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Historical Importance of
Kalpa/Chini in Kinnaur
Hotel Kinner Villa Kalpa
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Modern Kalpa prior to 1962
was known as Chini
Village with main
populated area and Kalpa
was a part of Chini
Village where Forest
Bungalow overlooking an
orchard was located. Today
Kalpa has a Senior Secondary
School with a spacious
stadium and new Circuit
House adjacent to old Forest
Bungalow.
Ø
Lord Dalhousie, the then
Governor General of British
India used to visit Kinnaur
during summers and stay at
Chini old Forest Bungalow –
modern circuit house Kalpa.
Ø
This fact is corroborated
from a letter which was
traced from extracts from
PWD (original) 1850
department of Railways,
consultation 2nd
No. 29/51, East India
Railway (file drawn from
National Archives of India,
New Delhi) in which
Dalhousie made
correspondence regarding
construction of Rely
Department lines in Bengal
and Bombay on 4th
July 1850 from Chini Forest
Bungalow to British Got in
England.
Ø
Kinnaur was divided into
seven khans or regions in
medieval times prior to
beginning of Blusher rulers
and was ruled by “Chakras”
or Takers.
Chini was one of the khans
of Chakras or Takers which
was ruled by “Arms” Chakras
who was a powerful one.
Taker of Karol who was the
most powerful of all 7 Khans
in Kinnaur instigated the
local population and the
Quail/Fort of “Chakras Arms”
which was near Chini primary
School was set on fire and
got burnt. Remains of same
can be dug from the premises
of Chini/Kalpa Primary
School ever today.
Visit of Missionaries
Ø
In 1865 Moravian
missionaries visited Pooh in
Kinnaur who remained there
till 1918, many of them died
there. They set up schools,
hospital and craft centers
in pooh.
Ø
One of the missionaries
named Father Bruski visited
Chini village in 1897 and
settled near Old Hindustan
Tibet Road by purchasing
land from the locals and
built a house in 1900 and
opened a school in 1899-1907
and propagated craft and
art. He remained there for
13 years. Later his wife
also left Chini with tears
in her eyes and Father Peter
took over the charge.
Ø
Father Bruski was a rich
man. For 2-3 years, he
stayed by pitching tents on
the land purchased with the
help of Busher Raja Shamsher
Singh.
Ø
Rahul Sanskrityan who wrote
a book on Kinnaur entitled
“Kinner Desh Main” started
his writing for the book
from the same Bungalow in
1947.
Ø
Father Bruski’s renovated
old building is still intact
adjacent to Kalpa/Chini’s
Primary health Centre
overlooking majestic “Kinner
Kailash” ranges of peaks.
Ø
In 1912 Moravian Mission
sold the Bungalow for Rs.
900 to Mukti Sena/Liberation
Army.
Ø
Dr. Samual Berfut and his
wife worked in the hospital
at Chini, Liberatian Army
opened a wool weaving
school.
Ø
In 1919 Liberation army sold
the bungalow to the British
Got for Rs. 5000 and left
Chini.
Ø
Walker, Baker and Mortimer
were soldiers at Chini. It
was Father Bruski, a German
of Moravian Missionary who
was able to set up hospital
and school at Chini.
Ø
Both Church Mission and
Moravian Mission could not
convert locals into
Christianity. A chiseled
stone which was prepared to
construct Church at Chini
was later used to construct
the Tehsil Building in Chini
as the idea of erecting a
church was abandoned for no
one could be converted to
Christianity at Chini.
Ø
Father Peazal of Moravian
Mission who went to Pooh in
1865 died in 1886 at Pooh.
He was able to convert a few
locals to Christianity and
established schools,
hospital, training centre
for crafts etc.
Ø
Father Screen continued the
work of Father Peazal and
further converted 25 people
to Christianity.
Ø
A local named Taker Singh
who was in charge of
hospital at Chini was
persuaded by Liberation Army
soldier Mortimer to convert
but in vain.
Ø
He laid conditions for the
conversion:
1)
Rs. 10,000 cash
2)
Should be sent to study in
Europe.
3)
Should be married to one of
the ladies who were at
Shimla from liberation Army.
Ø
Apple, peach and other fruit
trees brought by Bruski from
Holland and other European
countries and planted in the
orchard of the Bruski
Bungalow.
Ø
Chini was made Tehsil
(Revenue Hq.) in 1895.
Ø
Kalpa /Chini is situated in
front of “Kinner Kailash”
range of peaks
1.
Kinner Kailash – 6050 mts.
2.
Raldang Peak – 5900 mts.
3.
Jorganden Peak – 6473 mts.
4.
Phowaring Peak – 6113 mts.
Highest peak in Kinnaur –
Rheo Pharguil – 6890 mts. is
in Leo village in Hangrang
Valley.
Ø
Famous Europeans/Indians who travelled in Kinnaur and wrote books are:
1) HIMALAYA
Parvat or hind Mountain – by
James Beley Fraiser in 1815.
In his book, he described
Kinnauras are honest, hard
working, freedom loving,
loyal, polite, selfless,
dependable and hospitable.
2)
An Account of Koona War in
Himalayas – by Capt
Alexender Gerard in 1841.
3)
Four months in Himalayas –
by Dr. W.G.N. Van Der Saleen
in 1920.
4)
Journal of a trip through
Kunaawar, Hangrang and Spiti
– by lt. Thomas Houttan in
1838.
5)
Kinner Desh Main – by Rahul
Sanskrityan in 1948.
Present locations of Historical Sites at Kalpa/Chini
1 Father
Bruski Bungalow – old
hospital building adjacent
to existing primary health
centre at Kalpa/Chini.
2 Forest
Bungalow where Lord
Dalhousie used to visit
during summers is existing
old circuit house near newly
built circuit house at Kalpa.
3 Quail/Fort
of Arms, Chakras of Chini
was in the rear portion of
Middle School. It was burnt
and damaged hence no remains
are left.
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