Policing, a bygone local police station: A photo taken in 1900 shows a European couple amidst a group of native policemen in British India. While there is little in the caption to suggest who these Europeans were. Their presence is nonetheless a juxtaposition to what had transpired during the mutiny of 1857.
One of the primary factors behind implementing the Act of 1858 and the Police Act of 1861 during the British Raj was to do away with the old system of Kotwali – a Mughal-era vestige which had proved conspicuously dubious in its loyalty.
While during the rebel occupation of Delhi, the Kotwals and Thanedars of the city had with zeal supported the rebels. In Meerut, several had sided with the local mob to plunder and murder – to either save their own lives, avenge slights and wrongs or simply good pickings. That is, if not spurred by fanatism.
Although this wasn’t the case with the entire local constabulary in Meerut. From eyewitness accounts and the testimony of one Sargent Foster, it is clearly apparent many had engaged in criminal activities.
A man in white spat at me, and abused me, calling me a Feringhee Soor (white pig). He cut at me with his sword and a tall man in police uniform cut at me three or four times.
Sargent Foster
The allegiance of the Kotwals, the policing force of the Mughals.
Why the Kotwals had behaved so erratically was circumstantial and not for one specific reason. But in some places, it was clearly due to their traditional fealty for the Mughals – the very power that had created the institution.
In fact, Mahmood Farooqui, a historian who studied the Mutiny Papers stored with the National Archives of India believes, in Delhi, it may indeed have been so.
Explains Farooqui, since the Kotwal force here was largely Muhammadan. It may have perhaps sympathized with the Muhammadan Imperial Court or, as it was a hierarchically organized body – simply kept running once the chain of command had been set in motion.
Whatever may have been the reason, Delhi’s Kotwal force, nonetheless, was very efficient. In spite, of a huge number of rebel soldiers populating the city, it had surprisingly performed its duties extraordinarily well.
During the rebel occupation, this Kotwal force had not only maintained law and order. But also acted as a liaison between the citizens and the imperial court. They had taxed bankers and merchants to raise money for the war effort. As well as organized food, supplies and other provisions for the rebel troops.
Furthermore, the Mutiny Papers, which now provide us with key insights into the uprising of 1857, was possible because of this very force. For the fact, that a very large part of these documents were the daily reports filed by the Kotwals and Thanedars – in Persian and Urdu.
Farooqui believes, that Delhi’s Kotwals had continued to function even when other Government services had shut down. For the reason that before the advent of the East India Company, it was directly under the Mughal kings.
Or for that matter, whoever had sat on the throne of Delhi – and thus, was able to shift its allegiance back to the Mughal court, easily.
The case of Dhunna Singh Gujjar, policing in Meerut.
Yet while Delhi’s Kotwals had more or less behaved like a modern law enforcing agency. Meerut’s was quite the opposite. Especially with Kotwals like Dhunna Singh Gujjar.
Though Dhunna Singh Gujjar had not stooped to plunder and murder with his Gujjar community, as had many others during the unrest at Meerut. He, nonetheless, had done everything in his power to ensure his Gujjar tribesmen came to no harm from the law.
His dual allegiance had come to the fore when a Bengali merchant had summoned the Kotwal to defend his house from a Gujjar attack – only to discover that the Kotwal, himself, was involved.
Dhunna Singh had not only prevented the Chowkidars under his command from apprehending the Gujjar attackers. But had also released one such perpetrator held in prison, along with all the loot he had robbed.
The Gujjars in turn had left to plunder other jurisdictions under other Kotwals.
It was also alleged that Dhunna Singh had even sent word to his Gujjar community to come plunder Meerut. As Kim Wagner further informs: The Gujjars, for their part, called out to Dhunna Singh, ‘Thou hast called us, and now turn us out.’
Dhunna Singh strictly prohibited the police from drawing swords against his friends, and send a man to the Kotwali. After a while, the prisoner came with his things. Viz 1 horse 1 inkstand 1 sword. Dhunna Singh made over his things to them and liberated the prisoner. No 65.
No 65. Disposition of Sauta Singh, Chaprassi.
On an earlier occasion, when some of his Chaukidars had brought in two Gujjars who had stolen horses and other loot, Dhunna Sing is recorded to have exclaimed, “Why are you making arrests, will you have me strung up?”
Establishment of the Indian Imperial Police.
Thus, besides the corruption, it was the ineffectiveness and unwillingness of the local constabulary to deal with the riots that had led to the Act of 1858 and the Police Act of 1861.
Under these two Acts had emerged the Superior Police Service and the Subordinate Service. The former, later evolving into the Indian Imperial Police – which was quintessentially a paramilitary force.
Due to the widespread massacre of Europeans by the local populace, that we know had occurred across the Bengal Presidency, and not to mention the misgivings and distrust, natives had only been recruited after the 1920s.
The native constables that can be seen in the photo possibly belonged to the Subordinate Police Service. The European in the photo, possibly an Inspector or Superintendent.
Where this photo was taken is not given, nor the name of the photographer.
I think those in front are chaprassis not policemen
The original caption with the photo says British couple with Peons and local policemen. The first row (right behind the seated European couple) are Peons. That was the uniform in 1900 British India. These men in the photo very likely belonged to the subordinate police force. These Peons (orderlies) were also a part of the local police service. It was expected of them to uphold the office of law enforcers when needed. Like when manpower was required. So they are police only. Under the Kotwal system, “Chaprassis” were not peons. They accompanied the local thanedars with swords and fought when required. They have been described as police officers and messengers. Today in many parts of India, ‘Chaprassis and Peons’ refer to those who perform menial tasks. But it was not so.
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I think what the caption really implies is Police ‘Peons and Constables’. In a modern police force also, there are detectives who solve crimes; regular constables and traffic constables, officers and special response units (to just touch upon the different roles) However, they are all policemen (depending on their gender). Since they are employed and in police service.