Further, history of Rudraprayag District states that the present Garhwal was known as Kedar Khand in the past. In Puranas Kedar-Khand was said to be the abode of God. It seems from the facts in the Vedas and Indian Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata that these Hindu scriptures are scripted in Kedar-Khand. Moreover, it is also said that the roots of Vedic literature seems to be originated from Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common with Sanskrit language. Authentic script about the history of Rudraprayag District is found only 6th AD on word. Some historians believe that this land is the origin of the Arya race. It is believed that about 300 BC Khasas invaded Garhwal through Kashmir, Nepal and Kumaon. A conflict grew due to this invasion and a conflict took place between these outsiders and natives. The natives for their protection built small forts called 'Garhi'. Later on Khasas defeated the natives and captured the forts. After Khasa, the Kshatriyas invaded this land and defeated Khasas. They confined Garhwal of hundreds of Garhi in to fifty-two Garhi only. Kantura Vasudev established his regime on the northern border of Garhwal and founded his capital in Joshimath. According to history, Raturi king Bhanu Pratap was the first ruler of Panwar dynasty in Garhwal who founded Chandpur Garhi as his capital. Moreover, as per historical records the devastating earthquake of 8th of September, 1803 weakened the economic and administrative set up of Garhwal state. Taking advantage of the situation Gurkhas attacked Garhwal. They established there reign over half of the region in 1804 and up to 1815 this region remained under Gorkha rule. Mean while the king of Panwar dynasty Raja Sudarshan Shah contacted British East India Company and asked for help. With the help of British he defeated Gorkhas and merged the eastern part of Alaknanda and Mandakini along with the capital Srinagar in Garhwal under British rule. From that time this region was known as British Garhwal and the capital of Garhwal was set up at Tehri instead of Srinagar. After the death of Sudarshan Shah, Bhawani Shah succeeded him, who died in 1871 and was succeeded by his elder son Pratap Shah. Pratap Shah ascended the throne of Tehri at the age of 21 only. He was the founder of Pratap Nagar. He also tried to improve the forest, judicial and police administration. During his rule several public uprisings took place in the state. He died in the year 1886. Kirti Shah at the time of his father's death was still in his teenage years, so his mother Rajmata Guleri appointed Vikram Singh as the regent. But after sometime she took over the administration. Kirti Shah took over charge of the state in 1892. His rule saw a marked improvement in the functioning of courts, forest and other departments. He is said to have invented typewriter for Hindi but gave the copy write to a company. The religious inclination of Kirti Shah is aptly proved by the fact that he organised a religious conference of the followers of different religion at Tehri. He died in the year 1913. Narendra Shah the successor of Kirti Shah was again a minor at the time of succession. Thus, during the initial years the state administration was looked after by Regency under the presidency of his mother. During the period of Second World War (1939-1942) Tehri state supplied a huge amount of wood to the British rulers while the king himself offered his services for them during the First World War. Some of his achievements were developing the new township of Narendra Nagar, construction of Kirti Nagar, Tehri, Muni ki Reti. He died on 22nd of September, 1950 in a car accident but had already relinquished the throne in favour of his son Manvendra Shah on 26th of May 1946. The later ruled the state from 1946 till the state was merged with the Indian Union in August 1949. |