Kashmir and Jammu (princely state)

Kashmir and Jammu (princely state) was a princely state within the British Indian Empire, established in 1846 following the Treaty of Amritsar. Ruled by the Dogra Hindu Maharajas, it encompassed a vast and diverse territory including the Kashmir Valley, the Jammu region, Ladakh, Gilgit, and Baltistan. The state existed until 1947, when the reigning Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India, an event that precipitated the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 and the ongoing Kashmir conflict.

History

The state was created in the aftermath of the First Anglo-Sikh War, when the British East India Company, under the Governor-General Lord Hardinge, sold the territories of the former Sikh Empire to Gulab Singh, the Dogra ruler of Jammu, for 7.5 million Nanakshahi rupees via the Treaty of Amritsar. Gulab Singh's forces, led by generals like Zorawar Singh Kahluria, had already conquered Ladakh in the Sino-Sikh War and launched the Dogras–Tibetan War to expand northward. Subsequent rulers, including Ranbir Singh, further consolidated control, facing challenges like the Hunza–Nagar Campaign and managing relations with the British Raj. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw significant political awakening, with the rise of movements like the Kashmir Committee and the historic All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, which later evolved into the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference under Sheikh Abdullah.

Geography and administration

The state covered approximately 84,471 square miles, stretching from the Punjab plains in the south to the Karakoram and Kunlun mountain ranges in the north. Its major regions were the Kashmir Valley, the Jammu region, the high-altitude desert of Ladakh, and the rugged territories of Gilgit and Baltistan. The summer capital was Srinagar, located on the Jhelum River and famed for Dal Lake, while the winter capital was Jammu. The state was administratively divided into provinces and districts, with frontier areas like the Gilgit Agency coming under British political supervision after the Gilgit Lease of 1935.

Demographics and society

The state was characterized by immense religious, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. The majority of the population in the Kashmir Valley, Gilgit, and Baltistan adhered to Islam, while the Jammu region had a significant Hindu population, and Ladakh was predominantly Buddhist. Key languages included Kashmiri in the valley, Dogri in Jammu, and Ladakhi, Balti, and Shina in the northern areas. Society was largely agrarian and feudal, with the Dogra ruling class and a predominantly Muslim peasantry. Significant social and political reform movements emerged in the 20th century, centered around figures like Sheikh Abdullah and the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference.

Economy

The economy was primarily agrarian, with the Kashmir Valley known for the cultivation of saffron, fruits, and Basmati rice. The state was famous for its handicraft industries, particularly Pashmina shawls, silk, and carpet weaving from centers like Srinagar. Other economic activities included sericulture, forestry, and limited mining. Trade routes like the Silk Road passed through Ladakh and Gilgit, facilitating commerce with Tibet and Central Asia. The Jhelum River served as a vital transportation artery, and infrastructure projects like the Jhelum Valley Road were developed during the British Raj.

Rulers and governance

The state was an autocracy ruled by the Dogra dynasty. The monarch held the title of Maharaja, with absolute authority over administration, law, and revenue. The first ruler was Gulab Singh (1846–1857), followed by Ranbir Singh (1857–1885), Pratap Singh (1885–1925), and the last reigning monarch, Hari Singh (1925–1952). The Maharaja was assisted by a Dewan (prime minister) and a state council. The legal system was based on the Dogra code, and the state maintained its own army, the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces. British influence was exercised through a Resident posted in Srinagar.

Accession to India

In the chaotic aftermath of the Partition of India in August 1947, the state faced internal revolt in Poonch and an invasion by Pashtun tribesmen from the North-West Frontier Province, supported by the nascent state of Pakistan. Faced with this crisis, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Pakistan (princely state)|Pakistan|Pakistan and Kashmir|Pakistan (princely state of the War of Jammu and Kashmir (country)|Pakistan (princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir|Pakistan (Pakistan (princely state) and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir (princely state)|Pakistan (1905, (princely state) and Kashmir and Kashmir (princely state) and Kashmir and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan (princely state) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir (Pakistan) and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir (princely state) and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir and Kashmir (princely state)