MAHARAJA PRATAP SINGH (1885-1925 A.D)

The intervening period (1885-1992 A.D) marked the beginning of new epoch in the social, economic and political development in the sub-continent which had a definite impact on the State. As result of First War of India’s Independence in 1857, India was no longer an affair of (East India Company/Trading Company) rather it came under the direct control of the crown. The Act of 1858 envisaged more control and accountability of the officers to Brirish Parliament. The Indian leaders through their writings made people conscious of their glorious past and pleaded for self rule and responsible government and they found support in British Parliament where the Parliamentarians pleaded for reforms in dealing with Indian affairs

Maharaja Pratap Singh’s accession also coincided with a major political development in the sub-continent when the British National A.O Hume laid the foundation of Indian National Congress with well defined aims and objects to seek the redressel of political,social and economic grievances.

In the State of Jammu and Kashmir the people had organized themselves to protest against the autocratic rule and in the artisan uprising on April 29, 1865, famously known as zaldagar uprising, the leaders showed immence potential of resistance and sacrifice. The sad state of affairs was made known to the world by Robert Thorp who”evoked sympathy among his brethren for the plight of Kashmiris and even condemned the sale of Kashmir”.

To remedy this sorry state of affairs, a number of reforms in various directions were undertaken.Land settlement received the first priority and, in 1877 A.D., the State requisitioned from the Government of India, the services of an expert A.Wingate, to carry out the land settlement. Two years later, his work was taken up by Sir W.R.Lawrence who accomplished the assignment in seven years time. The settlement clearly defined the rights of peasants, fixed the area of there holdings and amount of land revenue they had to pay in cash.On account of land settlement,Lawrence acquired great familiarity among the peasant classes who even today remember him by the name “Lawrence Sahab”. He ensured the security of peasants and disentangled him from the jaws of rapacious officials. To improve their lot, a series of other measures followed which included the establishment of the Department of Agriculture and introduction of co-operative societies.

Sericulture, Viticulture and Horticulture also received due attention and encouragement. Ericulture, in particular, flourished greatly and a silk factory, set-up at Srinagar, achieved the distinction of being the largest of its kind in the world.

In the field for administration, several important changes were affected and new departments of Accounts, Public works, Police, Forests and so on were established on modern lines and placed under the charge of British officers.Persian, the court language was replaced by Urdu,opening avenues of employment in government offices mostly for Punjabi Hindus.The educated class, consisting mostly of Kashmiri Pandits at the time, agitated against the measure and, as a result government jobs were reserved for state subjects exclusively.

With an aim to facilitate the movement of troops and other supplies, Srinagar was connected to the nearest rail head Rawalpindi by Jehlum Valley Cart road in 1890 A.D.Another great highway, Banihal Cart Road, linking Srinagar with Jammu was built in 1915 A.D and exclusively reserved for royal purpose. But in 1922 A.D. the road was thrown open to public.Some other feeder roads within the valley and those connecting Srinagar with Gilgit and Leh were also constructed.Telegraph lines laid during Ranbir Singh’s period were extended to all important towns in the valley and to Gilgit and Ladakh.The collective benefit of all these measures was that Kashmir was exposed to the outside world and there was considerable increase in tourist traffic, thereby, bringing prosperity to several classes of people.

Since ancient times the security of life and property in Kashmir valley had been threatned by floods, famines and epidemics which off and on ravaged the valley. Several measures were taken to combat these natural calamities.A team of expert engineers was asked to device schemes for protection against floods.On their advice the river bed from Wular lake to Baramulla was deepened by dedgers. As the dedgers were to be run by electric power, a hydro-electric generating plant was built in 1907 A.D. at Mohra with the help of American experts, which became the second hydro-electric project in India in those days.Similarly, vigorous measures were taken to prevent the recurrence of epidemics by sanitating Srinagar and making available to the citizens clean drinking water.Vaccination against the small pox was introduced and medical facilities was extended by establishing a number of hospitals and dispensaries all over the State.

Necessary steps were taken to introduce modern system of education. The lead in this direction was taken by British Missionaries when they opened a school at Srinagar where the medium of instruction was English. Soon the government followed suit and set up schools at various places where modern education was imparted to the pupil.Education was made free upto primary level. To meet the needs of higher education, the Maharaja Pratab Singh established an Arts College in 1905 A.D. after his name and a technical institute after

The name of his brother, Raja Amar Singh,at Srinagar.One more college was set up at Jammu in 1908 A.D.In addition to this, the services of an educationist Mr. Sharp were burrowed from government of India in1912 A.D., to recommend changes in the educational set up so as to modernize it.

Meanwhile,in the rest of India the struggle against the British imperialism achieved a new dimension with the launching of Khilafat and Non-Co-operation Movements.So vehement and forceful was their impulse that these picked up supporters from Jammu and Kashmir State also. Gandhi ji’s exhortation to the Muslims of India to adopt non- cooperation as the remedy for wrongs done to Turkey evoked some positive response among the Muslims of Kashmir . But due to lack of support from non-Muslims, coupled with the repressive measures of the government, the movement soon petered out without achieving any success.However it infused a spirit of courage among the masses to rise against the autocratic rule and fight for their rights. This was evinced by the Muslims when in 1924 A.D., on Lord Reading’s visit to Kashmir,the submitted a memorandum wherein they listed their grievances against the Dogra regime.In the same year,the workers in the State owned silk factory at Srinagar against the government for seeking redressal of their grievances and held anti-government demonstration. The Maharaja was deeply insenced at these untoward developments and adopted a policy of ruthless oppression. Some leaders were exiled,while several others were punished to other ways. Amdist this seething discontent, Maharaja Pratap Singh breathed his last in September,1925 without leaving behind any issue.