Ranchod Vira’s Letter
Today’s
Music:
Bally
Sagoo
In January 1996…
I was sitting in the Maharashtra State Archives in Bombay (Mumbai) and I
came across a letter in a file.
It was composed by a peasant named Ranchod Vira, who could not read or
write.
I was intrigued. I copied the letter by hand.
Image: Elphinstone College
Image: Elphinstone College (2)
What did the letter say? (212)
1. Authority of Gov’t ceased
2. No one should pay Gov’t installment
3. If you want to inform your Gov’t
1.Temple is coming
2. Chaklasi
3. Full moon of Madgh-Samwat 1956
4. Wheel of Ram will cut off heads
5. Mandwa & Sugarcane press
6. Command of Ranchodrai
7. Patel Kashibhai
What did I do next?
•
I showed the
letter to local scholars: historians, sociologists, linguists, religious
studies
•
I followed every
lead
•
I ordered as many
primary documents as I could over the next 12 months
•
I tracked down as
many secondary sources as possible
•
Why? To INTERPRET
the meanings and messages of the letter.
Practical Concerns
•
How much time should
be devoted to this one letter? (one peasant?) (one movement?)
•
How will this
research affect my Ph.D.?
•
Can I finish my
research in time?
•
Will I need to
travel elsewhere to finish my research?
•
How can I get
permission to use other archives in Bombay?
•
No secondary
sources mention this movement/peasant
•
Will I develop
cancer sitting in the archive?
Why did I start my research in the 1890s?
•
Devastating Famine
•
Bubonic Plague Epidemic
•
British increase land taxes
•
Bureaucracy at all levels of society
•
Period of Revolts and Rebellions
•
[Spent over one-year studying western India]
A Close Reading…
Sentence 1:
“The temple of Ranchodji is coming into the existence in the middle of the
lands of Chaklasi on the east side.”
•
Which temple?
•
Who is Ranchodji?
•
Where is Chaklasi?
Image: Ranchodrai Temple
Image: Ranchodrai/Ranchodji
Image: Map
Sentences 2-3:
The authority of the Government ceased from the full moon of Madgh-Samwat
1956. Therefore the satyug of Ranchodrai
has commenced.
•
Is there a significance to the full moon?
•
What is Madgh-Samwat 1956?
•
Define satyug?
•
Who is Ranchodrai?
Sentences 4-5
Therefore no one should tell a lie, or do a wrongful act. If anyone does so transgress the wheel of Ram
will pass above the ground and cut off the heads.
•
What is the wheel of Ram?
Image: Wheel of Ram
Image: Wheel of Ram 2
Sentence 6
The mandwa a sugarcane press will be put up by Ranchodrai and he who would
pass through it and stand will rule.
•
What is a mandwa?
•
What is a sugarcane press?
Image: Mandwa
Image: Wedding Mandwa
Image: Sugar Press (1815-1820)
Image: North Carolina, 1900.
Sentences 7-8
All people are hereby informed that no one should pay the Government
installment. The money is due by the
command of Ranchodrai.
•
What is a Government installment?
Sentence 9
Patel Kashibhai is informed that—”If you want to inform your Government you
may do so.”
•
Who was Patel Kashibhai?
•
“Your Government” vs. “Our Government”
What could I figure out about Ranchod Vira?
•
~50 years old
•
He declared the end of the British empire
•
He proclaimed himself to be a king
•
He had support of many peasants
•
The British military quashed the movement
•
Ranchod and his supporters arrested
How did I figure this out?
•
I found the trial records and the statements
made by peasants, including Ranchod
More on the letters…
•
About one month before I was to leave India, I
finally got permission to look at some police records.
Image: Police Headquarter’s (Bombay)
What did I find?
•
Ranchod’s letter
was a part of a countrywide circulation of letters
•
Ranchod’s letter
had wide circulation
•
Most letters
called for the end of British rule and questioned local politics
•
Letters were
translated into 6 different languages
•
Many shared
symbols and references
•
Printed and
hand-written letters
•
Transcended
caste, class, regional barriers
How does this letter help us?
•
Peasants throughout India were active in
questioning colonial power
•
Participants in creating a counterpublic
•
Literacy is not a requirement for DOING
•
Literacy aware society
•
Rethink the ways we interpret the intellectual
lives of peasants
Image: Chaklasi
Image: Remembering Ranchod