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