imported>KhanShuja313 at 20:53, 11 August 2021

2021-08-11T20:53:40Z

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{{Other people}}
{{short description|First maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Gulab Singh
| title =
| titletext =
| more =
| image = Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| succession1 = [[Raja]] of [[Jammu Division|Jammu]]
| reign1 = 16 June 1822—16 March 1846<ref name=eos/>
| predecessor1= Kishore Singh
| succession2 = [[Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir]]
| moretext =
| reign2 = 16 March 1846—20 February 1856{{sfn|Bakshi|1998|p=222}}
| successor2 = [[Ranbir Singh (Maharaja)|Ranbir Singh]]
|succession3 = [[Vizier|Wazir]] of the [[Sikh Empire]]
|reign3 = 31 January 1846 – 9 March 1846
|reign-type3 = In office
|predecessor3 = [[Lal Singh]]
| spouse = Maharani Rakwal
| spouse-type = Wives
| consort = 
| issue = Sohan Singh Udam Singh [[Ranbir Singh (Maharaja)|Ranbir Singh]]
| issue-link =
| issue-pipe =
| full name = Gulab Singh
| house = [[Dogra dynasty]]
| house-type = House
| father = Kishore Singh
| mother =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1792|10|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Jammu]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1857|6|30|1792|10|18|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| burial_date =
| burial_place =
| occupation =
| signature =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
'''Maharaja Gulab Singh''' (1792–1857) was the founder of [[Dogra dynasty]] and the first [[Maharaja]] of the [[princely state]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], the second largest princely state under the [[British Raj]], which was created after the defeat of the [[Sikh Empire]] in the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]]. During the war, Gulab Singh stayed aloof which helped the British victory.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xajcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA130 |title= Historical Dictionary of Sikhism |page=130 |author= Fenech, E. Louis |author2= Mcleod, H. W. |publisher= Rowman & Littlefield |isbn= 978-1-4422-3601-1 |date=11 June 2014}}</ref> The [[Treaty of Amritsar (1846)]] formalised the sale by the British to Gulab Singh for 7,500,000 Nanakshahee Rupees of all the lands in Kashmir that were ceded to them by the Sikhs by the [[Treaty of Lahore]],<ref name="panikkar">{{harvtxt|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930|p=112}}</ref> prior to which his brother Raja [[Dhian Singh]] was the longest serving prime minister of the Sikh Empire from 1818 to 1843.

== Early life ==
[[File:The Hill fort of Maharaja Gulab Singh, 1846 drawing.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Hill Fort of Maharaja Gulab Singh, ''1846 drawing''.]]
Gulab Singh was born on 17 October 1792 in a [[Hindu]] [[Dogra Rajput]] family. His father was Kishore Singh Jamwal. He joined the army of [[Ranjit Singh]] in 1809 and was sufficiently successful to earn a [[jagir]] worth 12,000 rupees and also 90 horses.<ref name=eos/>

In 1808, following the [[Battle of Jammu (1808)|Battle of Jammu]], the kingdom was annexed by Ranjit Singh. Raja Jit Singh, who was expelled, found refuge in British India, and later received in appanage the estate of Akhrota, [[Pathankot]]. Ranjit Singh appointed a governor to administer the newly conquered area which was expanded in 1819 with the annexation of [[Kashmir]] by a Sikh force. In 1820, in appreciation of services rendered by his family and Gulab Singh in particular, Ranjit Singh bestowed the Jammu region as a hereditary fief upon Kishore Singh.<ref name=eos>{{cite web |url=http://www.learnpunjabi.org/eos/index.aspx
|title=GULAB SINGH (1792-1857) |last1=K. Jagjit Singh |website=Encyclopaedia of Sikhism
|publisher=Punjabi University Patiala
|access-date=6 January 2017}}</ref>
Apart from their sterling services, the family's intimate association with the region commended Kishore Singh's candidature to the Lahore court.<ref name="XYZ">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OzZzFm4pLWQC&pg=PA184|title=Advance Study in the History of Modern India (Volume-2: 1803-1920)|isbn=9788189093075|last1=Chhabra|first1=G. S.|year=2005}}</ref>

In 1821, Gulab Singh captured conquered Rajouri from Aghar Khan and Kishtwar from Raja Tegh Mohammad Singh (alias Saifullah Khan).<ref name="XYZ"/> That same year, Gulab Singh took part in the Sikh conquest of Dera Ghazi Khan. He also captured and executed his own clansman, Mian Dido Jamwal, who had been leading a rebellion against the Sikhs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=ToONShWeEB0C&pg=PA186|title=Dogra Legends of Art & Culture|first=Aśoka|last=Jeratha|date=8 August 1998|publisher=Indus Publishing|via=Google Books}}</ref>
[[File:Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir.jpg|thumb|A statue of Gulab Singh at [[Amar Mahal Palace]], India.]]

== Raja of Jammu ==
[[File:The palace of Maharaja Gulab Singh, on the banks of Chenab, Jammu, mid 19th century.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The palace of Maharaja Gulab Singh, on the banks of [[Tawi River]], [[Jammu]], mid 19th century.]]
Kishore Singh died in 1822 and Gulab Singh was confirmed as Raja of [[Jammu]] by his suzerain, Ranjit Singh.<ref name=eos/> Shortly afterward, Gulab Singh secured a formal declaration of renunciation from his kinsman, the deposed Raja Jit Singh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=kpReDwAAQBAJ&pg=PP19|title=Jammu Kashmir Ke Jannayak Maharaja Hari Singh|first=Kuldeep Chand|last=Agnihotri|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|via=Google Books}}</ref>

As Raja (Governor-General/Chief) of Jammu, Gulab Singh was one of the most powerful chiefs of the [[Sikh Empire]]. Under the Imperial and Feudal Army arrangement, he was entitled to keep a personal army of 3 Infantry Regiments, 15 Light Artillery Guns and 40 Garrison Guns.<ref>The History of Sikhs, J D Cunningham, Appendix</ref>

In 1824 Gulab Singh captured the fort of Samartah, near the holy [[Mansar Lake]]. In 1827 he accompanied the Sikh [[Commander-in-Chief]] [[Hari Singh Nalwa]], who fought and defeated a horde of [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] rebels led by Sayyid Ahmed at the [[Battle of Shaidu]]. Between 1831-39 Ranjit Singh bestowed on Gulab Singh the [[jagir]] of the salt mines in northern Punjab,<ref name=eos/> and the nearby Punjabi towns like Bhera, Jhelum, Rohtas, and Gujrat.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

[[1837 Poonch Revolt]] In 1837, after the death of Hari Singh Nalwa in the Battle of Jamrud, the Muslim tribes of Tanolis, Karrals, Dhunds, Satis and Sudhans rose in revolt in Hazara and Poonch. The insurgency was led by Shams Khan, a Chief of the Sudhan tribe<ref>Sir Alexander Cunningham, ''Four Reports Made During The Years 1862-63-64-65'', (The Government Central Press, 1871), Volume I, Page 13.[https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=p4AXM4MbyL0C&dq]</ref><ref name=autogenerated4>Sir Lepel H. Griffin, ''The Panjab Chiefs.'', (T. C. McCarthy, Chronicle Press, 1865), Page 594.[https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=Q0ABAAAAQAAJ&dq=panjab%20chiefs&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false]</ref> and former confidential follower of Raja Dhyan Singh.<ref name=autogenerated4 /> Thus the betrayal of Shams Khan Sudhan against the regime was taken personally and Gulab Singh was given the task of crushing the rebellion. After defeating the insurgents in Hazara and Murree hills, Gulab Singh stayed at Kahuta for some time and promoted disunion among the insurgents. Then his forces were sent to crush the insurgents. Eventually, Shams Khan Sudhan and his nephew were betrayed and their heads were cut off during their sleep while the lieutenants were captured, flayed alive and put to death with cruelty. The contemporary British commentators state that the local population suffered immensely.<ref>Hastings Donnan, ''Marriage Among Muslims: Preference and Choice in Northern Pakistan'', (Brill, 1997), 41.[https://books.google.com/books?id=PL_ACoFwJ2gC&pg=PA41]</ref>

== Intrigue at Lahore ==
On the death of Ranjit Singh in 1839, Lahore became a center of conspiracies and intrigue in which the three Jammu brothers were involved. They succeeded in placing the administration in the hands of Prince [[Nau Nihal Singh]] with Raja [[Dhian Singh]] as prime minister. However, in 1840, during the [[funeral procession]] of his father Maharaja Kharak Singh, [[Nau Nihal Singh]] together with Udham Singh, son of Gulab Singh, died when an old brick gate collapsed on them.<ref name="OUP">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rKkPEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA243|title=Royals and Rebels: The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire|isbn=978-0-19-754831-8|last1=Atwal|first1=Priya|date=November 2020}}</ref>

In January 1841 [[Sher Singh]], son of Ranjit Singh tried to seize the throne of Lahore but was repulsed by the Jammu brothers. The defense of the fort was in the hands of Gulab Singh.<ref name="OUP"/>

After peace was made between the two sides, Gulab Singh and his men were allowed to leave with their weapons. On this occasion, he is said to have taken away a large amount of the Lahore treasure to Jammu.

== Recognition as Maharaja ==
[[File:Gulabsingh1840.jpg|thumb|220px|Maharaja Gulab Singh rides a well decorated white stallion across a green field. Circa 1840-45.]]
[[File:Memorial Shrines for Gulab Singh and Ranbir Singh, Jammu, India, ca.1875-ca.1940 (imp-cswc-GB-237-CSWC47-LS10-008).jpg|thumb|Memorial Shrines for Gulab Singh and Ranbir Singh, Jammu, India, ca.1875-ca.1940]]
Meanwhile, in the continuing intrigues at Lahore, the Sandhawalia Sardars (related to Ranjit Singh) murdered Raja Dhian Singh and the Sikh Maharaja [[Sher Singh]] in 1842.<ref name="Grewal">{{cite book|title=The Sikhs of the Punjab|author=J. S. Grewal|publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1998}}</ref> Subsequently, Gulab Singh’s youngest brother, Suchet Singh, and nephew, Hira Singh, were also murdered. As the administration collapsed the [[Khalsa]] soldiery clamored for the arrears of their pay. In 1844 the Lahore court commanded an invasion of Jammu to extract money from Gulab Singh, reputed to be the richest Raja north of the Sutlej River as he had taken most of the Lahore treasury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=2_nryFANsoYC&pg=PA122|title=The Sikhs of the Punjab|first=J. S.|last=Grewal|date=8 October 1998|publisher=Cambridge University Press|via=Google Books}}</ref>

However, the Gulab Singh agreed to negotiate on his behalf with the Lahore court. These negotiations imposed an indemnity of 27 lakh Nanakshahee Rupees on the Raja.

Lacking the resources to occupy such a large region immediately after annexing portions of Punjab, the British recognised Gulab Singh as a Maharaja directly tributary to them on payment of 75 thousand Nanakshahee Rupees for the war-indemnity (this payment was justified on account of Gulab Singh legally being one of the chiefs of the Kingdom of Lahore and thus responsible for its treaty obligations). The angry courtiers of Lahore (particularly the baptized Sikh, Lal Singh) then incited the governor of Kashmir to rebel against Gulab Singh, but this rebellion was defeated, thanks in great part to the action of [[Herbert Benjamin Edwardes|Herbert Edwardes]], Assistant Resident at Lahore.
In the second Sikh War of 1849, he allowed his Sikh soldiers to desert and go to fight alongside their brethren in Punjab. The treaties of Chushul and Amritsar had defined the borders of the Kingdom of Jammu in the east, south, and west but the northern border was still undefined. In 1850 the fort of Chilas in the Dard country was conquered.

Maharaja Gulab Singh died on 30 June 1857 and was succeeded by his son, [[Ranbir Singh (Maharaja)|Ranbir Singh]].

== ''Gulabnama'' ==
[[File:Stamp of India - 2009 - Colnect 159936 - Maharaja Gulab Singh.jpeg|thumb|500 [[Indian paisa|paise]] postal stamp of Maharaja Gulab Singh released by Government of India on October 21, 2009.]]
Diwan Kirpa Ram, the "Maharajah's private secretary and the son of Dewan Jwala Sahai, the Maharajah's Prime Minister", of the Diwans of Eminabad family, wrote the first biography of Gulab Singh titled ''Gulabnama'' in the 19th century in Persian.{{Sfn|Panikkar|1930|p=2}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mohammed|first=Jigar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5EWo7eszcbgC&q=Diwan+Kirpa+Ram&pg=PA49|title=Gulabnama: A Persian Window to J&K History|publisher=Epilogue–Jammu Kashmir (Vol 3, Issue 6)|date=June 2009|isbn=|location=Jammu|pages=48–49|language=en}}</ref>

[[K. M. Panikkar]] describes ''Gulabnama'' as an authoritative source;{{Sfn|Panikkar|1930|p=2}}
{{Quote|text="This work, though written in the flowery style of the Persian panegyrists, is none the less a remarkable historical document, as the Dewan published in it many original documents which are not now available elsewhere. Its facts and chronology are beyond dispute. The Dewan was also fully conversant with the political conditions of the Punjab at the time, and his descriptions of events are vivid and informed by direct knowledge of men and things."|author=|title=|source=}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation |first=S.R. |last=Bakshi |title=Kashmir History and Peopl |location=New Delhi| publisher=[[Sarup and Sons]]|year=1998 |isbn=8185431965 }}
* {{citation |title=Gulab Singh|first=K. M. |last=Panikkar |author-link=K. M. Panikkar |publisher=Martin Hopkinson Ltd |year=1930 |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/gulabsingh179218031570mbp |ref={{sfnref|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930|p=112}}}}
* {{citation |first=Bawa Satinder|last=Singh|title=The Jammu Fox | publisher=Southern Illinois University Press |year=1974 |isbn=0809306522 |ref=none}}
* {{citation |first=Mridu |last=Rai |title=Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects: Islam, Rights, and the History of Kashmir | publisher=C. Hurst & Co |year=2004 |isbn=1850656614 |ref=none}}

== Further reading ==
{{Commons category|Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir}}
* ''How Sikhs Lost their Empire'' by ''[[Khushwant Singh]]''
* [[iarchive:english-translation-of-gulabnama-of-diwan-kirpa-ram-persian-history-of-the-mahar|''Gulabnama'' by ''Dewan Kirpa Ram'']], translated by Professor SS Charak
* ''Memoirs of Alexander Gardner'' by Hugh Pearse

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Dogra dynasty]]||18 October 1792||30 June 1857}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=Jit Singh (as Raja of Jammu (tributary to the [[Sikh Empire]]))}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir]]|years=1846–1857}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ranbir Singh (Maharaja)|Ranbir Singh]]}}
{{end}}
{{Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Gulab}}
[[Category:1792 births]]
[[Category:1857 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Rajput rulers]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian royalty]]

Gulab Singh - Revision history

imported>KhanShuja313 at 20:53, 11 August 2021