Manoharpur

Manoharpur Raja's palace

The Raja of Manoharpur lived in this palace near the town of Manoharpur. In 1973 it was becoming dilapidated, as he had lost all his political power base after Indian independence in 1949. His ancestors had been the tribal Raja of Chhotanagra, near Dubil. That palace was mud built,  but little remains of it. However a few Ho villages still pay him ‘malguzari‘, a token land tax based on the old days when he collected the land taxes for the British colonial government (see next section on MANOHAR RAJA’S TYTHE). The Manoharpur Rajas had been subject to the overlordship of the Raja of Porahat and the Maharaja of Seraikela. Oddly all of them had ‘Paudi Ma‘ as their household deity. She was the goddess of the original inhabitants of Singhbhum, the Bhuiya people.

The Raja of Manoharpur with his son. I assume that his ancestors were Ho tribals, though he now claims Rajput status in the Hindu caste system. During the 17th century, when the Ho were known as the ‘Larka Kol’ or ‘dark skinned warriors’, they fought for his ancestors and were active against the incursions of other warring peoples. To this day (1970s) they still pay a small token annual tribute, 'malguzart' of rice to him.
The Raja of Manoharpur with his son. I assume that his ancestors were Ho tribals, though he now claims Rajput status in the Hindu caste system. During the 17th century, when the Ho were known as the ‘Larka Kol’ or ‘dark skinned warriors’, they fought for his ancestors and were active against the incursions of other warring peoples. To this day (1970s) they still pay a small token annual tribute, 'malguzart' of rice to him.
Valerie with the Raja of Manoharpur and his son and the local school children who came to honour him in 1973.
Valerie with the Raja of Manoharpur and his son and the local school children who came to honour him in 1973.
In 1973 Raja of Manoharpur lived in relative poverty after losing his regal powers after India’s independence from British rule in 1949. He only uses this wing of the old palace at Manoharpur. Here he is being honoured by the local school children.
In 1973 Raja of Manoharpur lived in relative poverty after losing his regal powers after India’s independence from British rule in 1949. He only uses this wing of the old palace at Manoharpur. Here he is being honoured by the local school children.
The outer main entrance gate to the Raja of Manoharpur's palace. The gateway is tall enough to allow an elephant with a 'howdah' to pass.
The outer main entrance gate to the Raja of Manoharpur's palace. The gateway is tall enough to allow an elephant with a 'howdah' to pass.
The front door to the Raja of Manoharpur's palace, now neglected and never used.
The front door to the Raja of Manoharpur's palace, now neglected and never used.
A wide-angle view of the Raja of Manoharpur’s palace. The stables and the main entrance gate are on the right. The Raja now lives in the 'darbar', public wing, on the left. Due to his reduced status and wealth, after Indian independence from British rule, when the feudal rulers lost their power in 1949, the palace is now neglected and falling into disrepair.
A wide-angle view of the Raja of Manoharpur’s palace. The stables and the main entrance gate are on the right. The Raja now lives in the 'darbar', public wing, on the left. Due to his reduced status and wealth, after Indian independence from British rule, when the feudal rulers lost their power in 1949, the palace is now neglected and falling into disrepair.
Annually the ‘Munda’ headman of Dubil collects the token payment of rice from the ‘ryots’, tenant farmers, in Dubil. Here one of the villagers, Kaera Champia, has brought his tithe to the Munda’s courtyard. Behind him the large pile of unhusked rice is the total offering to be taken to the now defunct Raja of Manoharpur's palace. (See section on MANOHAPUR RAJA'S PALACE..
Annually the ‘Munda’ headman of Dubil collects the token payment of rice from the ‘ryots’, tenant farmers, in Dubil. Here one of the villagers, Kaera Champia, has brought his tithe to the Munda’s courtyard. Behind him the large pile of unhusked rice is the total offering to be taken to the now defunct Raja of Manoharpur's palace. (See section on MANOHAPUR RAJA'S PALACE..
Here Sukuram Champia, the village accountant, squats behind a pile of unhusked rice, donated by the landowners of Dubil. This is one-third of the village’s tithe tax ‘malguzari’ for their traditional feudal lord, the Raja of Manoharpur. The other two-thirds are in the two sacks.
Here Sukuram Champia, the village accountant, squats behind a pile of unhusked rice, donated by the landowners of Dubil. This is one-third of the village’s tithe tax ‘malguzari’ for their traditional feudal lord, the Raja of Manoharpur. The other two-thirds are in the two sacks.
After the annual tithe tax, 'malguzari' was collected by the 'ryots', tenant farmers, of Dubil a party of villagers carry the tax, due to the Raja of Manoharpur, out of the village for the 12 mile walk to his palace in Manoharpur, to give it to him.
After the annual tithe tax, 'malguzari' was collected by the 'ryots', tenant farmers, of Dubil a party of villagers carry the tax, due to the Raja of Manoharpur, out of the village for the 12 mile walk to his palace in Manoharpur, to give it to him.
Kaera Champia squats beside Dubil’s headman, Joto Champia, as they inspect how much tithe the landowners have given. While most brought unhusked rice, one person has brought some maize cobs. Meanwhile the Munda’s pet mynah bird scavenges his share. You can see a small bowl. This is a ‘poila’ a volumetric measuring bowl.
Kaera Champia squats beside Dubil’s headman, Joto Champia, as they inspect how much tithe the landowners have given. While most brought unhusked rice, one person has brought some maize cobs. Meanwhile the Munda’s pet mynah bird scavenges his share. You can see a small bowl. This is a ‘poila’ a volumetric measuring bowl.
Sukuram Champia, the village accountant, helped by Bhagun Champia, his elder brother’s son, and Joto Champia, the village headman, measure out the offering that one landowner has brought as his share of the tithe, due the feudal overlord of Saranda, the Raja of Manoharpur.
Sukuram Champia, the village accountant, helped by Bhagun Champia, his elder brother’s son, and Joto Champia, the village headman, measure out the offering that one landowner has brought as his share of the tithe, due the feudal overlord of Saranda, the Raja of Manoharpur.
When the collection and measuring of the Dubil landowners’ tythe, annually given to their overlord, the Raja of Manoharpur, has been completed, they carry it off on shoulder poles for the 12 mile walk to his palace in Manoharpur.
When the collection and measuring of the Dubil landowners’ tythe, annually given to their overlord, the Raja of Manoharpur, has been completed, they carry it off on shoulder poles for the 12 mile walk to his palace in Manoharpur.
Here the party of landowners are carrying their annual 'malguzari' tithe on their shoulders into the forest to the west of Dubil. They will walk over the Chiria range of hills for the 12 mile journey to the palace of the Raja of Manoharpur.
Here the party of landowners are carrying their annual 'malguzari' tithe on their shoulders into the forest to the west of Dubil. They will walk over the Chiria range of hills for the 12 mile journey to the palace of the Raja of Manoharpur.

Manoharpur Raja’s tythe

Annually the landowners of Dubil still pay a tithe tax, ‘malguzari‘ in honour to their erstwhile overlord, the Raja of Manoharpur. In feudal times he was their local king and they had a duty to fight for him. In those days the Ho were a militaristic people called the ‘Larka Kol‘, meaning ‘dark skinned warriors’. This is a series of images of the Dubil landowners, ‘khuntkatidar‘ organising their now purely honorific payment. During the British Raj colonial times the Raja collected the land tax which was paid to the East India Company.

Manoharpor town

It is 12 miles northwest from Dubil and 40 miles east of Chaibasa on the banks of the Koel River. It has a station on the Calcutta to Nagpur and Mumbai railway line. It is the closest large town to Dubil and is the main access town to the Saranda forest and the administrative centre for West Singhbhum.

An impoverished Ho tribal begging outside the entrance to the railway station in Manoharpur. Many very poor and desolate tribals, who may have been outcaste from their villages due to their misdeeds or alcoholism, end up in the nearby towns.
An impoverished Ho tribal begging outside the entrance to the railway station in Manoharpur. Many very poor and desolate tribals, who may have been outcaste from their villages due to their misdeeds or alcoholism, end up in the nearby towns.
A private house in the town of Manoharpur. This large town is some 12 miles northwest of Dubil on the main railway line from Calcutta to Nagpur.
A private house in the town of Manoharpur. This large town is some 12 miles northwest of Dubil on the main railway line from Calcutta to Nagpur.
Migrants waiting on the platform at Manoharpur railway station. This is the main line from Calcutta to Nagpur and onto to Mumbai. There is a bore well and pump on the platform.
Migrants waiting on the platform at Manoharpur railway station. This is the main line from Calcutta to Nagpur and onto to Mumbai. There is a bore well and pump on the platform.
The ferryboat,the only way of crossing the Koel River at Manoharpur..
The ferryboat,the only way of crossing the Koel River at Manoharpur..
The market place and the overbridge across the main Calcutta to Nagpur railway line at Manoharpur, taken from the overbridge.
The market place and the overbridge across the main Calcutta to Nagpur railway line at Manoharpur, taken from the overbridge.
A wayside barber on the platform at Manoharpur railway station.
A wayside barber on the platform at Manoharpur railway station.
sleep on a cot at Manoharpur railway station.
sleep on a cot at Manoharpur railway station.
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