On 16th March, 1846, the Treaty of Amritsar was signed between the British Government and the ruler of Jammu 'Raja Gulab Singh. Maharaja Gulab Singh became the ruler of Kashmir, but according to the treaty he was a vassal of the British and had to pay an annual tribute in acknowledgment of their supremacy.
Maharaja Gulab Singh had already annexed Ladakh region. Thus, a new state with three distinct regions, viz, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh was formed under the rule of Maharaja Gulab Singh
The State of J&K under the Dogra Rulers
Maharaja Gulab Singh (1846-1856 AD)
The state of Jammu & Kashmir was established and its boundaries were demarcated. To improve the administration, Gulab Singh reorganised the revenue and police administrations.
He met the leaders of the shawl trade who were heavily taxed in the Sikh regime and he redressed their grievances.
Crime was suppressed ruthlessly in his region He captured leaders of marauding Glawans and after summary trial executed them publicly. Further, Gulab Singh reformed the Begar (Forced Labour) System, made the rationing of rice to the population of Srinagar. . Order was restored and trade and commerce became safe in his region.
The British government did not allow Gulab Singh to carry out his enlightened reform programme alone. They pressurised him to accept a British Resident at his Court, so that they could have a say in his frontier affairs.
⚫ Gulab Singh suppressed a rebellion in the frontier outpost of Chilas with an iron hand, but his General did not succeed in Gilgit and the territories to the right of the Indus river were lost
Maharaja Ranbir Singh (1856-1885 AD)
In February 1856, Gulab Singh nominated his son Ranbir Singh as ruler of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ranbir Singh, like his father introduced a number of reforms in the administration of the
state and set up three departments namely the revenue, the civil and the military. . He made improvements in the collection of land revenue by fixing land revenue.
Formation of the State Jammu and Kashmir
📶The judicial system was reorganised and Penal. He established a Research and Translation Code was drawn upon the lines of Macaulay's code in British India. Appeal courts were set up both at Jammu and Srinagar and 30 sub-ordinates courts functioned in the state.
📶A Cart road was constructed between Rawalpindi and Srinagar in 1890 and another road Banihal Cart Road was built between Jammu and Srinagar in 1913 to 1915.
📶He abolished export duty on shawls and imported cocoons from China to improve silk making. Being a patron of Arts and Literature, Ranbir Singh encouraged research and founded a good library of Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts.
📶He introduced modernism in education by establishing many schools. He donated one lakh rupees to set up Punjab University at Lahore and became its first fellow. He also donated liberally to Sanskrit institutions at Banaras and made provisions for students from the state to study there.
📶The famous Raghunath Temple and many other temples were established by him. . In a sectarian disturbance when Shias were attacked and looted by the Sunnis, he gave adequate compensation to the victimised Shia.
📶This proved his religious tolerance, thus he was liked by his own people. During his reign, the Trans-Himalayan territories of Gilgit, Astore, Hunza-Nagar were annexed and became a part of Jammu and Kashmir.
📶He also built Ranbireshvaram temple, the biggest Shiva temple in North India, and other temples at Jammu and Utter Behani. Dharmartha Trust was also established by him to look after these temples.
📶Established a Research and Translation Bureau called 'Daarul Tarjunah', a great Pathshala and Modern schools in the state.
Maharaja Pratap Singh (1885-1925 AD)
☯️Maharaja Pratap Singh, the eldest son of Ranbir Singh became the king after his death in 1885. Immediately a Resident was appointed by the British and Residency was established in Srinagar In 1889, the British conspiring with the Maharaja's brother Amar Singh deprived Pratap Singh of his power and appointed a Council of Regency under the Resident to administer the state.
☯️Being a wise ruler, Pratap Singh took many reformative measures. He established High Schools for boys and girls at every district headquarters. A college was setup each at Jammu and Srinagar.
☯️Hospitals were opened, bridge was constructed over Tawi river, Jammu was linked with a railway line to Sialkot, Jammu and Srinagar were connected by telephone during this period.
☯️He built Jhelum valley road and completed Banihal cart road. He constructed a bridge on the Tawi river and Jammu was linked with a railway line to Sialkot.
☯️He also dug two canals namely Ranbir canal and Pratap canal in the state. During his reign, the state got its first Hydro-electric project at Mohra about 22.5 km from Baramulla towards Uri. For the cities of Jammu and Srinagar, Municipal committees were also formed.
☯️The houseboats were first made in Maharaja's time as the improved version of the indigenous Doonga boat. This became a main tourist attraction in the state.
☯️During Pratap Singh's time, the administrative system, ministerial system was strengthened and Begar system was abolished in 1921. Municipal Committees were formed for the cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
☯️In all his life, Maharaja Pratap Singh fought against unjustified British interference in state affairs.
Maharaja Hari Singh (1925-1952 AD)
⏸In 1925, Maharaja Hari Singh ascended the throne after the death of his uncle Maharaja Pratap Singh. He announced several reforms.
⏸Maharaja Hari Singh paid special attention for the promotion of agriculture, establishing bank, telegraph, telephone and wireless system, opening primary schools and developing higher education.
⏸He undertook certain measures to introduce democratic set-up in administration. He enacted the Jammu and Kashmir High Cour in 1928 AD.
He leased Gilgit Agency to the British for 60 years sin 1935. He was ahead of many rulers in making social, economic and educational reforms.
Protest Against Dogra Rule
1️⃣Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, a Kashmiri youth, educated from Aligarh Muslim University thought that the feudal system in Kashmir was responsible for the miseries of the Kashmiris and Kashmir should have a democratically elected government.
2️⃣ Muslim population in Kashmir led by Sheikh Abdullah demonstrated in protest against Dogra ruler Hari Singh is Srinagar, Abdul Qadir Khan Gazi, a disciple of A MAHARAJA HARI SINGH
3️⃣ Hari Singh attended the Eid prayers of the Muslims at Srinagar. But, gradually he lost contact with the people under the influence of court favourites.
4️⃣The state border was sealed to prevent infiltration of political ideas from the rest of India.
5️⃣The Muslim Press centred in Lahore started propaganda against Maharaja Hari Singh and alleged that the majority of Muslims was kept in serfdom and deprived of government jobs.
6️⃣The Anglo-Indian Press following the British rule of Divide and Rule also criticised Hari Singh.Maulana Jamal-Uddin Afghani, a foremost Muslim philosopher of the 20th century visited Kashmir at that time.
7️⃣Abdul made speeches and demostrations against Hari Singh and asked the people to launch Jihad. On 21st June, 1931, Qadir was arrested. People led marches against his arrest.
8️⃣During his trial on 13th July, 1931, a religious riot broke out in Kashmir between Muslim supporters of Qadir and Hindus.
9️⃣Several shops were burnt and people lost their lives.The police had used 200 rounds of ammunition and arrested 32 persons in the initial stage.28 people were killed due to police firing.
1️⃣0️⃣The bodies of the Martyrs were laid in the compound of Jamia Masjid, Srinagar. .Sheikh Abudullah, Mirwaiz Maulvi Muhammad Yusuf Shah and other Muslim leaders started delivering speeches against
1️⃣1️⃣This Pro-Congress Parry wanted to merge Jammu and Kashmir with the British India.
1️⃣2️⃣Sheikh Abdullah strongly emerged as a Muslim leader to fight for the rights of the Kashmiris.
On 21st September, 1931, Sheikh was imprisoned alongwith other leaders in Hari Parbat Fort in Srinagar. . Muslims from Punjab entered Srinagar to demonstrate against the imprisonment. At this point, the British government intervened in the state and on 7th November, 1931, banned the movement of Muslims from Punjab. Maharaja Hari Singh appointed an inquiry Commission on 12th November, 1931, headed by B.J. Glancy.
1️⃣3️⃣The Commission recommended lowering the minimum qualification of different communities needed for government jobs, abolition of some taxes and promotion of industries. The recommendations came into force from 10th April, 1932, Maharaja also announced freedom of the Press as recommended by the Glancy Commission.
All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
🅾️Kashmir's first political party All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference was launched in the middle of 1932.
🅾️ Sheikh Abdullah became its President and started addressing the people from October 1932.
🅾️They demanded Constitutional government instead of Dogra rule. As a result, a Constitutional Reforms Commission was setup under B.J. Glancy to give limited franchise for Legislative Assembly.
🅾️Praja Sabha was formed and elections for the first time were held in 1934. The Muslim Conference won 16 of the 21 seats reserved for Muslims.
🅾️Soon afterwards, the younger leaders of the Muslim Conference wanted to broaden the party to include all people from the state.
🅾️It was in this background, twelve representatives of different communities moved a resolution which was known as "National Demand'. The aim was to achieve a responsible government.
🅾️In 1939, under Sheikh Abdullah's leadership, a special session of the Muslim Conference changed its name to National Conference and opened it to people of all religions.
🅾️National Conference was now open to Hindus and Sikhs for joining. Pr. Jawahar Lal Nehru
was invited by National in Srinagar in June 1940. In 1940, Muslim League adopted Pakistan Resolution and propounded Two Nation Theory.
🅾️ In 1944, M. A. Jinnah visited Kashmir to gain support but was disappointed. In April 1944, Sheikh Abdullah submitted Naya Kashmir Plan to Maharaja Hari Singh at a reception organised in Mujahid Manzil headquarters of National Conference.
🅾️Naya Kashmir Plan was written in Urdu language and compiled in the book Tehreek-e-Hurriyat-e-Kashmir. It contained economic and social reforms to improve the life of Kashmiris.
🅾️Sheikh Abdullah wanted to convert Jammu and and Kashmir state from absolute monarchy to constitutional democracy: Jinnah supported the National Conference.
➡️ Quit Kashmir Movement
⭕Sher-i-Kashmir or Tiger of Kashmir SHIEKH ABDULLAH launched the Quit Kashmir Movement on 15th May, 1946.
✳It was launched four years after Quit India Movement and asked for transferring the power to the people of Kashmir.
✳It was followed by large scale violence by the followers of Abdullah in the valley. Many key bridges were burnt down and government offices were attacked.
⚫ Hari Singh's government arrested Sheikh Abdullah and 300 activists of National Conference.
✴ Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru came to Kashmir in support of the movement, but he was also arrested by the orders of the Maharaja.
✴This was followed by major protests, marches and demonstrations in the Valley of Kashmir.
✴ In October 1946, Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas, who revived the All Jammu and Kashmir Gandhiji visited the state in July 1947 and advised Hari Singh to adopt a democratic form of governance.
⛔The Quit Kashmir Movement had deep impact on Ladakh and Jammu and laid the foundation of the movement for separating them from Kashmir.
Status of Jammu and Kashmir After Independence
⭕India gained freedom from British rule on 15th August, 1947. It was decided to divide India into two parts i.e. India and Pakistan.
⭕When India became independent, the ruler of a princely state could enter into a standstill agreement with either or both of the independent dominions, India and Pakistan.
⭕Maharaja Hari Singh could not decide at that time as there were lot of conflicts faced between Hindus and Muslims.
⚫ Finding the Maharaja hesitant in joining, Pakistan engineered a massive raid into Kashmir by her tribal people on 22nd October, 1947.
⚫ The tribesmen engaged in looting and killing along the way. The attack aimed to frighten Hari Singh and forced him to join Pakistan. . But Maharaja appealed to the Government of India for assistance.
⚫ National Conference under the leadership of Sheikh Abdullah also opposed joining the Muslim dominion at Pakistan.
⚫ Sheikh Abdullah flew to Delhi for the talks with the leaders of Congress. He urged the Congress leaders to accept the accession of the state of india subject to the consequent ratification of the act by plebisite
🟧 On 26th October, 1947, the Instrument of Accession was signed by the then Governor-General Lord Mountbatten, by Sheikh Abdullah and by Mehr Chand Mahajan, the Prime Minister of Kashmir who represented Maharaja Hari Singh. India got the power to make laws for the state on mattes of defense, external affairs and communication.
🟨 On 27th October 1947, Indian Forces led by Lt. Col. Ranjit Rai landed in Srinagar to stop the advancement of Pakistani Army in Baramulla and to protect the Srinagar Airfield.
🟩Lt. Col. Ranjit Rai was martyred in an attempt to check the advancement. Major Somnath Sharma was also martyred on 3rd November while protecting the Srinagar Airfield.
🟦The government of Pakistan was against the accession and was against said that it was fraudulent as the Maharaja had no right to sign an agreement with India when the standstill agreement with Pakistan was still in force.
🟪 Finally on 7th November, 1947, Pakistani Army suffered a crushing defeat by the Indian Army at the Battle of Shalteng.
🟫Indian Army regained the areas of Pattan, Uri, Baramulla, Mendhar, Poonch and Rajouri from 8th November to 23rd November.
⚫ India lodged a formal complaint to UN Security Council about Pakistan's aggression of 1st January, 1948.
🔴Sheikh Abdullah spoke at the UN Security Council on 5th February, 1948 about the Pakistani attack over the people of Kashmir.
🟠On 17th March 1948, Sheikh Abdullah took Oath as Prime Minister of Kashmir.
⚫ The warfare ended by UN ordering a ceasefire on 1st January, 1949.
🟡In July 1949, a 'Line of Control' was defined between India and Pakistan.
⚫ Because of its unique geographical and political importance, Kashmir was given a special status in Independent India.
⚫ On 17th October, 1949, India gave the right to Jammu and Kashmir to retain its separate Constitution and Flag as per Article 370.
🟢While Article 370 of the Constitution grants special status to J & K, Article 35A provides the special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of J & K.
🔵Yuvraj Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari Singh, was appointed as Regent of the State in 1949.
🟣In 1952, the Monarchy was abolished and Karan Singh was appointed as Sadar-i-Riyasat (Head of State) and later became the first Governor of Jammu and Kashmir from 1965 to 1967.
🟤 In April 1951, he issued a proclamation constituting a Constituent Assembly for framing the Constitution for the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
⚪ In November 1956, the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir was passed and became enforceable on 26th January, 1957.
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