' in this context) in the case of few of the volumes. The reference for each of the document has been provided at the beginning of the document and any serious research effort or citation is advised to either refer to the Dharampal archival collection at Sevagram or to the India Office Library. These compilations are being made available in an as is basis and any errors in the process of digitization or in re-production are humanly possible.'.


Volume I: Some European Narrations on India: c. 1600 - 1800 - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 1. AN ITALIAN NOBLE MAN'S DESCRIPTION OF GUJARAT AND KARNATAKA, 1623 - The Travels of Pietro Della Valle in India, translated into English by G. Havers in 1664; Reprint Delhi 1991. He was in India from Feb 10, 1623 to Nov 16, 1624.

"... This poole of Surat is called Gopi Telau, that is, the Poole of Gopi, which was his name who made it at his own charge. And although the King, who in those dayes rul'd over Gusarat, did what he could to have it called after his own name, yet that of the Builder has been justly retain'd by the villager, and remains to this day. "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume II: Some Narrations on Indian Agriculture, Plastic Surgery, Tank Irrigation System, Chronology and Architecture, Indian Cotton Textile Industry and Oil wells in Burma - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 6. A NARRATIVEOF ANCIENT TANKS IN MADRAS PRESIDENCY - by R. Baird Smith, F.G.S., Lieut. Col., Bengal Engineers., Director, Ganges canal Works & Supdt, Canals N W P,
The Cauvery, Kistnah, and Godavery: Being a report on the works constructed on these rivers, London 1856

"The extent to which it has been carried throughout all the irrigated region of the Madras Presidency is truly extraordinary. An imperfect record of the number of tanks in 14 districts shows them to amount to no less than, 43,000 in repair, and 10,000 out of repair, or 53,000 in all. It would be a moderate estimate of the length of embankment for each to fix it at half a mile; and the number of masonry works, in sluices of irrigation, waste weirs, & e., would probably be not over-rated at an average of 6. These data, only assumed to give some definite idea of the extent of the system, would give close upon 30,000 miles of embankments (sufficient " to put a girdle round the globe" not less than 6 feet thick) and 3,00,000 separate masonry works. The whole of this gigantic machinery of irrigation is of purely native origin, as it is a fact that not one new tank has ever been made by us, and the concurrent testimony of those best informed on the subject shows that a great many fine works of the kind have been allowed to fall into utter disrepair and uselessness."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Volume III: Aspects of Indian Political Economy and Local Infrastructure - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 4. THE DISTRICT OF CHENGALPATTU (ALSO KNOWN AS JAGHIRE) AROUND c.1770

"The district of Chengalpattu had around 2,200 localities in it around 1770s10. A majority of the localities also had one or several sub- habitats situated at some distance from the main habitat. These localities largely were villages where the main economic activity was agriculture and animal husbandry. But quite a number had very little agriculture. Some of these latter were towns and places of great learning and many of pilgrimage, while others were centres of weaving, fishing, oil manufacture, stone work and other crafts. The twin towns of Kanchipuram were an ancient centre of learning and had been a centre of politics, administration, industry and commerce in Southern India until at least the 7th Century AD. Even in 1770, Kanchipuram was a major religious centre, as it also is today, and of people engaged in various other crafts. While around 2,200 localities are listed in this 1770 survey, the main data available pertains only to 1,910 localities. Amongst these 1,554 had human habiation, and 356 had no habitation at all around 1770. These 1,554 localities and 62,529 houses in them besides temples, shrines, centres of scholarship, resting places for travellers and the like. The number of temples and shrines in the district was around 3000 to 4000; some of their structures dated back to the 7th Century AD."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume IV: The British Background, Outlook, Institutions, Attitudes - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 4. TOOLS AND MANNERS OF PUNISHEMENT IN BRITAIN c. 17-19th C.- GEORGE IVES : A History of Penal Methods, Criminals, Witches and Lunatics, 1914
"The total of [witches in] Great Britain has been estimated at 30.000, and it has been estimated that during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the witch death-roll for Europe reached 200,000 people"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume V: Preparation and the Beginning of the British Conquest of India - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 1. IN 1687 THE ENGLISH E.I.CO. HOPED TO LAY THE FOUNDATION OF A LARGE, WELL-GROUNDED ENGLISH DOMINION IN INDIA FOR ALL TIME TO COME
The business of India was not merely trade, but a constant mixture of trade and warfare, fortification, military prudence and political government Cambridge University Library: Sankey papers: MSS Eng. Hist. c. 538: ff 48r-48v; From Sir Walter R. Lawrence to Sankey, March, 1931; brother-in-law of Alfred Lord Trevethen. I have been reading up old history, and find that in 1687 the directors of the company hoped to lay the foundation "of a large, well-grounded, English dominion in India for all the time to come." Later about 1708, about the time of the Union of the two companies, they say "the business of India was not merely trade, but a constant mixture of trade and warfare, fortification, military prudence and political government."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Volume VI: British State Takes Control of India But Keeps the East India Company as the Conveyor of its Instructions  - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 1. PROF ADAM FERGUSON DEFINES BRINGING WEALTH FROM INDIA TO EUROPE AS BRITAIN'S CHIEF PURPOSE c. 1773 - COMPANY`S SERVANTS MUST BE ALLOWED TO ACQUIRE FORTUNES

"November 3, 1773
The Company has received many blows within the 12 months and is still upon the anvil to be hammered into nobody knows what. But I hope and believe that no harm will happen. I shall be sorry if anything be done to hinder the Company's servants from acquiring fortunes in an innocent way abroad for after all that has been said this I believe to be the likelyest way of bringing wealth from India to Europe. The state I hope will leave the Company in all matters to govern itself, and it will be wise in any minister to leave them accountable for what happens there"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Volume VII: British Policy and Organisation for India - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 5. INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO THE COLLECTORS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF FORT ST.GEORGE, JUNE 1791 (Extract : FORT ST. GEORGE Revenue Consultations, the 24th June 1791 PP(HC) 1812 VIIp.709-73.)

16. That the collector, in case of the neglect of any renter in making good his kists, be authorized put him into confinement, and in case a sum equal to one-third of the kist, be not discharged within fifteen days, to keep him in of confinement until the whole is discharged, and to take his farm from him. With regard to zemindars who are in arrear of their kists, the collector is authorized to take such steps as many have been in use hither to, to oblige them to make good their payments, but not to sequester their zemindarries, until leave is previously obtained for the purpose, from the board of revenue. That in the former case with regard to renters, the collectors do take precautions to prevent any inconvenience or loss of revenue by the confinement of such renter, by investing the peschar or principal servant of such renter, with the temporary management of the collections, or by the appointment of an aumeen for this purpose; and in that case, whoever is entrusted with this temporary management, is to collect the settlement made by the renter from the persons under engagement to him; and this is not to make any alteration in the detail of the management, until the renter be absolutely dismissed from his farm."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume VIII: Need for European Immigration And a New Code of Laws For India - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 4. C. T. METCALFE ON BRITISH SENSE OF INSECURITY IN INDIA AND HENCE NEED FOR LARGE-SCALE EUROPEAN COLONIZATION IN INDIA

The only branch of our taxation ,that can be called excessive, is the land revenue, the chief resource that maintains the State. A reduction in this, justly apportioned, would contribute to the comfort of the mass of our subjects, the village population, but would not make them wealthy. If apportioned without great care, and strict regard to justice, it would not even promote their comfort, and might probably do them injury. That reduction, however, whatever would be its consequences, we are not in a condition to afford. Our government in India is not a national Government, that can rely on the affection of its subjects for defence against foreign invasion. It is the curse of a Government over a conquered country, that it can not trust the people.Our subjects are internal enemies, ready at least for change, if not ripe for insurrection. The least affected are passive votaries of fate. We retain our dominion only by a large military establishment, and without a considerable force of British troops, the fidelity of our native soldiery would not be relied on."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume IX: British Narrations on India, It's Conquest, Dominance and Destruction 1600 - 1900 A.D.  - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 4. ON DECAYED STATE OF BENGAL COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE OUR RULE George Van Sittart to brother Henry Van Sittart
Bod: Dep b 100: George Van Sittart Papers: This is an extract of letter to his brother Henry Van Sittart; pages 80-9; from letter Book
"...A reformation of the districts belonging to the Bengal province is the principal business which our rulers are at present engaged in. Since the Company's appointment to the Dewanny or in other words since the Government has fallen into the hands of the English every part of the country has been visibly on the decline. Trade, manufactures, agriculture are considerably diminished; many of the inhabitants have been driven by oppression from their homes, and the collection of the revenue becomes every year more difficult. "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume X: Documents on Tanjore 1770 - 1820 - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 1. ON ANCIENT CHATRAMS IN THANJAVUR REGION TILL c. 1800
IOR: P/286/ : Proceedings Madras Board of Revenue: 2.2.1801: Enclosed with letter dated 28.1.1801 from collector, Tanjore to Board of revenue, A letter from His Excellency Serfojee Rajah of Tanjore to British Government: Jan 1801

"The ground along the sea shore where these charitable institutions are the most numerous, is of a very inferior quality. But it is also the road to Ramiserum and forty thousand
persons from all parts of India, from Banares, and, Delhe, Aurangabad and Poona pass and repass every year. For the accomodation of these travellers principally, the Chetrums
have been established, and to each of them pagodas, choultries, and schools are annexed. I will now explain to you the nature and extent of the charities dispensed by them. All
travellers from the Bramin to the Pariar inclusive , pilgrims of every description including jogues, jungums, ateets and byragies are fed with boiled rice. Those who do not chuse to eat the boiled rice receive it unboiled with spices &c. These distributions continue till midnight when a bell is rung and proclamation made requiring all those who have not been fed to
appear and take the rice prepared for them."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XI: Exploring India and the Process of Subordination and Control of its Rulers  - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 5. STATE OF FACTS RELATING TO THE CARNATIC AND GENERAL POLITICS OF INDIA. (EXTRACT) Home Misc : 211: pp 133-87; dated Madras 6th Jan 1780.

"It has been our policy of late to pretend to a superiority over the prince of India. These who were not in a situation to show their resentment have submitted to indignities from us. Hyder Ally has returned our ill usage and on all occasions treated us in the same style we have treated him. There is a rooted enmity between him and the Marrattas and he has taken advantage of the dissention in their Government to seize extensive country belonging to them. The Marrattas sensible of their inability to contend with the Company and Hyder at the same time have concluded a treaty with Hyder upon condition of his paying 25 lacs of rupees a year for the country he has conquered. It is supposed the Marrattas have entered into this treaty upon the persuasion that the Company would continue the war, and therefore wished to be unembarrassed from all other enemies.

It is also said, that the Marrattas (p 181) Hyder Ally and the Nizam have formed a league against the English. These, next to the company, are the three greatest powers in India, whom, to our reproach, we have irritated by every species of ingratitude, breach of faith, and insolence.

The Marrattas we attacked because we thought the opportunity convenient from the dissentions in their state.. Hyder we were bound to, by a defensive alliance, with which we never complied, and, to the Nizam, we were indebted for the cession of an extensive and valuable territory for which we engaged to pay him a tribute of not a fifth part of its value, and afterwards, without cause, or reason, requested or in other language demanded, of him to relinquish the poor pittance"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XII: Some Documents on Rack-renting, Extortion, High Usury, and Recourse to Torture During British Rule, c. 1750 - 1900 - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 21. We have rode the country too hard; great oppression exercised resulting in lamentable poverty: madras governor bentinck: c. 1804
Nottingham University : PwJb 772: from pp 272-283

Lord William Bentinck, Governor Madras, to Lord Castlereagh, President Board of Control Oct 18, 1804

"I have paid a great deal of attention to the revenue management in this country. Your Lordship will perceive, if your leisure can permit you to attend to any of our details, that the general tenor of my opinion is, that we have rode the country too hard, and the consequence is, that it is in a state of the most lamentable poverty. Great oppression is I fear exercised too generally in the collection of the Revenues. I have discovered some instances of it, and I have thought it expedient to make examples of those Collectors who were responsible for better management and more just government..."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XIII: Beginning of extortion, molestation, plunder, pressing of men, cattle, supplies in British dominated Arcot, and the larger Carnatic under the shield of the helpless and humiliated British appointed Nabob of Arcot:  c. 1750 - 1800 - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 3.(vi) Madras British Governer Makes Money, Extorts Bribes
IOL: Home Misc 111 : Sir Robert Harland to Earl of Rockford (No. XII) Recd. 10th April 1773 - O/3. Extract, From The Diary, Sunday 26th July 1772, pp. 332

" In Mr. Palk's time there was one Poushpanadar Nincary a renter of Conjeevaram or Poonamalee, and who had formerly been a manager of the Nabob and was very much in debt to him on account of Wandiwash, &c. The Nabob sent him prisoner to Arcot, he complained to the Governor, who sent a very haughty message to the Nabob desiring to know why he dared to confine one of the Company's renters, and by the Governor's order without consulting the Nabob he was sent under a Guard from Arcot to Madras and d elivered up to him. Nincary made interest, paid fifteen thousand pagodas to Mr. Palk and five or six thousand to his Dubash, and the same night he was suffered to escape. Next morning, Mr. Palk with all Nincary's creditors came to the Nabob. This man whom you just confined say they, and delivered over yesterday has made his escape; you must pay us all the money he owed us. It was in vain for the Nabob to urge the injustice of his demand; that they had taken the man out of his power, that he himself, and many of his servants were also losers; he was obliged to take the whole debt upon himself - both principal and the accumulated interest added, to near a lack of pagodas for which he was obliged to give interest bonds."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XIV: Some Documents on Christinaisation of India and Alterations in Strategies, c.1700 - 1900  - Download

Excerpt
4. Redeeming the Heathen in India - Letters from Missionaries to Various Churches across Britain: Edinburgh, 1797, University of Edinburgh, 1797 La II. 500
Edinburgh, Feb. 16, 1797

"…
We address you upon this occasion, entreating you to lend your aid, not as a favour to us, but as your duty to Jesus Christ. This is a matter purely religious, and the general question is of the utmost consequence to Christianity. Is it possible then that good ministers can remain inactive or unconcerned. In such a case, he that is not with Jesus is against him. This business is entirely in your own line; and we trust that you will not allow the cause of your Master to suffer either by your cowardice or sloth. You are put in trust with the Gospel; it is yours to promote its cause in the world, and to attend to the things that belong to the everlasting peace of your fellow creatures. It is yours, in such a cause, to lift up your voice like a trumpet, to cry aloud, and spare not, to shew yourself a faithful watchman on the battlements of Zion.
…"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XV: British Countering of Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress, 1934 - 1938 - Download

Excerpt
Section A. Government of India Plan to Counter Mahatma Gandhi's Village Industries Association: October 1934 - November 1935
7. Letter from the Government of the Punjab, 4.12.1934

"...The intentions of Mr. Gandhi in general and the aims of his rural movement in particular are not likely to be disclosed at once. It is doubtful if he has himself completed his scheme, in so far as it relates to economic and social uplift. So far as the political side is concerned, it is probable that he will wait on opportunity, and develop it as occasion offers. It is possible that, at present, he has no clear political objective, though it is difficult to believe that he does not appreciate the potential value of a campaign that will carry his influence into the villages. Whatever his motives may be, the movement is potentially of great danger: and his past history shows that, however devoted he may appear to be to social or economic reform, he is liable, at any time, to resume political activities and to convert the position he has gained by other methods to political account. He will, of course, follow his normal policy of attempting to put Government in the wrong. It is with regard to this latter consideration that the question arises as to how far Government will be wise in basing its policy on an appreciation of the position which they themselves may regard as open to little doubt, but which may not be accepted by the public on the material now available. It is not unreasonable to expect that Mr. Gandhi, for the present at any rate, will disclaim any personal interest in politics: that he will profess himself to be completely devoted to social and economic uplift: that he will abstain from (p.4) political activities and from any action which might be interpreted as subversive: and that he will concentrate on the improvement of rural conditions and on the relief of what he is able to represent as legitimate grievances. In this role, he will attract a great deal of public sympathy and support, and this will extend beyond the immediate ranks of the Congress...."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XVI: Sanskrit and Christianisation and Ellis on Hindu Law - Download

Excerpt
"Chapter 3. A COMPARATIVE DICTIONARY OF THE LANGUAGES OF INDIA AND HIGH ASIA WITH A DISSERTATION BASED ON THE HODGSON LISTS, OFFICIAL RECORDS, AND MSS BY W.W. HUNTER, B.A., M.R.A.S., HON. FEL. ETHNOL SOC. OF HER MAJESTY'S BENGAL CIVIL SERVICE, LONDON : TRUBNER AND CO., 1868

The other means of ameliorating the condition of the non-Aryan tribes, consists in enabling them to augment the legitimate sources of subsistence which remain to them; in one word, to CIVILISE them. I do not permit myself even to glance at those noble and touching arguments which humanity and the Christian faith suggest for the reclamation of lapsed races. But looking upon the question as one of purely political utility, ... The Hindus regard our accession but as a change of masters; the Mussalmans hate us as conquerors, if not as tyrants. To the aboriginal races alone can we appear in the light of friends and deliverers. They have yet to start on the path of progress. It remains for us to decide whether that path is to lead them to Hinduism, or to the purer faith and civilisation which we represent."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XVII: Illustrations of Indian Noncooperation With Oppression and Misrule : c. 1700 - 1850 - Download

Excerpt
"Chapter 3. PEASANTS REVOLT AT RANGPUR: BENGAL: 1779-85 [Bengal District Records : Rangpur, Vol. 4 (1779-85)]

No.2.(No.188;p;138)
We the Ryots of Cargeehaut, Futtypore, Kanknea and Tepah, Malguzardars, are ruined by the annual assessment of one anna, and half an anna Durrivillah, we have given all we
have towards paying our Revenue, and have only our Lives left, upon this for these two Years have been levied on us 5, Annas Durrivillah and setting aside the Narainy Currency have imposed 3, Annas Batta on French Arcot Rupees. By these two Articles Hur Ram Baboo last year not being able to complete his engagements notwithstanding the manner in which he collected from the Zemindars and Ryots, is now in confinement. We then sold our Cattle and the Trenchets belonging to our Woman, we have since sold our Children and have nought left but our Lives*, upon that two annas encrease has been put on the Jumma of this Year, and Sezawuls and Tasildars were sent throughout the Mofussil, who coming into the Country,
tied us into Bamboes, beat us with Corahs, with Fists and put us to every possible inconvenience, our Beards were not left*. By this we have sold and paid in every thing we had to eat there are no further assets for the Revenue; the Malguzarry of our Coachwrrah in Rungpore is only from the Tobacco Crop, which is not ready till the month of Bysack, we have therefore come forth with our Lives to live on the plains, ..."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XVIII: Prostitution in the British Army in India Questioning in London c. 1880s  - Download

Excerpt
"Chapter 3.3. FROM SIR A. BLACKWOOD, G.P.O., DATED 21.2.1888 TO VICEROY DUFFERIN

... the system of the C. D. Acts ( which as W. Fowler said were Acts to " provide clean women for profligate soldiers") grievously offended the moral sense of the community, that at last, after years of labour to expose them in their true and ghastly character, they have been totally repealed, men of all schools and politics aiding in their overthrow. Some of them being among those who helped to pass them.

... The system perpetrates a gross outrage on women, degrading them to the level of brutes, extinguishing any remnants of feminine feeling they may have retained (and some such feeling remains even in the lowest) and handing them over body and soul to the lusts of men. No matter how low a woman has sunk, and it is often most often, that it has been by male profligacy, nothing can justify her being thus treated as a mere beast. I ask those who seek to justify it, whether they would do so, if the unfortunate women where their own wife or daughter.

... The system perpetrates a gross outrage on women, degrading them to the level of brutes, extinguishing any remnants of feminine feeling they may have retained (and some such feeling remains even in the lowest) and handing them over body and soul to the lusts of men. No matter how low a woman has sunk, and it is often most often, that it has been by male
profligacy, nothing can justify her being thus treated as a mere beast. I ask those who seek to justify it, whether they would do so, if the unfortunate women where their own wife or daughter."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volume XIX: Miscellaneous - Download

Excerpt
Chapter 2. Real Self Government For
By W.A. Hirst, Sometime Principal, Gujerat College, Ahmedabad, India Office No. P/T. 3380 Watts & Co,. London, 1933 6d. (3374-3384) pp.31

"Preface:
Brief account of this scheme for reviving the Indian Village Panchayats have been contributed by me to the `Empire Review' and the `Spectator' but nothing has been reproduced from these articles. My object is to propose a system of rural self government for India in opposition to the hybrid scheme which is now before the public. All acknowledge that our present policy of abdication (if unhappily it should be carried into effect) will plunge India into bloodshed and anarchy.

Let us stand upon the ancient ways and give the village a chance.
October 6, 1933."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------