Court Paper

Court papers are classified legal documents of great historical and administrative significance. The Ishwar Haribhakti Archives preserves around 3,000 of  such manuscript folios, ranging from small letters to large scrolls.

Handwritten on handmade paper using organic black ink, these documents are inscribed in Gujarati Modi, Marathi Modi, and English reflecting the multilingual legal systems of the time. They bear official seals of the Gaekwad Sarkar, affirming their legitimacy.

These papers address legal disputes, contracts, and administrative matters involving the Gaekwads and the Haribhaktis who served as State Bankers and advisors. Spanning the late 19th to 20th centuries, these manuscripts are a crucial resource for understanding the pre-modern governance, legal practices, and socio-economic dynamics.