The Founding of the Kashmir State is divided into nine chapters.
To some Gulab Singh seemed an opportunist who took advantage of the confusion
which followed after Ranjit Singh’s death. He was able to carve out a state for
himself with the establishment of Jammu and Kashmir by the Treaty of 1846.
Gulab Singh was the son of Kishore Singh. Gulab Singh’s
sons were Randhir Singh, Sohan Singh and Ranbir Singh. Gulab was under his
grandfather’s training. One day he was not obedient to his grandfather and got
scolded by him. Gulab was left hurt as he was sensitive boy of hardly seventeen
years. In 1809 Gulab joined the army of Ranjit Singh at Daska, a few miles from
Sailkot. Ranjit Singh in 1812 started his first expedition against Kashmir in
alliance with Fateh Khan, Minister of Shah Mahmud of Kabul. Before that Ranjit
Singh had received the title of Rajah in 1799 from Zaman Shah. It was Ranjit
Singh who gave Gulab Singh the title of Rajah.
The third chapter is regarding Gulab Singh and the Sikh
Anarchy. In 1839 Ranjit Singh died at the age of 59. He was succeeded by his
son Kharrak Singh. Kharrak Singh was in the hands of his favorite Chet Singh.
This created problems and alienated the other officers of the court. This
created turmoil. After that Lahore government had made every effort to root out
the Jammu family. Only Gulab Singh managed to escape from their thirst for
blood.
In chapter five the conquest of Ladak, Baltistan and
Western Tibet is covered. In 1834 Gulab Singh decided to attack Ladak. At first
there was no opposition as the Ladakis were taken by surprise. 5000 Ladakis were
collected in haste abd on 16 August 1834, an attempt was made to stop the Dogra
advacnce at Sanku. The Ladakis were heavily defeated. Having finally conquered
Ladak, Zorawar Singh turned to Baltistan. Muhammad Shah the eldest son of the
ruler of Sakrdo sought Zorawar’s help to get his claims recognized. Zorawar
organized a Ladaki army under their own generals and invaded Baltistan. The
Balti army was defeated and Muhammad Shah was made the Sulatn. Zorawar left a
Dogra garrison to support his authority.
Zorawar now wanted to conquer Central Tibetean Province for
his master. He prepared an army of 5000 which included Balti and Ladaki
recruits with a small Dogra force. On 10 December 1841 the balttle commenced.
Zorawar was helped by a Tibetan warrior as a lance pierced his breast. With
Zorawar’s death the Dogra army suffered great hardships. Despite that, Gulab
Singh did not lose heart. A new army was raised and dispatched under Dewan
Harri Chand and Wazir Ratanu. With the approach of the Dogra force the Tibetans
fled and Dogra leaders occupied Leh.
Treaty of Lahore and Treaty of Amritsar are discussed in
chapter six. In chapter seven the text of the Treaty of Amritsar is given.
Maharajah Gulab Singh had to pay to the British Government the sum of
seventy-five Lakhs of Rupees (Nanushahee). The rein of Gulab Singh is explained
in the second last chapter. The hostility of the Sikh population and the
strained relations with Afghanistan made it necessary for the British
government to cultivate the friendship of Gulab Singh and to treat him as a
specially valued ally. In 1850 Sir Henry and Lady Lawrence came to Kashmir.
They met Gulab Sing at Sri Nagar several times. Lawrence from there went to
Skardo and Ladak. The aim of this mission was to explore the possibilities of
the Central Asian trade.
In 1841 Gaur Aman the eldest son of Mulk Iman, the ruler of
Yasin conquered Gilgit and killed its ruler. Karim Khan, the brother of the
dead Rajah called upon the Sikh Governor of Kashmir for help. The Sikhs sent
Nathu Shah of Gujranwalla with a strong force to help Karim Khan. In 1842
Astore was occupied by Nathu Shah and Gaur Aman was defeated. Nathu Shah was
sent back again and successfully pacified the border, taking in marriage the
daughters of Gaur Aman and the Mirs of Hunza and Nagar. Karim Khan who asked
for Sikh aid received it mostly and Gilgit got permanently occupied by the
Sikhs. In 1852 Chilas was conquered by the Sikhs. Chilasis surrendered and
their leaders were brought to Srinagar where they accepted the Maharajah’s authority
and left their sons as hostages.
Gulab Singh died at the age of sixty-six in August 1858.The
author believes that Gulab Singh was one of the most remarkable man that India
had produced. The extension of the Sikh state into Ladak, Skardo and Tibet are
to Gulab Singh’s credit.
A very pragmatic decision maker who knows when to fight and
when to go for peace. Gulab Singh remained an orthodox Hindu at the Sikh Court.
He built numerous temples in Jammu, undertook pilgrimages and banned the
killing of cows. The author believes that ‘Jammu and Kashmir state’ is his
monument.
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