Memoir of Dehra Dun

Contents: Part. I: Descriptive and General. Part. II: Historical. 1. From the Earliest Times down to the Goorkha War. 2. From the outbreak of the Goorkha War to the Present Time. Part. III: Statistical and Miscellaneous. 3. Fiscal history of the District, Dehra Doon Settlements. 4. Fiscal History of the District (Continued), Jounsar Bawar Settlements. 5. Fiscal History of the District (Concluded). 6. Miscellaneous (Conclusion). Appendices.

The Doon Valley, distinguished by its singular beauty and by the excellence of its many institutions has won for itself a place of pre-eminence in the history of India. While its origins as a habitation are shrouded in the mists of time, it holds a place in folklore, legend and mythology. It appears firmly rooted in chronicled history only late in the sixteenth century. Thereafter myths give way to real historical figures and their clashes and combats as they strive for possession of this fertile and lovely valley ring true with the clash of steel and the bark of muskets.

After its final annexation by the British, it is subjected to the civilizing force of census, survey, taxation and organized administration. The romance of this story is captured most fully in the quaint Victorian English of G.R.C. Williams who after assiduous research rendered into print the first history of this valley. This book is a valuable historical document and the reader’s only regret will be that it terminates in 1873, the year of its appearance.

Replete with delightful anecdotes and lavish in its praise of the natural beauty of the valley, this book is necessary to the collection of every resident of the Doon and also to the many who have passed through or merely heard of this exotic and unique valley. (Jacket)