Col J P Singh, Retd
Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Jammu and Kashmir, was born on 21st October 1792. His father Mian Kishore Singh held a Jagir at Andarwah, near Jammu. On his birth, his father asked family Pandit to suggest a name for the child. Pandit put a rose in infant’s hand and named him Gulab Singh. His grandfather Mian Zorawar Singh took keen interest in his bringing up and sent him to his brother, Mian Mota, a minister of Raja Jeet Singh, the last hereditary ruler of Jammu. He learnt the art of warfare under the care of his grand uncle.
Gulab Singh dispalyed his bravery in the battle of Gumat in 1808 when he was just 16. He fought so skillfully that Sardar Hukam Singh Chimni, the commander-in-chief of the invading Sikh Army was so impressed that he narrated it to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Lad Gulab Singh was summoned to Sialkot in 1810 to meet the ruler of Punjab who appointed him cavalryman and soon made him commander of a cavalry unit.
As a military commander, Gulab Singh fought meritoriously in all the campaigns especially in Multan, Attock, Kabul, Manerka Dera Gazi Khan, Reasi, Kishtwar and Kashmir. He captured Raja Agha Khan, the ruler of Rajouri & neutralized Mian Dido who had become irritants for Maharaja Ranjit Singh by harassing and eluding Sikh forces for long. From childhood itself he had been a step ahead of his contemporaries.
For these remarkable achievements, Maharaja Ranjit Singh rewarded Gulab Singh by the conferment of Jammu Raj on him on 17th June1822 at Jeo Pota, Akhnoor. Thereafter by his shrewd statesmanship, he was able to carve out, of his own, an independent state largest in geographical area in British India. By knitting together scattered principalities, he laid the foundation of princely State of Jammu and Kashmir and extended its boundaries far and wide by capturing Ladakh, Baltistan, Gilgit and over 300 sq miles of Tibet.
Indians traditionally admire their warrior heroes and revere their saints. Like Rani Jhansi, Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Neta Subhas, Maharaja Gulab Singh is profoundly admired for his daring military exploits. Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust celebrates his birth anniversary every year in the Royal Retreat Banquet Hall Jammu whereas Raj Tilak Celebration Committee celebrates his coronation day every year at Jeo Pota Akhnoor. On 21October 2009, Indian Postal Services released a commemorative Postal Stamp to mark his 117th birth anniversary. On 21 October 2010, Dr. Karan Singh, installed a magnificent Bronze Phalak of Coronation Ceremony at Jeo Pota which tells remarkable tales of genesis of our state. Maharaja Gulab Singh Chair in Jammu University carries out research work on the achievement of our legendary ruler. Central University Jammu and many other social and academic organisations are also expected to project history of making of our state. Living with the memory of legendary Maharaja will sustain regional and ethnic pride.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in 1839. Maharaja Kharak Singh & his son prince Nau Nihal Singh died the same day one year later. This broke the line of ascendancy to the throne. Gulab Singh supported widow of Kharak Singh, Maharani Chand Kour to rule. Although a consensus was reached on her name, later Sher Singh, 2 second son of Ranjit Singh overthrew her. In the factional fights that erupted for the throne later, Sher Singh was also murdered. Raja Dhian Singh and Raja Suchet Singh (brothers), Hira Singh (nephew) and Udham Singh & Sohan Singh (sons) were also killed at Lahore. Gulab Singh was the sole Dogra survivor of the intrigues infested Lahore Darbar. In September 1945 when Prime Minister Jawahar Singh was executed by his own soldiers, Gulab Singh was asked to take over control of Punjab Empire which he politely refused. But when the Sikh armies were finally defeated in the Anglo- Sikh war in 1846, Gulab Singh accepted to be the Prime Minister. As Prime Minister of Sikh Empire, he negotiated with the British and signed the ‘Treaty of Lahore’. By shrewd diplomacy he was able to secure honorable terms for the vanquished kingdom. Seeing his audacious leadership and superb diplomacy, Lord Hardinge, the Governor General of India, extended his rule to entire Jammu and Kashmir State and elevated him to the status of Maharaja with 21 gun salute. By the ‘Treaty of Amritsar’ dated 16 March 1846, he got control of Kashmir empire for which he paid Rs.75 Lac. He ruled upto 20th February 1856, when in a unique act, he himself abdicated in favour of him son and made his a ceremonial offering as one of his subjects. He left for his heavenly abode on 30th August 1858 when he was 66.
He is recognized as the only ruler in India’s long history who could be said to have extended the geographical boundaries of India. His conquest and annexation of Ladakh is an achievement which makes him immortal in the history of India. K M Pannikar, a famous historian has written “when everything is considered, Gulab Singh will appear as one of the few Indian figure of the nineteenth century, one who in his ambition even as a youth dreamed of states and kingdoms, whose iron will, neither domestic calamity nor personal humiliation, could bend and whose physical and moral courage tried on many battlefields and many a crisis, won for him a throne and a place in the Valahalla of India’s great men.
The present state of Jammu & Kashmir is his monument. As long as that exists, his name will have a place in the memory of men”. He is one of the few historical legacies that India can be genuinely proud of. Greatness of Maharaja lay in his superb statesmanship coupled with deep foresight that enabled him to make use of every opportunity that knocked at his door and hence change the boundaries / maps of the empires and destinies of the people. More needs to be done to remember the legendary ruler.
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