Dogra Rule in Jammu and Kashmir

The historical trajectory of the Jammu and Kashmir region is a sophisticated tapestry of transition, moving from the medieval complexities of Afghan and Sikh rule to the centralized administrative framework of the Dogra dynasty. For candidates preparing for the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) examinations, a nuanced understanding of this era is not merely a requirement for historical literacy but a necessity for comprehending the modern legal, social, and geographical identity of the Union Territory. The establishment of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1846 was a watershed moment that integrated diverse ethnic and linguistic regions into a single political entity, a process that continues to influence contemporary governance and regional dynamics.

The Pre-Dogra Landscape and the Transition from Sikh Hegemony

Before the formal establishment of the Dogra dynasty, the Kashmir Valley and its surrounding hills were subjects of varying imperial interests. The Afghan or Pathan rule, spanning from 1752 to 1819, is frequently cited in historical discourse as the “darkest period” in the region’s history, characterized by brutal taxation and significant social unrest. This era ended when the forces of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Sikh Empire annexed the valley in 1819, a campaign that fundamentally shifted the power balance in Northern India.   

During the Sikh period, which lasted until 1846, the administration was handled by a succession of governors, and while it marked an improvement over the preceding Afghan brutality, the socio-economic conditions remained strained due to high fiscal demands. Within this context, the Dogra family of Jammu emerged as a formidable political force. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, recognizing the military and diplomatic acumen of Gulab Singh, coronated him as the Raja of Jammu on June 17, 1822. This ceremony, performed under the shade of a Jia Pota tree (Putranjiva roxburghii) at the Jia Pota Ghat in Akhnoor, is historically regarded as the foundation stone of the modern state.   

Maharaja Gulab Singh and the Foundation of the Princely State

The formal creation of the Jammu and Kashmir state was a direct consequence of the geopolitical shifts following the First Anglo-Sikh War. The defeat of the Sikh Empire led to the Treaty of Lahore on March 9, 1846, which initially ceded the territories between the Beas and Indus rivers to the British. However, the British East India Company, burdened by the costs of the war and seeking a stable buffer state between British India and the northern powers, entered into a separate agreement with Gulab Singh.   

The Treaty of Amritsar, signed on March 16, 1846, transferred the sovereignty of the Kashmir Valley to Maharaja Gulab Singh for a sum of 75 lakh Nanakshahi rupees. This treaty, often referred to in administrative historical texts as the “Sale Deed of Kashmir,” effectively unified the Jammu region with the Kashmir Valley and the frontier districts of Ladakh and Baltistan into the second-largest princely state in British India.   

Territorial Consolidation and the Role of General Zorawar Singh

The consolidation of the state’s vast and varied geography was largely the achievement of Maharaja Gulab Singh’s military expeditions. The most prominent figure in this expansion was General Zorawar Singh, whose campaigns into the trans-Himalayan regions are legendary. In 1834, Gulab Singh sent Zorawar Singh to annex Ladakh, a region that lacked a formal professional army and relied on a civil defense system. Despite resistance from local volunteers at Sankoo in the Suru Valley, the Dogra forces successfully integrated Ladakh into the Jammu administration.   

Zorawar Singh’s military genius was further demonstrated in 1839 during the conquest of Baltistan, which reunited that territory with Ladakh. These expeditions were not merely military conquests but logistical feats, as the forces navigated high-altitude passes and faced the “dreaded winter” of the Kargil and Leh districts. The death of Zorawar Singh in 1841 while fighting against Tibetan forces remains a pivotal event in the military history of the frontier. By the end of Gulab Singh’s reign, the state’s boundaries stretched from the plains of Jammu to the high-altitude deserts of the Karakoram, a geographical achievement that formed the basis for India’s modern northern frontiers.   

Maharaja Ranbir Singh: Administrative Maturation and the Era of Renaissance

Upon the death of Gulab Singh in 1857, his son Ranbir Singh ascended the throne. His reign (1857–1885) is frequently characterized by academic historians as a period of “wholesome progress” and cultural renaissance. Ranbir Singh inherited a disorganized administration and a fragile economy, and he responded by crafting policies aimed at modernization and public welfare.   

The Judicial Framework and the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC)

One of the most significant contributions of Maharaja Ranbir Singh was the modernization of the judicial system. He established a dedicated Justice Department and replaced the arbitrary medieval justice system with regular courts. To provide a structured legal basis for governance, he formulated civil and criminal laws that were eventually consolidated into the Ranbir Dandh Bidhi, commonly known as the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).   

The RPC was largely modeled after the Indian Penal Code (IPC) prepared by Thomas Babington Macaulay but was adapted to suit the unique demographic and social requirements of the state. It established the principle of territoriality, ensuring that the code applied to all offenses committed within the geographical boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir. The RPC remained the primary criminal code of the state for nearly nine decades until its repeal in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370.   

Infrastructure and Communication Development

Maharaja Ranbir Singh recognized that a modern state required efficient communication. In 1877, he introduced telegraph services extending from Sialkot to Jammu and Kashmir. By 1882, these services were further expanded to the frontier areas of Gilgit and Askardu, creating a robust network of postal and telecommunication services across the state.   

In terms of physical infrastructure, he initiated the construction of the Jhelum Valley Road, intended to connect Srinagar with Kohala. Although the project was not fully completed during his lifetime, it set the stage for the connectivity revolution that would occur under his successor.   

Cultural and Literary Patronage

The reign of Ranbir Singh is also noted for its intense intellectual and cultural activity. He established the Raghunath Pathshala and a library within the Raghunath Temple complex in Jammu, which became a global center for Sanskrit learning and manuscript preservation. He fostered a translation department that converted significant works from Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian into Dogri, Urdu, and Hindi, thereby promoting a multilingual scholarly environment.   

Maharaja Pratap Singh: The Revolution in Connectivity and Modernism

The four-decade reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh (1885–1925) is considered the dawn of modernism in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite political setbacks, including the temporary loss of administrative authority to a British-controlled Council of Regency, Pratap Singh’s tenure oversaw the transition of the state into a modern, connected society.   

The Mountain Roads and the Arrival of Wheeled Transport

Before Pratap Singh’s rule, the state lacked wheeled conveyance of any kind. His administration undertook two monumental engineering projects that fundamentally altered the state’s economy:   

1. The Jhelum Valley Cart Road (1889): Spanning from Kohala to Baramulla and later extended to Srinagar, it was described by contemporary observers as “the most wonderful mountain road in the world”.   
2. The Banihal Cart Road (1922): This road finally provided a reliable link between the Jammu and Kashmir provinces, facilitating seasonal migration and trade.   

These roads ended the centuries-long isolation of the Kashmir Valley and enabled the introduction of motor cars as the principal means of conveyance by the end of his reign.   

Industrial and Agricultural Innovations

Maharaja Pratap Singh also laid the foundation for the state’s industrial sector. In 1907, the Silk Factory was established in Srinagar, becoming one of the largest and most technologically advanced silk-producing units in the world. To ensure high-quality production, the state imported silk seeds from Italy and France.   

Agriculture saw significant improvements with the construction of several irrigation canals. The Ranbir Canal in Jammu (1911), with its total length of 251 miles, remains one of the longest in the region. Additionally, the Pratap Canal in the areas of Jourian and Khour helped transform arid lands into productive agricultural fields.   

The Mohra Hydroelectric Project

A landmark achievement of this era was the commissioning of the Mohra Hydroelectric Project in 1907 in Baramulla district. This project provided power for lighting and industrial use and was also utilized for dredging operations in the Jhelum River to prevent floods in Srinagar. The significance of this project was such that it was a primary target during the 1947 tribal invasion.   

Humanitarian Reforms: Abolition of the Begar System

Among Pratap Singh’s most impactful social reforms was the abolition of the Begar system. This centuries-old practice of forced, unpaid labor had been a massive burden on the peasantry, who were often compelled to carry heavy loads for hundreds of miles across mountain passes without compensation. Its abolition marked a significant step toward human rights and economic freedom for the common subject.   

Maharaja Hari Singh: Social Justice and the Transition to Democracy

Maharaja Hari Singh, the fourth and final ruling monarch of the Dogra dynasty, ascended the throne on September 23, 1925. Known for his progressive education at Mayo College, Ajmer, he initiated a series of sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing the state’s social fabric and providing equality to all subjects, regardless of religion or caste.   

The State Subject Law of 1927 and its Legal Nuances

A defining legal event of Hari Singh’s reign was the notification of the State Subject Law on April 20, 1927. This law was enacted in response to a growing movement among the local population (both Dogras and Kashmiri Pandits) against the hiring of “outsiders” in the state’s civil services. The law created a clear distinction between “State Subjects” (mulkis) and others (gairmulkis), providing the former with exclusive rights to land ownership and government employment.   

The law categorized residents into distinct classes based on their length of residence and property ownership:

• Class I: Those born and residing in the state before the reign of Maharaja Gulab Singh, or settled before 1885 (Samvat 1942).   
• Class II: Those who settled before 1911 (Samvat 1968) and acquired immovable property.   
• Class III: Those who acquired property under specific permission (ijazatnama) after ten years of continuous residence.   

This classification was later enshrined in the state’s constitution and served as the precursor to Article 35A of the Indian Constitution, which remained in force until 2019.   

Radical Social Reforms and the Fight against Untouchability

Maharaja Hari Singh’s inaugural speech famously declared, “Justice is my religion”. He acted on this by confronting deeply entrenched social evils:   

• Untouchability: He issued orders throwing open all public wells, schools, and temples to the Dalit (Harijan) community, a revolutionary step that faced significant opposition from orthodox sections of society.   
• Women’s Rights: He promulgated the Infant Marriage Prevention Regulation in 1928, making child marriage a criminal offense and setting the minimum age for marriage. He also enacted laws supporting widow remarriage and took active steps to eradicate female infanticide by providing financial grants to the parents of newborn girls.   
• Education for All: He introduced compulsory primary education in 1930 and made secondary education free for everyone.   

The Freedom Struggle and Accession to India

The 1930s saw the rise of political consciousness in the state, lead by figures like Sheikh Abdullah, who transformed the Muslim Conference into the National Conference in 1939 to make it a secular movement. The “Quit Kashmir” movement launched in 1946 was directed against the Dogra monarchy, seeking a democratic government.   

Following the partition of India in 1947, the state faced a tribal invasion supported by Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, merging Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India. This document granted the Indian government control over defense, external affairs, and communications. The Dogra hereditary rule was eventually abolished by the State’s Constituent Assembly in 1957, transitioning the region into a representative democracy.   

Cultural and Architectural Landmarks of the Dogra Era

The Dogra rulers were prolific builders who blended indigenous hill architecture with Mughal and European styles. These sites are frequent topics of examination in the “Culture and Heritage” section of JKSSB syllabi.

Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex

The main seat of the Dogra Maharajas until 1925, this complex in Jammu is a historic treasure. It features the Pink Hall, which houses the Dogra Art Museum, and is known for its fusion of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture.   

Bahu Fort and Bagh-e-Bahu

Refurbished by the Dogras in the 19th century, this fort on the banks of the Tawi River is home to the “Bawey Wali Mata” temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali. The adjacent terraced garden, Bagh-e-Bahu, is a popular modern tourist destination.   

Akhnoor Fort

Construction began in 1762 and was completed in 1802. The fort is significant for its layered history, with archaeological excavations revealing Harappan and Kushan artifacts. It is home to the Kishore Singh Burj, named after Maharaja Gulab Singh’s father.   

Amar Mahal Palace

This red sandstone palace was built like a French Chateau for Raja Amar Singh. It now serves as a museum housing a 120 kg pure gold throne and a library with over 25,000 rare books.   

Current Affairs and Contemporary Significance (2024–2026)

The legacy of the Dogra dynasty remains highly relevant in the modern administrative and cultural landscape of the Union Territory. For aspirants, staying updated on recent government decisions related to this legacy is crucial.

Commemorative Holidays and Language Recognition

In recent years, the government has recognized several long-standing demands of the Dogra community. A public holiday is now observed on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh (September 23) to honor his contributions to the state’s integration with India. Additionally, the Dogri language was added to the 8th Schedule of the Constitution and recognized as an official language of J&K in 2020.   

The Maharaja Hari Singh Award 2024-25

On January 28, 2025, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was conferred with the Maharaja Hari Singh Peace and Harmony Award. During the ceremony, the LG highlighted the Maharaja’s visionary leadership and his pivotal role in ensuring that Jammu and Kashmir became an inseparable part of the nation.   

Modern Infrastructure and Historical Connectivity

The modern government is realizing connectivity dreams first envisioned during the Dogra era:

• Z-Morh Tunnel: Inaugurated on January 13, 2025, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this 6.5 km tunnel ensures year-round connectivity to Sonamarg, ending its winter isolation.   
• Zojila Tunnel: Scheduled for completion around 2026, this 14 km tunnel will provide all-weather access between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, fulfilling a strategic and civilian need that has existed since the Dogra conquest of the frontier.   
• Chenab Bridge: The world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River follows a route similar to one surveyed under Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1898, symbolizing the continuity of the state’s developmental vision.   

Recent Archaeological Discoveries

2024 and 2025 have seen major archaeological breakthroughs in the region:

• Anantnag (August 2025): At Karkoot Nag, 15 ancient Hindu idols and Shivlings dating back to the Karkota dynasty (625–855 CE) were unearthed.   
• Pulwama (January 2025): A Neolithic burial site was discovered in Newa village, containing burial pits with bone remains and unique red ochre decorations.   
• Baramulla (2025): A 10th-century AD Shivling was recovered from the Jhelum River, adding to the spiritual and cultural narrative of the region.   

Examination Strategy and High-Weightage Topics for JKSSB

For JKSSB aspirants, the “History of J&K” component often revolves around certain key themes within the Dogra era. Analysis of previous year questions indicates a high frequency of inquiries related to the Treaty of Amritsar, the social reforms of Maharaja Hari Singh, and the infrastructure projects of Maharaja Pratap Singh.

Key Dates for Fast Revision

1. June 17, 1822: Raj Tilak of Gulab Singh.   
2. March 16, 1846: Treaty of Amritsar.   
3. April 20, 1927: State Subject Notification.   
4. October 26, 1947: Instrument of Accession signed.   
5. October 31, 2019: Formal creation of J&K UT and Ladakh UT.   

Geographical Context for Aspirants

Aspirants should be aware of the “firsts” and “largests” associated with this era. For instance, the Silk Factory in Srinagar was once the largest in the world. The Ranbir Canal is one of the longest in the Jammu division. Understanding the role of the Chenab River, historically known as Chandrabhaga, in the coronation of Gulab Singh adds a geographical layer to historical facts.   

Final Summary of Governance

The Dogra dynasty transformed a landscape of disparate principalities into a cohesive political unit. While the early rule was focused on military consolidation and fiscal stabilization, the later monarchs—Pratap Singh and Hari Singh—pivoted toward modernization, social justice, and infrastructural connectivity. This era provides the foundation for the current administrative boundaries, legal heritage, and cultural identity of Jammu and Kashmir. For the JKSSB aspirant, mastering this period is a prerequisite for a successful career in the state’s civil administration, where the legacies of the past continue to shape the policies of the future.

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Sahil Digra

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