Shadab Peerzada
The creation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir under the Dogra rulers, particularly through the Treaty of Amritsar, is a significant chapter in South Asian history. This period marks the formal establishment of Jammu and Kashmir as a princely state under British suzerainty, initiated by the sale deed known as the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846. The Dogra dynasty’s rise to power in the region began with Gulab Singh, a chieftain in the service of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Gulab Singh was a shrewd and ambitious leader who played a crucial role in the politics of the Sikh Empire. His administrative acumen and military prowess earned him the title of Raja of Jammu in 1822.
The first Anglo-Sikh War (1845-1846) between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company ended with the defeat of the Sikhs. The subsequent Treaty of Lahore (March 1846) imposed severe terms on the Sikh Empire, including the cession of territories and payment of indemnities to the British. Following the Treaty of Lahore, a separate agreement known as the Treaty of Amritsar was signed on March 16, 1846, between the British East India Company and Raja Gulab Singh. This treaty effectively established the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir under Gulab Singh’s rule. The key points of the Treaty of Amritsar were:
Sale of Kashmir: The British East India Company sold the territories of Jammu, Kashmir, and the region between the Ravi and Indus rivers to Gulab Singh for a sum of 7.5 million rupees.
Recognition as Maharaja: Gulab Singh was recognized as the independent Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, thus legitimizing his rule over the newly acquired territories.
Sovereignty and Suzerainty: While Gulab Singh was given considerable autonomy in the administration of his state, he acknowledged British suzerainty, agreeing to pay an annual tribute and maintain peace and order within his territories.
After the Treaty of Amritsar, Maharaja Gulab Singh focused on consolidating his rule over Jammu and Kashmir. The British Government owes an apology to the people of Kashmir for selling the region to Raja Gulab Singh under the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846. This sale marked the beginning of a dark age for the Kashmir Valley, characterized by the oppressive rule of the Dogra dynasty, which subjected the predominantly Muslim population to harsh and discriminatory policies. The autocracies committed by the Dogra rulers are well-documented by historians and authors who have studied the region’s turbulent history.
Victoria Schofield, in her book “Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War”, describes how the Dogra rulers imposed heavy taxation and forced labor on the local population. Schofield notes that the economic policies were designed to extract maximum revenue, often leading to severe hardship for the peasantry (Schofield, 2003). Scholar Mridu Rai, in her work “Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects: Islam, Rights, and the History of Kashmir”, discusses how the Dogra rulers enforced policies that marginalized the Muslim population. Muslims were excluded from significant administrative positions and faced restrictions in practicing their religion freely (Rai, 2004). Prem Nath Bazaz, a prominent Kashmiri historian and political leader, detailed the brutal suppression of political dissent by the Dogra rulers in his book “The History of Struggle for Freedom in Kashmir”. Bazaz writes about the imprisonment, exile, and execution of political activists who opposed the regime, creating an atmosphere of fear and repression (Bazaz, 1954). The Great Famine of 1877-1879 is another dark chapter in the Dogra rule. According to the historian Sumantra Bose, in his book “Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace”, the administration’s neglect and mismanagement during the famine led to the deaths of thousands of Kashmiris. The Dogra rulers were criticized for their inadequate response to the crisis and their failure to provide relief to the starving population (Bose, 2003).
Given the historical evidence of the suffering inflicted upon the people of Kashmir under Dogra rule, facilitated by the Treaty of Amritsar, there is a strong case for the British Government to issue a formal apology. The treaty, as highlighted by Alastair Lamb, was a blatant act of disregard for the wishes and welfare of the Kashmiri people. Recognizing this historical wrong is essential for addressing the legacy of injustice and oppression that continues to affect the region. The oppressive rule of the Dogra dynasty left deep scars on the socio-political fabric of Jammu and Kashmir. The grievances stemming from this period contributed to the political awakening and resistance movements in the valley. The memory of Dogra autocracy continues to fuel sentiments of alienation and demands for justice among the people of Kashmir. Although, the dogras later brought some reformations especially political after agitation of 1936 but at large the rule remained oppressive for its majority of subjects. An apology from the British Government would acknowledge the historical wrongs committed under the Treaty of Amritsar and serve as a step towards accepting human rights violations in past.
The sale deed under the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846 stands as one of the most egregious human rights violations by the British government, as it transferred the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, along with its population which is historically the largest sale of population, to Raja Gulab Singh for a sum of 7.5 million rupees, regarding as the people of Kashmir as slaves. This transaction effectively commodified the lives and autonomy of the inhabitants, subjecting them to the oppressive rule of the Dogra dynasty, which enforced heavy taxation, forced labor, and religious discrimination. The local people were merely regarded as slaves by Britishers and sold them to the warlord. Similar incidents of entire regions and their populations being sold include the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, where France sold the vast Louisiana territory to the United States, impacting Native American tribes who were living there. Another example is the sale of Alaska by Russia to the United States in 1867, which disregarded the indigenous peoples’ claims to the land. These historical transactions highlight the recurring theme of colonial powers exploiting regions and their populations as commodities, often resulting in significant human rights abuses and long-term socio-political consequences. Although such references are found in the history of mankind but the sale of Kashmir is the largest sale among all in which nearly one million people were sold.
Shadab Peerzada is a Politician Writer Technologist, can be reached at shadabpeerzada@yahoo.com
