Dr Ganesh Malhotra
Historians, intellectuals and academicians have done lot of injustice to Maharaja Hari Singh by portraying a picture of him which he never deserved. He was more progressive as compared to the British rulers of that time in India. But he was portrayed more as a Monarch than a progressive, liberal, secular and democrat humanist. Maharaja Hari Singh initiated a large number of reforms in the State to make administration more secular and non communal. Srinagar silk factory’s worker strikes in 1924 was turning point of political and economic dissatisfaction in the State. Maharaja Hari Singh put his early focus upon the administrative reforms in the state. The lack of local professionals and trained officers and administrators became seriously disadvantaged against the growth of various reforms. There was certain number of schools and colleges offering western education in the state, producing good number of locally educated young students every year, which was not sufficient to appropriate employment that gradually under the dominance of the alien from the subcontinent. This generated a mass wave of local anger against the outsiders. The crisis was resolved by the government which decided that only inborn State subject holders could be employed in the State civil services. Inborn State subject holders were defined as “one who had been either born and residing in the State before 1846 or settled therein before 1885”. Muslims of Kashmir were traditionally educated in Persian and opted western education but later and put them behind in comparison with other communities in the State services. Nobility of the Kashmiri Muslim community moved toward the Government in 1929 with demand of reserving quota in the State services Maharaja Hari Singh took a serious notice against the agitations and appointed a commission to enquire the grievances of the Kashmiri Muslims and other communities. The commission’s recommendations concluded for a “fair and adequate representation in services to all the communities, grant of freedom of press and platform, return of the confiscated religious sites and establishment of a representative Assembly”. Maharaja Hari Singh voluntarily accepted these recommendations by his proclamation, which was declared on 9th July, 1931. New rules of State services were framed accordingly. He appointed Molvi Abdul Rahim, one of the leaders of the 1931 agitation, as a Judge in 1934. Continuing expansion in the representation of the Kashmiri Muslims in the Civil Services became significant in April, 1932. There were 3,052 Muslim officials, including 55 gazetted ranks, out of a total strength of 8,683. Their number rose to 5,070, including 150 gazetted officials, out of 13,790 in April 1945, giving them about 40 per cent representation in the total strength of the State Civil Services. Maharaja Hari Singh endorsed the formation of a Legislative Assembly called the Jammu and Kashmir Praja Sabha in 1934. The Praja Sabha which earlier was declared as recommendatory body consisted of 75 members- 12 Government officials, 16 State councillors, and 14 nominated and 33 elected members. The last were named categorically including with 21 Muslims, 10 Hindus and two Sikhs. The Muslim Conference won 14 seats out of 21 reserved for the Muslim in the first elections to the Praja Sabha, in 1934 covering 3 to 6 per cent of the population. In the next election of 1936, it was able to raise its strength to 19. This established the claim of the conference to be called the major political party in the State. In June, 1939, however Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah dissociated himself from the Muslim Conference and established a new party, the National Conference, which succeeded in securing a large following. It demanded that the Praja Sabha be given more powers, and that it be composed entirely of members elected by adult pollution based on a joint electorate, with some seats reserved for the minorities. Respecting popular demand, the number of elected seats of the Praja Sabha was increased from 33 to 40 in 1939. Its powers were also enhanced. A noteworthy step towards the establishment of a popular government was, however, taken in 1944. This message was welcomed with great enthusiasm by all political groups in the Assembly and led to the appointment of Mirza Afzel Beg from National Conference and Ganga Ram, a Dogra politician as the Ministers. Changes were introduced in the constitution of the municipal committees as well by establishing the same criteria of the voter eligibility as set it for the Praja Sabha elections.
Maharaja Hari Singh, was one among the great humanists of his age, addressed the issues of social evil such as torturing and trafficking of women, child marriage, low cost untouchables and others among the people of the state. To prevent female infanticide, the Maharaja constituted two committees in 1926 and 1929, which recommended including educating the people and severe action against the guilty of the crime. The Maharaja accepted both the recommendations. He also established the Dhandevi Memorial Fund for the marriage of girls. He might always be admirable for prevention of child smoking Maharaja Hari Singh, alongside taken the issue of child marriage up and promulgated an ordinance in which the marriage of boys and girls under 18 and 14 years respectively was prohibited, and its breach was punishable by one year’s imprisonment or fine up to rupees one thousand or both.
The Maharaja was the first ruler and reformer in Indian sub-continent who introduced the legislation against such category of social evils. He took strong initiative to curb women and children trafficking and established legislation against organizing prostitution business, which were declared a punishable crime. Encouraging or assisting in seduction or prostitution of minor girls was also declared crime and subject of punishment. Maharaja Hari Singh took bold step against the untouchability traditions common against the low cost communities. He opened all public schools, colleges, and wells to the untouchables in 1931. The next year, all the state temples were also opened for them, lastly in 1940 he proclaimed
Untouchability a crime. His removal of legal disabilities on the marriages of Hindu widows, was regarded a doctrine in Sub-continent.
Keeping in view the reforms carried by Maharaja Hari Singh clearly shows and proves loudly that he was a progressive and a great reformer of his time. It clearly demeans those voices that raise questions about Maharaja’s credentials. He was a great democrat as depicted by his reforms who clearly wanted to side with a democratic country like India.
(The author is a J&K based Strategic and Political analyst)
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