FOUNDATION OF  

JAMMU & KASHMIR STATE 
BY MAHARAJA GULAB SINGH 
By: COL J P SINGH (RETD)

188 years ago began the process of evolution of State of Jammu & Kashmir by an act of
unprecedented historical significance in which Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab who
ruled Jammu as Jagir of his son Prince Kharak Singh as well as other major principalities
indirectly gave Raj Tilak to his most trusted & loyal Dogra General Gulab Singhji on 17
June 1822 (4th Har 1879) at Jia Pota, Akhnoor (Northern bank of mighty sprawling
River Chenab also called Chanderbaga, overlooked by magnificent Akhnoor Fort built
by Raja Alam Singh in 1802) and made him Raja of Jammu. Therefore credit for the
formation of a vast, multi religious, multi culture & a composite State of Jammu &
Kashmir equally goes to the Lion of Punjab. Regrettably this fact is not known to many
in J&K and may not have been ever heard of in rest of India. From that day onwards
began the process of formation of our state under the astute leadership of a great
visionary whose sagacity, achievements and contributions unfortunately remain buried in
the debris of British and Indian archives. He is one of few historical legacies that India
can be genuinely proud of. The memory of Maharaja Gulab Singhji will enable us
sustain our Dogra pride much like any other vibrant community. His contributions to our
political, cultural and religious lives are remembered on 17th June every year at Jia Pota
by Raj Tilak Divas Celebration Committee Akhnoor and on 21 Oct every year at
Jammu by Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust.

Gulab Singh was born on 5th of Kartik 1849 ( 21 Oct 1792 ) in Samailpur which was
a Jagir of his grandfather Mian Zorawar Singh, nephew of Raja Rajgan Ranjit Dev, the
most benevolent ruler in the Dorgra history from 1730 to 1782. He learnt the art of
warfare and swordsmanship from his grand uncle Mian Mota which he displayed
remarkably in 1808 in the battle of Gumat against the warriors of mighty Sikh Army at
the tender age of 16. His heroic feats in the battle of Gumat led him to the lordship of
J&K via Lahore. When Jammu was about to be invested, 16 years old Gulab Singh
assembled and led a band of young Dogra fighters in last desperate bid to save Jammu.
They fought so bravely & beheaded their leading fighters in such a way that the Sikh
Army was compelled to give up the plan of capturing Jammu and instead offered to enter
into a treaty. Bhai Hukam Singh Chimney, the commander of Sikh Army apprised
Maharaja Ranjit Singh of valour & ability of Gulab Singh and recommend that his talent
be utilized in the Lahore Darbar and that is what was indeed destined already.

Once he took out his father’s horse on a rough ride without permission in which the
horse was injured. Infuriated by his father’s rebuke, Gulab Singh left home and took
service under S. Nihal Singh Attariwala at Sukhu Chak. After sometime he left for
Bhimber to serve under Raja Sultan Khan. But the destiny had chartered another beautiful
destination for him though passing through rough and hazardous routes He was
summoned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Mian Mota presented him before the Maharaja at
Sialkot in Oct 1810. Impressed, Maharaja appointed him Cavalryman when he was 18.
From there on began a rewarding, difficult & challenging long journey of
accomplishments of the founder ruler of J&K.

His father Mian Kishore Singh and brothers Dhian Singh & Suchet Singh were also
employed and given important positions in Lahore Darbar. Soon Dhian Singh was
appointed Prime Minister. In 1813 Mian Kishore Singh & Gulab Singh took active part in
the battle of Attok and won over Fateh Khan, the Governor of Kabul. In 1814 Gulab
Singh skillfully secured the vulnerable flank from Mandi to Bushair for the attack on
Kashmir led by Maharaja himself and subsequent withdrawal, after which Maharaja
granted him Jagirs of Kharoti and Babool (Bayol) and promoted him to the command of
a Cavalry sub unit. Within mere 4 years he had become a Commander and a Jagirdar
from a sepoy. In 1815 he was given the Jagirs of Lala Chobara (in Sialkot) and Ramgarh
as well as permission to keep additional 200 horses. More golden opportunities followed
him during expeditions against Multan in 1818 and against Kashmir in 1819 in which he
carried the day by following unique & unconventional strategies. In 1819, Maharaja of
Punjab tasked Gulab Singh to seize Raja Agha Khan of Rajouri which he did with a
rare bold strategy. He was captured and taken to Lahore. Neutralising Mian Dido in
1820 was another remarkable achievement. Same year he took active part in the invasion
of Munerka and Dera Gazi khan after which Jagir of Chakla was given to him. Mian
Kishore Singh was titled as Raja of all the Jagirs with full executive and judicial powers.
In 1821 Gulab Singh occupied Kishtwar and added the principality in Punjab empire.
When Mian Dewan Singh of Reasi revolted against Darbar, Gulab Singh conquered it
easily and built Bhimgarh Fort for its defence after which Gen Zorawar Singh was
appointed administrator of Reasi.

Finally the great day came when Maharaja Ranjit Singh came to Jammu and declared
Gulab Singh as Raja of Jammu on 17 June 1822 by himself putting Raj Tilak on his
forehead. Tilak was applied upside down & the unconventional act justified by stating
that he had planted his roots to Patal so that Dogra Raj could not be uprooted. With this
act of Raj Tilak, a saga of addition of territories began and by the mid of
19th Century, Maharaja Gulab Singh became independent ruler of a vast
state of Jammu & Kashmir.

In 1827 Sayed Ahmed, an Afghan noble proclaimed himself a reformist and

declared Jihad against Sikhs. Maharaja sent his force across Attock under S. Budh Singh
Sindhanwalia and asked Gulab Singh to proceed from Jammu. Sikh chief preferred
defensive strategy which Gulab Singh opposed, luckily fortune favoured the bold Raja
Gulab Singh. Raja Gulab Singh led the attacks against Peshawar and Jallalabad. After
their capture Prince Sher Singh (favourite and able son of Maharaja Ranjat Singh) was
appointed Governor on 23 March 1835 and Gulab Singh was made Revenue Minister. In
April 1837, Afghans attacked fort of Jamrud which guarded the entrance to Khyber
Pass. Hari Singh Nalwa offered heroic resistance till Gulab Singh reached with his 3
Battalions, 1000 horses & 12 pieces of Artillery and succeeded in defeating the invader.

Gulab Singh had received vast Jagirs in Punjab. He got salt mines of Pind Dadan
Khan, Lune & Miani worth lakhs on lease. To further improve economical and financial
state of Jammu he obtained monopoly over timber trade by acquiring markets of Jhelum
& Wazirabad on lease. To get control over the trade of Pashmina shawls, Raja Gulab
Singh had his eye on Kashmir & Ladakh. In 1834 Gen Zorawar Singh captured Ladakh.
He over ran Zanskar and Paddar in 1836.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh died on 27 June 1839 and was succeeded by his son Kharak
Singh who also died a year later. Prince Nau Nihal Singh son of Kharak Singh too died
on the same day. He got buried under the debris of Palace Deodi while returning to the
palace after his father’s cremation which collapsed just then when he arrived under it.
Along with him died Udham Singh (son of Gulab Singh). Some Historians call it a master
conspiracy. (few even point finger of suspicion towards Gulab Singh). After the tragic
death of Nau Nihal Singh great confusion prevailed as the direct line of accession to the
vacant throne was broken. Rani Chand Kaur, mother of Nau Nihal Singh became
Regent for the son yet to be born to the wife of the deceased prince. Dhian Singh,(Prime
Minister) was not in agreement with this proposal. He was in favour of Prince Sher Singh
to rule. Rani Chand Kaur sought the help of Gulab Singh against fear of take over by
Sher Singh and appointed him Commander-in Chief. But before Gulab Singh reached
Lahore Sher Singh won over the army by offering them enhanced pay and perks. On 15
January 1841, Sher Singh captured Lahore and asked Raja Gulab Singh to surrender but
Gulab Singh on the contrary held his spirits and went up the ramparts of Hazuri Gate,
challenged the invader and forced him to flee despite his having broken the gate of the
palace. Sher Singh’s offensive having been dented, he showed eagerness for negotiations.
Under the agreement, Rani Chand Kaur abandoned her claim to the throne and got the
Jagir of Kudi Kudiali near Bhimber costing Rs 9 Lac and Gulab Singh was allowed safe
exit from the fort on 20 Jan 1841. Before leaving Lahore on 23 January, Raja Gulab
Singh presented Koh-i-Noor (which Maharaja Ranjit Singh had got from Shah Shuja,
Afghan Ruler, after capturing him) to Sher Singh. Pleased Sher Singh presented him with
villages worth 20 Lac West of Bhimber. Rani Chand Kaur appointed Gulab Singh to
manage her Jagir and accompanied him to Jammu with her valuables worth 20 Lac and
lived at Jammu till her death. Sher Singh was formally installed as Maharaja of Punjab
on 27 January 1841 & Dhian Singh was made Prime Minister.

By May 1841 Gen Zorawar Singh had penetrated deep into Tibet when he was
ordered by Lahore Darbar to give up this conquests. Gulab Singh was ordered to proceed
to Kabul against Akbar Khan son of Dost Mohd who had dislodged Britishers from
Kabul. 10 Dec 1841 was fixed for the evacuation of Tibet but before that Tibetans
encircled Dogra forces. Gen Zorawar Singh died fighting on 12 December 1841 which
was a great set back to the plans of Raja Gulab Singh. (Towering statue of Gen
Zorawar Singh at the exit of Railway Station Jammu reminds us of his remarkable
achievements). Gulab Singh reached Peshawar on 29 January 1842 with 10,000 Dogra
troops. It is here that he came in direct contact with Capt Lawrence of British forces.
Gulab Singh advised Capt Lawrence delay and caution in the capture of Peshawar since
the Sikh army was no more a cohesive outfit, moreover no General had accompanied the
army. Hence Capt Lawrence got written orders from Maharaja Sher Singh by which Sikh
Army came under direct command of Gulab Singh. Britishers offered the rule of
Jallalabad to Gulab Singh if he captures Kabul and Jallalabad because of bleak chances of
victory. Gulab Singh led Sikh forces to Khyber Pass to invest Peshawar & Jallalabad
which were annexed after bloody fights. To recognize his services Britishers rewarded &
decorated Gulab Singh.

On 15 Sept 1843 Maharaja Sher Singh and Dhian Singh were murdered by
Sindhanwalias, brothers of Rani Chand Kaur. On 20 Sept Sindhanwalias were murdered
by Sikh Army to revenge the murder of Sher Singh & Dhian Singh. Prince Dalip Singh
(the minor son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Rani Jindan) was proclaimed as emperor
with Hira Singh (son of Dhian Singh) as Prime Minister. But due to palace intrigues,
Suchet Singh was murdered on 27 March. Hira Singh & Sohna Singh (2nd son of Gulab
Singh) were murdered on 21 December 1844. Thus ended the saga of Dogra ascendancy
in Punjab but their ascendancy in J&K continued.

After the murder of Hira Singh, his supporters were haunted and their house
ransacked. Frustration and anarchy prevailed in Darbar. To pacify the troops, 3 months
pay was released to them after which treasuries went dry. Gulab Singh was considered
the only source of revenue. Moreover after the death of his relatives, he was considered
weakest for harsh penalty. Gulab Singh was ordered to surrender whole property of Hira
Singh & half of Suchet Singh. He refused to comply & decided to meet Sikh forces in the
battlefield. Jammu was attacked in February 1845. Negotiations brought respite to
Maharaja Gulab Singh who agreed to accompany Sikh forces to Lahore as prisoner. But
before entering Lahore the same army had been patronized by Gulab Singh which
ushered him as King & great Dogra warrior, considered loyal to Darbar and proposed to
be appointed as Wazir-e-Azam with full powers to pay the army from his resources at
Jammu. Raja Gulab Singh stayed at Lahore for three & half months during which he
convinced the Panches and the religious heads that real threat to Punjab was from
Britishers and only he could defend them. Since peace, trade and commerce had suffered
a lot after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death they looked up to Gulab Singh as the only
person who could restore peace, tranquility, trade and restore the situation. But Raja
Gulab Singh preferred to return to his own kingdom assuring to be at the service of
Darbar whenever summoned. He was permitted to return on 9 August 1845.

The period between the murder of Hira Singh in Dec 1844 to beginning August
1845 had been the worst & the saga of trials and tribulations in the life of Maharaja
Gulab Singh as well as highly crucial for Jammu Raj. Life of Gulab Singh remained
under threat all this while. But his diplomatic skills, sagacity and cool headedness averted
every crisis and ultimately he emerged as unharmed victor.

On 13 December 1845 Lord Hardinge, the Governor General declared war against
Lahore after the Sikh army had crossed Sutlej by violating their own commitment of not
doing so. Army wanted to be led by Gulab Singh in war against Britishers. Rani was
asked to retire forever or would be chained. Gulab Singh was empowered to decide to
fight or to make peace. But Gulab Singh relented again on the grounds that his brothers,
sons and nephew had been slain at Lahore and suspicion about Dogras loyalty still
prevailed therefore it will be difficult to justify any decision that he will make in favour
of war/peace. But army persisted with their request of inviting him to Lahore to lead them
in the battlefield. Finally he reached Lahore on 29 January 1846 on persistent requests of
Rani and the army. On 30th January he was declared Wazir-e-Azam. On 1st Feburary in
his 1st darbar he declared that the war with Britishers was a folly and decision was taken
to send an emissary to Britishers for friendship & peace. Some Panches still insisted to
fight under him on which Gulab Singh asked them to select another warrior/commander
better than him. Since there was none they also left the final decision on him. On 10th
February ended the Anglo-Sikh war after the final defeat of Sikh Army in the battle of
Sobaron. On 13 March British forces reached Kasur (5 kms from Lahore). He was given
written undertaking by Rani Jindan, Maharaja Dalip Singh and the Panches that they will
abide by any agreement that he will reach with British. At the same time Britishers sent a
letter asking Darbar that Gulab Singh be sent to negotiate if Sikhs wished to preserve the
kingdom of Lahore. Gulab Singh was requested to meet the Britishers immediately to
check their advance to Lahore which was welcomed by Governor General. He negotiated
with British on behalf of Sikh empire. Britishers put up the following terms. (i) War
indemnity of 2 Crores. (ii) Annexation of Doab to British empire. (iii) Complete
disbandment of Sikh empire. (iv) Abrogation of titles of Dalip Singh besides many other
harsh penalties. Not agreeing to these harsh terms, Gulab Singh made it clear that the
Sikh & the Dogra cavalry was intact to march to Delhi while their forces were entrenched
near Lahore. By converting their weakness into his strength, he got the amount reduced to
1.5 Crores and got Maharaja Dalip Singh’s titles restored besides many other concessions
by the Treaty of Lahore signed on 9 March 1846. Governor General conferred the title
of His Exalted Highness, The Maharaja of Jammu & kashmir upon Raja Gulab Singh
on 15 March 1846 with entitlement of 21 Gun Salute.

Lahore Darbar offered the Principalities of Chamba and those West of Ravi & East of
Indus River which were under their rule to the British empire in lieu of war indemnity.
Britishers found these areas indefensible being far flung & inhospitable. Britishers
negotiated these areas with Maharaja Gulab Singh. On 16 March 1846 Governor General
separately concluded the Treaty of Amritsar with him under which all hilly territories
situated Eastwards of Indus and Westwards of Ravi including Chamba were given to him.
Maharaja paid Rs.75 Lac against Darbar’s war indemnity for these Principalities. After
this treaty, Kashmir came under him along with its dependencies of Gilgit, Indus valley
and Chilas. In 1847 Rulers of Rajouri, Bhimber, Poonch, Jasrota, Ramnagar, Basohli &
Kishtwar were given pension and retired. Thus came into existence the vast state of
Jammu & Kashmir under the direct rule of Maharaja Gulab Singh. He died on 30 August
1858. Magnificent statue of His Highness infront of Amar Mahal Museum Jammu
speaks volumes of his wisdom, sagacity and achievements.

The greatness of Maharaja lay in his superb statesmanship coupled with deep
foresight that enabled him to use every opportunity to the best of its advantage when that
knocked at his door. He thus gave India a state of composite religions and cultures of
three distinct regions ie, Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu, interdependent on each other for
their socio-economic growth. The unity of J&K is a source of secular strength of India.