Chapter 3 - The Champaran–Tarriaini Frontier

Summary

[…] the British possessions, […] as classed by governments and revenue or judicial divisions, must be considered only approximations to truth on a subject, in its nature of great difficulty, and which has hitherto not received from the Indian authorities the degree of attention which its practical value and importance is entitled to.

—John Crawfurd

Introduction: The Constitution of Order on the Champaran–Tarriani Frontier, 1765–1814

Between 1765 and 1814, Gorkha and the English East India Company witnessed a phase of territorial expansion which culminated in the outbreak of serious territorial disputes along the Champaran–Tarriani frontier. This section of the Anglo–Gorkha frontier stretched across Gorkha's Eastern Tarai districts and the northern reaches of the district of Champaran (in Bihar) that fell under the jurisdiction of the Company (see Map 3.1). Gorkha's Eastern Tarai, which was made up of the districts of Chitwan (formerly Marjyadpur), Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Saptari and Mahottari, was placed under the charge of officials who exercised civil, military and judicial powers. During the reign of King Girbana Juddha Bikram Shah (1799–1816), numerous land grants were issued conferring new rights or reconfirming preexisting arrangements that had been instituted by the preceding Sen rulers of Makwanpur, Tanahu, Chaudandi and Bijaypur.