MAHARAJA HARI SINGH (1925-1947 A.D)

The new Education policy of the British, threw open the gates of knowledge to the youth and enabled them to seek admission in various Universities where they exchange their ideas on the political developments in and outside their State/country.On return from Universities, they organized youth movements to register protest against misrule and fight for their rights. One such example is when in 1930 A.D the educated young men of Kashmir started a “READING ROOM PARTY” near Fateh Kadal Srinagar which later became pioneer organizations of all political activities in the State. The founder members of the Reading Room Party among others included Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah and Mufti Mohammad Jalal-ud-Din.

Maharaja Hari Singh was well aware of the political developments in the sub-continent and their impact on Kashmir. Therefore, he made a declaration granting certain concessions to his subjects even when the coronation ceremonies were in full swing. In his valedictory speech, he showed his concern about the female infanticide and early marriages.Zamindars who had only tenancy (ASAMI ) rights were granted permission to fell the trees which otherwise were the property of His Highness and could lift the wood for whole of the year as against the earlier practice of three months only.They could cultivate even the lands which were classified as Khalsa Sarkar and were not ploughed to yield crops. He issued orders to increase the number of schools and hospitals and for opening of technical institutions. An administrative council was constituted to help the Maharaja in administering the State efficiently.

Like his great grand father,Maharaja Gulab Singh, he was against any outside interference in the State affairs and immediately after assuming the charge, forced the British to call back the Resident and close down his office at Srinagar.

On finding a small representation of State subjects in the government offices,he issued an ordinance that only those of his subjects will be given preference while making selection for government jobs who can establish settlement of his/her family in the State on or before 1885 A.D.

In order to improve the efficiency in the government departments he constituted a committee a select and recommend the candidates for training in European countries and granted scholarships to them. Many students were granted loans to continue their higher studies outside the State.Maharaja Hari Singh was well conscious of the importance of past references and set-up a Repository of Records at Jammu in 1928 A.D. and ensured proper management and preservation of documents.

In the year 1929 A.D., he constituted a High Court of Judicature with one Chief Justice and two Judges. Lala Kanwar Sen was the first Chief Justice and Rai Bahadur Dewan, Bodhraj Sahni and Khan Sahib Aga Syed Hussain were other two Judges of the Apex Court. He also constituted a Judicial Advisory Board which adviced and assisted him in dispencing the cases,presented before His Highness. The board would meet twice a year,once each at Stringer and Jammu and is believed that Maharaja Hari Singh never set aside the advice rendered by the Board.

To keep himself informed about the conditions of his subjects, the Maharaja very frequently toured the remote areas of his State and held conferences of village headmen to know about the problems of the particular area and device plans for their solution.

In the year 1929 A.D., he issued an ordinance prohibiting smoking by children and no person less than the age of sixteen years could trade in tobacco. Remarriage of Hindu widows legalized by an ordinance issued in 1933 A.D.

A peculiar marriage custom prevalent among many tribes,particularly among the Sudans of Poonch, was called Rum when the parents of bridegroom had to offer heavy presents or cash to the parents of bride.In the year 1940 A.D. an act was passed by Praja Sabha whereby the receipt or offer of Rum was declared an offence. At the request of Buddhists of Ladakh, an Act was passed in 1941 prohibiting polyandry.On October 31, 1932 A.D. a Command Order was issued and published in the gazette whereby the Harijans were granted the freedom of worship in all the temples of the State. Maharaja Hari Singh will be remembered for his exemplary behaviour as he would participate in the religious festivals of different religious communities. On the Eid, he alongwith his courtiers would go to Eidgah and would remain there till the prayers were over.

In order to increase the production of the soil, he set-up a separate department called Agriculture Department with its functioning to distribute high yielding seeds and saplings on nominal rates among the farmers.

Newly created Department of Rural Development was entrusted with care of strengthening the network of Panchayats and to work for welfare schemes like; supply of portable water, encourage the development of cottage industries and to organize the exhibition of cattle and handicrafts.Industrial Exhibitions at Exhibition Ground Srinagar date back to 1929 A.D. when the Maharaja Hari Singh introduced the exhibition of industrial and agriculture products at State expences. To encourage and facilitate the purchase of State handicrafts by visitors, he set-up Arts Emporiums at Stringer and Jammu.

In order to provide better civic amenities to the people living in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu and to device the planned development of the towns,he set up the Department of Town Planning. The Two Municipal Commitees at Srinagar/Jammu were strengthened by increasing the number of elected members.

Educational upto Primary level in the important cities and major towns, was made compulsory. A committee under the Chairmanship of Mr.K.G.Saideen was appointed to recommend to the government the necessary steps to be taken for removal of educational backwardness in the State. The recommendations of the Committee were accepted and a good number of Primary Schools,Adult Educational Centers and Technical Institutions were opened in the State.Two Teachers Training Institutes,one each at Srinagar and Jammu,were set-up to provide necessary training to the teachers about latest methods/techniques of teaching.

A network of hospitals and dispensaries was established to provide necessary health care facilities to the people especially for the diseases like Tuberculosis and Leprosy.

FREEDOM STRUGGLE:

But  these administrative reforms were not sufficient enough to mitigate the evils of suppression which the people had been subjected during autocratic rule from earlier times. The reforms were not also executed in letter and spirit and with the same fervour as Mahraja Hari Singh envisaged. The people were not in a mood to accept anything short of right to rule their country themselves. In 1931 A.D.Maharaja Hari Sing; on his return from England where he had gone to represent Indian Princes in the Round Table Conference, found the atmosphere hostile and charged with rebellious activities. He immediately called the people representatives both from Kashmir and Jammu, for talks to settle their demands. The representatives among others included Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah,Maulana Mohammad Yousuf Shah and Peer Hussain -ud- Din Banday Muzaffarabadi from Kashmir and Choudhary Gulam Abbas and Sardar Gauhar Rehman from Jammu.But the meeting ended without arriving at any agreement and there were mass rallies in different parts of the State. Mufti Ziaud Din, a voracious orator mobilized the public opinion against Maharaja Hari Singh in Lahore, Sailkot and other cities and towns of Punjab State. Choatic conditions prevailed every where and to control the situation, all the seventeen  representatives of the people were charged with sedition and arrested. To protest against the action of the government, the people observed Hartal which continued for seventeen days and ultimately Maharaja had to yield before public opinion and issue orders for the release of all the seventeen representatives.