British Period in Dehradun

The British period in Dehradun played a substantial role in shaping the political structure which is present in contemporary Dehradun.

The British period in Dehradun started in 1815. Before the British period in Dehradun, Dehradun and its adjoining regions were ruled by the Gorkhas. The Gorkhas are of Nepali descent. The British period in Dehradun was a watershed year for the historical events of Dehradun.

The British period in Dehradun was accompanied by a frenzied redrawing of the political map of the region. After the annexation of Dehradun, the administrators from London added Dehradun to the district of Saharanpur. The task was done in the year of annexation itself-1815. In 1825 during the British period in Dehradun, Dehradun was transferred to the Kumaon division.

The aim of the English administration was to administer the area of Dehradun and its nearby regions to the positive economic benefit of pax Britannica. To keep that end in view, the British period in Dehradun saw frequent reorganization of the political landscape of the region. In 1828, Dehradun was placed under the aegis of a separate Deputy Commissioner. The British period in Dehradun saw another major change: the Dehradun division was transferred from the Kumaon division to the Meerut division.

In 1842, Dehradun was attached to Saharanpur district. At that time of the British period in Dehradun, the district was administered by an officer who reported to the Collector of the district. In 1968, after the end of the British period in Dehradun, Dehradun was taken out from the Meerut division and placed in the Garhwal division.