DOGRA RULE (1846-1947 A.D.): GULAB SINGH (1846-1856 A.D.)

Gulab Singh, after having obtained the Kingdom,paid attention towards the restoration of law and order and repressed crime with a stern hand. Land Revenue being the main source of income to the State, the Maharaja maintained a close vigil on officers entrusted with the job of its collection and saw to it that the realized amount is deposited into the State treasury. Distribution of Jagirs was regulated on sound lines and the government took control of huge tracts illegally occupied by Jagirdars.

Kashmiri Shawl,famous for its delicacy and workmanship,was in great demand outside the State,particularly in European countries where it was sold on high profit. But major share of the prophet was enjoyed by (Karkhandar) mill owner and an artisan had to content himself,with only a meager share from his hard labour. Necessary steps were taken to mitigate the evils of intermedialism. He also liberalized the tax procedure and realized it at the time of sale as against the earlier practice of taxing the shawl at the time of its manufacture. As artisan was saved from the clutches of a Karkhandar when he was granted the freedom to seek employment at a factory whichever he choose good and profitable for himself. An institution called Dag-i-Shawl was set-up with absolute control over the production and marketing of the shawls. Even a Karkhandar had to seek the approval of dag-i-shawl for a new design to be adopted/worked out on a shawl.

He realized that the system of forced labour (beggar) in vogue was harsh and required to be liberalized. He appointed an officer whose Job was to fix number of labourers from every village to be engaged for government job and issued orders for serving the two time meals to them on the day of work besides one Kharwar of grain every month from Government stock.Maharaja Gulab Singh, inspite of resentment of jagirdars, prohibited the storage of surplus grains in godowns other than those owned by the State, and introduced a system of rationing of rice for the people who did not possess the land,particularly living in city.

The above reforms, though aimed to increase the revenue to the State, indirectly gave some relief to people and a majority of them blessed by Maharaja. However, some of the measures exposed Maharaja’s greed for money and partisan attitude towards different communities. For example a petitioner had to present a rupee to Maharaja as “Nazrana” with his petition. He equally did not encourage the recruitment of Musalman’s in the army on high posts in the State administration.

He was against the outside interference in State affairs but had to yield to the pressure of the British when he accepted the posting of a British Official in the State to look after the interest of European visitors. In February, 1856 A.D. he retired from active service and installed his son Ranbir Singh as Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.