SIKH RULE(1819-1846 A.D)

From the facts mentioned above, it can convienently be concluded that conquest of Kashmir by Sikhs in 1819 A.D. had the blessing of the British Indian Government as, the later by virtue of a treaty of friendship signed in 1809 A.D between them and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, had agreed to abstain from interference with territories falling to the north of river Sutlej.

Ignorant of political intricacies and diplomatic moves, Birbal Dhar with the blessings of “rack-rented peasantry, the famished middle class and pandit community” succeeded in maneuring the downfall of Afghan rule in Kashmir but change of regime resulted in more trouble to the masses as the triumphant army indulged in loot,inspite of the fact, that army indulged in loot,inspite of the fact, that clear instructions were given by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to Commander Dewan Chand Zafar Jang that all the should be taken for the safety and security of inhabitants. The animosity between the Mughals and the Sikhs in other parts of the country had an impact on the relations between the Mughals and the Sikhs in other parts of the country had an impact on the relations between the two communities in Kashmir. The Sikh army, committed by others in distant lands. The very fact that the Sikh Commendars closed the Jamia Masjid at Srinagar fro prayers. Prohibited the (Azan)call for prayers and imposed ban on cow slaughter, created suspicious and fear in the minds of local population that the Sikh rulers are determined to effect change in religious life of the Musalmans. More serious act of religious fanaticism was averted when Dewan Chand, the first Sikh Governor of Kashmir,prevailed upon Phula Singh Mihang who had arranged guns to blow up the Shah Hamdan Mosque at Khanqah Maulla.

Dewan Chand, during his brief tenure of governorship concentrated more on his efforts to exact money from the people and succeeded in collecting a huge sum of twenty-five lakhs of rupees as revenue, which was outstanding against the Zamindars during Afghan Government. He appointed Birbal Dhar as Farmer-in-Chief of revenue in lieu of fifty three lakhs of rupees whileas octrio and other cesse were found to Pandit Jawahar Ml fro ten lakhs of rupees. He was on recalled but as a measure of precaution against the eruption of some revolt against the Sikh rule, he took with him many chiefs of warring groups of hilly areas, some officers and Phulla Singh Nihang the Commander of Sikh army.