Shimla (Rural) gets Rs 35 crore projects

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 10 developmental projects worth about Rs 35 crore in the Shimla (Rural) Assembly
• He presided over the ‘Pragatisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh’programme at Baloh Dhami in the constituency.
• Thakur, while addressing a public meeting on the occasion, recalled the infamous carnage that took place at Dhami about 82 years ago for the freedom of the nation and for securing a separate identity for Himachal Pradesh.

HISTORY

• Dhami’s history took a new turn with the advent of the British, who promised the rulers of Dhami as well as 19 other hill states restoration of their territories if they assisted them in defeating the Gurkhas in the Anglo-Gurkha War. The Gurkhas were expelled.
• Eventually the British granted Dhami with a “Sanad” in September, 1815, recognising it as an independent state by conferring lands upon its legitimate chief “from generation to generation and with all internal rights” provided Dhami fulfilled certain conditions.
• Dhami proved its loyalty to the British in 1857 when the Gurkhas’ held a mutiny against the British at Jutogh.
• Soon the small hill state of Dhami acquired a big chapter in Himachal’s history. Coming under British paramountcy, Dhami had to fulfil certain conditions which upset the traditional economy and lives of the hill folk.
• Being near the summer capital of Shimla, demands on Dhami were increasing for the supply of free and forced labour, fuel especially of the prized oak wood, fruits and vegetables, recruits to the British army, expenses for routine shikar expeditions, enhanced revenue, etc. — all for the upkeep of the British bara log at Shimla.
• The brewing discontent due to such atrocities led to resentment against the autocratic Rana, and demand for social reform, under the banner of praja mandals.
• The Dhami Praja Mandal led a crowd of more than 2,000 at Halog on July 16, 1939, to represent their demands to the Dhami Rana. In the melee that ensued, guns were fired by Dhami state leaving two dead in the incident called Dhami goli kand.