A flM IlfIS TM TX O If OF GULAB S lK g K

Whan Maharaja Gulab Singh took charge of e.dminis tration,

conditions in Kashmir warn deplorable* Ths Si!th rube hed not imprcmkl

the let of the people*^ Ihe country was distifcfcbed, ©acAaan was

plundering his neighbour, end Gulab Singh »s energies were taxed to

the uteiost tn^estoring order*2 It v?a net an easy job for hi» to

look after an ad*inis tratlon which had gone froa bad to worse in the

time of the Sikhs* On 9th VcveuV-r, Isror.ce thus writes to

Currie, HTh® people eeeia in a wretched state of poverty. It will be

years rnd y^are before this countxy can recover it? prosperity* It

would be p lu m m t ia n d for a man to dwell in*”3 the shawl-Industry

which wee the Bain source of livelihood for the peovle, wes taxedU

h e a v ily * ’ F a t t y In t r ig u e s and q u a r re ls encouraged th e o f . ? ic iE l s to

f r e e ly t y r r a n is e o v e r rnd e x p lo i t the coTO'on people and ^fcuflgs

■yv.EU.t'A quickly• kSggj&L I!-;--iues, rsclO.ev; ' k ? --j i p u givmi away auidi

of the land It- tho Vr-lley es rtnt-fr^s eonceerlrr.p . f^rc^d l*bctir told

vrjon the po •sentry, f-atl an<*. infanticide were cccrrwn, robbers* Infested

the hills*^ There was nc security cf s or vice, fipT.>cintr:ert me dia*i»

s e e l c f o f f ic e r s fo l lo w in g j . r q u ic k s tc c e r- " ic n 3 .^

Such was th e S t r t s o f c " f a i r s t when M eharnja Gulr.b c ln g h

t.ooV o v ^ r th i* cb.^rf-o o f F r^ 'f r r ! r . I t was* pn n p h il . l te s 'c fo r I\ii:-i to

•* rift ro ve th e a3.m-*.rsir.tv,? t iv e and economic c o n d it io n o f K a sh m ir. B u t

w ith ±tes f i r m d e te rm in a tio n he s u c k e d in h is object i n e s ta b l is h in g*7 pt

peace and prosperity' and vary quickly »ss©rt*-d b •.£ authority* He

was rjost suece?? ful in preventing and surjprcsrinr Crime* The credit

to G«lab ^ingh thrt lie lrid the foundation of « strong personal

H aJU- jmMyfcin a different rrea cu tUe country* lie opposition and

e r iw e w ith €» s t e r n iu n d * He b e lie v e d in o b je c t le s s e n s * He vac nstu-

r a l l y f-. f-.rtiu by L ife *>'uL-j6ets sievvfci-tv*. *1 1 f r o n t i e r t ro u b le sverfc h i a .. .... _____ ____________ _________ _________________________1 . T & a * a t f i e g . 2 9 L t £ * £ 02 .2 , The In n e r Ip 3 setter o f In d ia Vol XV P* $*»•*

Let tor from H.F. Lawrence to CUrrie* Secretf 12*fC-t2M 9 H w ?t8M># yCjgiL S’srrtr, Herrin* Dass, Op, Cit P* 568.

5 . K o u l, C .I . Op, G i t P . 8 8 .f t . Brra**?-* F . P . Op* C lt. P . 6 0 2 .7* Hargis, Parsing Dess, Op* Cit P. 568*S . Tho Tfflp e rlp .l G a ze tte r o f In d ia - V o l. XV P , fkm 9 * S o f i , G .? f*D .t On. C i t P. 781*

123

Singh brought the principle of peracn*! rule to

nerfectton and ahoved tha people that he could stand by himself*

str.te was Kaharajs Gulab Blagfr** First of all he tried to pmeote

trade and comeite and succeeded in his object* Hicholacn recf-rc't- In

fell’ Gcrtrcseftt diary f " I bid b ti occasion to »>e*t r ^arty of Kabul

tredera* ^ie wire foing to Kashmir with tobacco rnd snuff for trade

purpoaea rr.d were getting pratto© and Shah tosh which were being sold

art Tory high rates In Kabul* I aJac talked %rtttj ther fcr s little

while *nd they ce-ciplained of tha oppraesiv# duU-s iu vizir own snd

*Hh*w*r (Mlafc Singh*a ter> liorles but reta&irred tbi't in ti e let^for

tiieir goods vn?re prctcctrd, -wher©** fchsy ?‘-«.r.entl » ?r- -■» riufcs

frc» the plimclering tribe* batvcar. Sabvl t?nd Posh£.v~

M f . K n » » I * J r < * Jt ’ * 1 - ■■ ' * +><’1*. , - ys-.~> - -,* f **• •' n- • i ' - r - 3 . . . 4 • * y • • >* * ' C < f . i r t l l4 *N - l 5 2. *•- f j ** ’■J ^ «•*> • * • ' - >. •>• ■ »* -*■ **jj V / '• i W M t., ■. K v- ■ i . s. V ■• ! * % ■ W v w

^f Kcsh?4.r, Ha established f r^rtrasr.tF for the r’iv.n /•*jd.r?isfcrat-icn

which fellowa I*

TAiywmae. . a-nfrtttant t Safe re uulfci* ^lnght the whola s/etaa of as* esaateat»

?ne ccX"! sc t ’ ^n vff axeeedirgly complicated «nd workable only in the

it:i-vn-tt cf corrupt officials and CQ*err.3«nfc h*id r. moncofcly in the

isrJo :.f grdln#^ v>ahar?..1f:. Sul&b £ir.gfrt4firlnr Ms It fa t1 :*;e did vofjr

little- tv- 2*&lir-r:ta this .?tote of thirds• He trek l;,ir.*£ rb ne foundk

that? troubled little to irprcvfc the*. ^y Sint cT iT.tirtr,fr irlustry

r-rid by strict supervision c-f Ills o'riiriflst he ir-rdf? nicst ef the f « % W

c-i iha V*.ll*y.^ n® resdlk-d & pott-vY c.C the reremse that fcrr-if being

Iffried* But tha reaTli ‘ ton tcr> saf-ll tc bring fibe.t pres party of the

stpie* But s till to s«ve people fro*p Star^ttionf fvu? coll actors vare

appointed by OUlab Singh vhc war® cniled by tha na*r. of Wandirala (cell-

set err;) turner vhe ji there vere thirty six Kardsrs*

1. SaettBiscfBB* Lavranee* Cv>, CLt P. 202.S. H^cKolSan^s 01a.ny * 1 ? ':r7, 1 ^ / *3* fawan F.f'rr, "<5al#ar• •ICa8l»nix,-,, A detailod sehcauo of curealw*' p'tilsfe: we et? siay b-- fcwad c.t ff* 273-B2# if. Yv>un^hi^hrr/; * r<-» Clt ?. 1?3«5 . S o n ; G .H .r *? fP . ?tt ?.

In eaeh village Numbftrd&rs were appointed who ver* being called by

the ns»e of "Hokdams". Kashmir was divided into thirty-*aix parganas.

One department was created separately for getting revenue in kind

which was nsaed as "Iteabjlnsft* and was to be realized twice a year

at t^e end of each harvest. It was the duty of Kardar to assess

revenue at th* time i&rcrop was ready, GuXab 6inch had Instructed

that ti-e revenue of ten parganas near the city was to be realised at

a fair rate* Be allowed to 2a@indars to sell rice when and where they

liked. But they had under all eircums truces to sell it *»t a rate not

higher than rupee one a Khirwar.* Thus the soveaent of grain fron one

place to another was not disallowed by the Government . The Government

order authorising free movemmt end free s?le of rlee by the Zaalndars

wee Issued under the singature and seal of Maharaja Gul^b Singh

himself*2"The Maharaja also remitted three Muuwattas per X&lzvar

of the Trukkee which had been levied on the Sirkeree share oT the

produce.*^ ©rder to counter the disastrous effects of famine

caused by the failure of r e i n s M a h a r a j a Gulab Singh decided to

control grain trade* This was fyecessary because on account of inadequ­

ate means of cossBunieatlon, the transfer of grain from the various

parts of India to Kashmir or even from one piece to another vrlthln

the Valley was difficult# Moreover, the landlords and grain dealers

were In the habit of creating scarcity by corning rice in order to

increase profits. Hie grain dealers, of course euffered owing to

this policy of Government, and rm£*fcgreet hue and cry but Maharaja

refused to give up his policy. He constructed a number of store­

houses In Srinagar and oiher towns of the Talley. Jbur collectors

were appointed in the department of "Doabjias*".

1. Letter froa R.G. Taylor to H. lawrencej Foreign, Sec* SXCRETf, Hoe. 116-117.

2. Ibid.3. Ibid.

12#

Another department created by the Maharaja was Daftfcr-1-

Dlwanl (Depart® nt of WLwani). The accounts belonging to each and

every aepertaent of the State were to be checked and audited by

this office*1The third department was called Da^ter-i-Nizaaat (Land

Record/ Office)* It* duty was to keep land records throughout the

state and to inform the Maharaja about the condition of the Zmlndare*

A t the end of each harvest, Patwaris were sent to their respective

village a to prepare reports, giving in full the detail? of dally

rations, firewood or other thing of necessity Issued to the people*2

“The fourth department set up by the Meheraja was to laaln-

tsln inte nel peace and to prevent and suppress crime* Be Relieved

in object-lesso^p pnd his penal system was at any rate successful in

ridding ths country of crlice. He kept a sharp eye on his officials,

and a close hand on his revenues*"'* Kotwals and Thanedars were

appointed for the protection of life and property of the people. The

result of these measures was that no sooner theft case occured than

the thief was captured and the stolen property recovelif^suceess fully

The fifth department established by the Maharaja was treasury depart­

ment.

Judicial, M inistrations . Oulab Hngh seemed to have had prlaltive

Ideas about dispensing justice. He once suggested to Taylor that,l_ a charge o f t h e f t , i f m ig h t

by way of settllng^be advisable to handover the defendent to the tender

mercies of the plaintiff.5

There were no special courts during t; is period for the

administration of Justice. Every official who was holding responsible

t; Koul, Sallg Ram} 0j>. Clt P. 228.

2* Ibid P. 229*

3* The Baperlal Gazetter of India Vbl XT P* ^ *

h , Nargis, Harsing Dass Op. Clt P. W *Ga&ru, 6 .H. Id , Op* Clt. P. X*

126

post, could administer both civil and criminal cases*1 The Maharaja

was the highest court of appeal* Si naiad hi* subjects with a stem k

hand* If ha wan tad their services 4 * would hare than without m £ ktx

consultation of his advls«*«he State vaa Mftftraja (Midi Singh*2

Nobody psid any court fee*^ The cases ware decided by Ttonftedars v

Kardars or any other person holding responsible post* The Maharaja

used to convene a dally Durbar, whether he was in Jammu 4r Srinagary

and was giving chence to the Public for the re*ess of their griev­

ances. The Agent of 0* General observes "Maharaja Is not closing

the door against the appeals In eases of reference according to the

terms of the treaty and recent orders of Government Cashmerles erei I

every where notorious for their 1 i t i^loujness• * If a aan was not

satisfied with the judgement of Thanedars, Kardars, he could make

an appeal to the Maharaja by feeing to his Durbar and offering a

rupee as "Nasar" (Present)* The Maharaja would listen tc him and

would then give his decision* "Sven In a crowd one could catch his

eye by holding up a rupee and crying out * Mahers j, Aw Hal", i .e .,

"Maharaja, a petition*"? His justice was rough and rude* He toured

his State often, and was relentless in his punishment of corrupt and

tyrannical officials. In murder eases his punishment was "Ashab*

which consisted in cutting off the nose, arms or legs of the culprits*

Such ideas of justice were also owned h y his successors*6 It Is said

that once a ccnvict solicited the Maharaja for pardon* The offence was

the murder of a girl for her jewels. The Maharaja was infuriated at7

this and he enhanced the sentence to that man* Once a complaint came

1* Koul, Salig Ram, Op* Clt P* 237.2* Sofi. G.M.D.. Op* Cit P. 781*3* K&rgis, Narsing Dess, 0^* Git P. 567*£* Letter from Agent 6 *eeneral i N.W.F* to Currie, ForgnsSeet Secret?!

No.t 12 **?, 12 November, 18M .5. Drew, Op* Cit P* 1?*6 . Gadru, S*N. Ed, Op. Cit P. X.7. Koul, G.L. Op, Cit P. 87*

127

that a hen was solan* The offender was summoned and the baiter was

ordered to siiavt half of hi* woostache and was paraded 1a the open

Bazar* While sitting In judgement, the heir - apparent was ordered

to be neaifcy*1 This iras to teach Rantolf Singh that he should deal

in the sagse uwenner, with the criminals as that of his father* Gulab

Ptnfh*s harshness towards those who were corrupt, made him ft terror*

Vigne narrates that m insurructlon took place near Poonch

agsinst the authority of Gulab Singh who went in person to suppress

it. "Sorae of hi# prisoners were flayed alive under his own eyes. The

executioner hesitated end Gulpb Singh asked hi# If he were about to

operate upon his own father and mother, rated hia for being so

chicken - hearted. Me then ordered one or two of the skins to be

stuffed, with straw* • * • • • The figures were then planted on the wayside

sc that passerby might see it, Gulab Singh celled his sons* attention

to it , and told hi® to take et lerscn in the Art of Governing*"

Qulrb Singh turned his full attention towards the irprovement

of Shawl Thdu^try l>partja-nt* This department was under one Controller,

under whom there were Ifukdee Karkhaodars •** These Rukdee Karkhendars

beewne very rich* The Shawl verve’ s on the other hand, were dependent

upon the Ksrkhand&rs and were virtually their gloves end were forcedk

to work very hard*

"Before 1833 the duty on shawls wes levied acoordlng to

the number made and starcped in the yssr at the rpte of three annas

in toe r u p e e * T h i s was found unsuitable end in 1835 General Main

1 • Koul, G*t* Op* Cit P* 87*2* Bases, P.H, C p * Cit P. 128*3* Shah, Sassan, G*. Clt m i I P. 36^.&* Baaiai* P*N*K*f 0«* Cit P* 606*5* Taylor’s Report, "Punjab Political Diaries, 'felt VI PP

Exfcrtd fro®, Panikkfir, K*M«? Op* Clt P* 137*

128

129

Singh, the Sikh Governor of Kashmir, established the Baj, or

fixed amount of tax* to be paid by each shop. H» levied tax

of ninety-six rupees per shop per year arid this tax was levied

on one thousand shops. When fthulam Jfchl-ud-din took over the

charge of Governorship, he raised tax from te. 96 to 120 per

year per shop. In 18*f6 Sheikh Imam-'ud-din the last Sikh Governor

gave them a little relief by setting the Shawl weavers free from

bondage of Karkhanders end remitting two annas per Kharvar. This

revived the Industry and during Gttlab Singh’s rule there were

2 7 ,0 0 0 weavers working at 11 ,000 looms. But the wages paid to

the workmen were miserably When the Maharaja took over

the administration he reorganised the shawl-department under a

controller regulating the tax according to the price of the

shawl in the market. He revised the system and renumbered the

workmen. In the beginning new shops were charged half the tax,

-In 18^7 Industrialists (KJarkhandars) requested the Maharaja to

count the number of workers yearly^-Nazrsns should be reduced.

The wages of worker^ should be fixed and a settled constitution

should be framed for them* First of all Maharaja Gulab Singh

stoifesd- th@ systcffl of w21A.tr MDuloti 9 di2© to vh1c h th® &ccounts

of labourers were continued to the 1^th month by their masters*

Secondly, he cancelled the un-necessary taxes as Chuttlniju*-

There was another bad system that workman was not allowed

to change his master and these poor people were paid less wages,

When the Maharaja came to know of this, he raised their pay to

5^ annas in the rupee and made it binding for the workmen to do

a fixed minimum of work.

‘ 1 . Bemzal, P.N.K.* Op, Cit P. 607.2 , &ofi, G.M.D., Op, Oit, P. 782.)3. Divan, Klrpa Bam. Op, Cit Pf. 378-379*<&. Koul, G.F. Op, Cit P. 89,

On 6th June, 18b6 all tbs workers set and stopped

their work and asked for permission to coifrate to Punjab* Gulab

Singh called their leaders to meet hiss.

The Maharaja investigated their grievances in an open

Durbar end then at a new Durbar held in July 18*+7, he declaredf

that a workman was not bcudd to work under one roaster.' Be was

given flreedon and his wages were fixed fc*r annas per rupee.

Moreover, the Maharaja stopped the practice ©f taxing the work­

men, the tax being levied only on readymade shawls. Taylor

observes 9 "At the request of th* Kharkhandars a ctpy of the code

signed by the Maharaja has been nade over in my presence to the

omokeeas who are responsible for its production.” Tax was levied

on its oarket rate. /. wor was pe id wages on the market rate

of Shawls . He had to pay only according to the a c tu a l work done

by him on the loom and could change h is 1*^1 oyer at his will. Hs

was no longer a serf. Such changes were trade for the welfare of

workmen and labourers by the Jfehareje.

Question of Jagirs When Gulab §,ingh ccae to power, He had to

face the problem of Jagirtfari in his kingdom, It was brought to

his notice that there were 311? Jagirs granted to different

persons. Out of these manywere unregistered.^ The Sikh Governors

Sheikh Ghulem Mohi-ud-dln and Sheikh loajB-ud-dln were generfats

In the allotment of Jagirs. Especially Sheikh Imajn-ud-dln who 5

wanted to win the fevour of people at the tirae o f the downfall of

the Sikh f5©vemnent, signed awey large tracts of %«nd* However,

Maharaja Culab Singh confiscated all such Jagirs and released the

Jagirs of_the J&girdixs^mA_f.usli.Qf. the_Qjr ricjals *s —

Bansal, P *K., Op» Cit F * 607•

Te^e^freai R.G. Taylor to Lawrence, Secret Fom; Seej Hc*i 116-117, 8th Sept. 18^7.

^3. Bamzl?, P.F.F. , 0„. Cit P. 6C7.

serve under him in Cashmere.*^ Se resumed his own Jagirs and

released those of the hill Chiefs and Rajas who had Veen confir^flW

rj^g^in their Jagirs by Sheikh Ghulam Mohi-id-din. However, he

froze the Jagirs of those Sikh Sardars who held positions of

prestige and several advantages, in the Punjab, no»j|hmder the

British. The British did not press Maharaja Gulab Singh to

2release the Jagirs of the Sikh Chieftains of the Punjab*

The Maharaja further confirmed the "Jinsi1* and’Nukdee1

(Cash) grants respectively to the TEharraarth* Department of

Charity, This was done on the Is of the Register of Bharmsrth

trust discovered in general Mian Singh’s defter. 3 Some of these ^

claims were found to exist alsDin the royal Purwsnnahs down tok

a the death of Flier Singh. Unfortunately people complained,

misinterpreted his intentions and motiveJJ and so protested

that A was depriving them of their old Ja-girs. Taylor who

hrd separately investigated mentioned in his report, "The Maharaja

was to be just and reasonable. His point was that people who began

as revenue farmers should not clai*vvsthe land they held in farms

to be Jagirs, that grants when Bade should be strictly adhered to,

that grantees who were given one acre should not be allowed to po­

ssess two on|( the same sanad, and that In cases of treason,

rebellion, and gross misbehaviour the Jagirs should be liable

to resumption.”^

System of Forced labour or Began Kashmir being surrounded

by high mountains and bad means of transport, necessitated the

employment of large number of men for carrying luggage and

essential commodities in the Valley* No arrangements were made

1. Dewan Jawala Sahai and Thakur Bass were the two Chief Courtiers of Gulab Singh to be favoured with the release of Jagirs* X ttar from Taylor to H,M. lawrence Secret Wot 116-417} 8 &ept, 18**7

2, Taylor to HIM, Lawrence Secret No* 116-117|8 Sept,18^7 ?4I*

^ General Mian Singh wbs the Governor of the Sikhs in Kashmir.

kyI Sher Singh was the successor of Ranjit Singh and therefore, the successor to the province of Kashmir too.

% Punjab Pol* Diaries, Vol. VT.P.60 Extrtd from Panikkar,K.M.,Op. Cit P. 136.

6. Baasai, P.N.K.? Op. Cit P. 605.

131

132

te d i s t r i b u t e the begar^ according to population. The former

ruler* of Kashmir did not give wages to tha porters, Iha reault

was that the system of forced labour developed in Kashmir* In

order to relieve paasents fro* injustice and oppression, tha

vented to be considered fit to do work when caller upon by tha

Government. The Meharr ;!* undertook to entertein three men out

of every hundred houses on ? monthly allowance of on® Kharwar

required by the Government, end vhen emplqy-ed they were to

receive their daily food. Those people frora whoft the work would

ell this Maharaja Gulab Singh appointed an officer to pay the

ypges to the labourers. 'By introducing these administratlv® reforms

Gulab Singh established peace end order in the country and resulted

(a) 1, Ra^tarangri of Kalhana states that Sankaravarman who ruled. Krntair from A.J5.883 to 902 and is f?o \nielllmoWhfor hia fiscal

oppressions levied fines on those villagers v'no did not came end carry their lo^ds voluntarily, *Rie fines levied amounted to the value of the load according to (higher) prices of thst region "Thus he(S*nkervj?rn»en) introduced th^t wellkn own (system of forced)cerriage of loads which is the harbinger of misery for the villages............" Vol I Book t 172-174/Notes) P .209.

(b )....Stein observes»”The system is not likely to hev* been worked

ry LawrencefSecretf Jtargnf Secf . Ness 116-117 dated 8 Sept, 18 -7.

Mahereje undertook tha raform of tha bagar system.2 la appointed

an officer to taka charge of thia wei*.^ Ha triad to rationalise

the system and to mitigate some of the hardships it an tail ad.

Be wanted to choose certain nuarb f man in each village tft©

of rice per sen as Government Begars. Ihese men were at liberty

to live at their houses and to work in their fields when not

till the constructions of Gilget road. Vol II Book VIII Ha^'tarangri note footnote 25C9-13 P. 197.

IteelBl RofDTM i - On, o f th , g r m t n t «*te o f hu»«nltjr fo r vhlsb

Gulab Singh deitm i external honour, Is the abolition of Suttee

and &f*nticide, A widow, who burnt herself at the funeralpyre

of her Lord, a6 her lest act of devotion, was celled a 8Ǥu The

word ’Vet*1 Is probably derived froo Sanskrit, the equivalent

English of which It * Truth* • In course of tia»e, the voft, Suttee,

began to be applied as an act of self irmolatlcru It has a long

tradition and reference to it, found in ancient books, gave it

the colour of religious ceremony# Suttee was an set, a privilege

and an honour, accompf*ined by the recitation of sacred verses and

involving the burning cf the widowed women at th® itinera 1 pyre.£ wttcc.

This cruel rite of the Sett was present in Kashmir from remote fc

tines, For the first time it was abolished by £ult*>n Sikender, His

son, All Shph, continued the prohibition, Ze.in-u^-Abiden revived

it. The custom, however, continued long in the neighbouring hlll-

states# so the Maharajs of Cashmere undertook to put down two2

very glaring sociel evils vl* infanticide and Suttee, He decided

to esadicpte it with a prcclam&tion,3 But with regard to second

evil thrt of Suttee Gulab fJlngfr expressed his difference. He

felt perhaps sincerely toe-, thet he was nctWrong enough tok '

abolish Suttee, He, however, offered to do pH within his

power to prevent the burning of the females, prevailing upefc

his own relations, end disusde them frcta restoring to the

atrocious practice,w5 But the crime of infanticide was supposed

1, Pfirmu, R.K. , Op, Cit P* Mf1.

2* Letter from Governor General N,W.F, to F, Currie Secretaryto the Government of Indie Secretj 12 -8 d?ted 15 Hor,1fifc6 1 .8 .

3, Ibid,b , Ibid,

5, (a) ’’Crirae of Infanticide is supposed to be much practised in his familyl U s proclamation against it will be useful,* This was the news expressed in the latter stated above,

(b) The evil of Suttee, though against Shastreas, and prablicjb forbidden by the Jeipoor Durbar was found to be a Gordian Knot.

?33

to b* nueh pr>etl*«d In his f-ully. In 1f#*7 tie issued -n order*

and proclaimed, "Wiereas a proclamation prohibiting Infanticide,

Suttee and S^lareiy, hateful to God and man has previously bean

Issued, In order that it mey be better Wiowy^ o everyone we hereby

foA,the second time declare Suttee, slavery snd Infanticide

unlawful and any person convicted ©f these crimes, the whole of

their property shall he confiscated and they themselves be ' 1

imprisoned,"

MiliftfiSX Maharaja supervised the military departm­

ent which composed of & well appointed array, x/lth the same energy

2ftjid In te re s t as he d id in the C iv H -A d m in is trs t io n . /

The Efficiency r.ric5 training of his forces were mf>tt«': rs of de$|»

concern to hi®. He Increased his military strength to 50,000

Infantry and cavalry,^ He regularly supervised the ermy, their

arias and bedding^, If rny soldier became sick, his sickness wc.sL

reported to the Maharaja. W ith*oet de lay a p h ys ic ia n was a t

once despatched for his treatment end medicines were supplied

to hiBi free of charge. Be repaired all the forts and deputed

army In these forts* Hill levies were organised into regiments.

Besides, s code of wilitsry instructions and orders was drawn

up by hire. lie ccinec the woi*ds of command In Sanskrit and his

reglE ients were c t j le u by the name o f Gobardhan Regiment, the

Rnghunfith r a im e n t end Lak£hB?on Begiment# iie r e l ie d much on h is

Dogrr army. The eapabO .lty o f : i l ls army was accepted by Indi® and

Its ad jo in t in g S ta tes and th is array turned successful many a

time In f r o n t ie r disputes o f ( f t lg e t . As Gulab Singh was growing

s tro ng , he s ta r te d a fe c to ry in h is S ta te f o r producing arms end

cmmmitions •

1* Abstract Translation of Proclamation by Oulah Singh 18**7 •

2*Kcul.. .Jfcs. Splig-'Rrum Op, Git P* 2M+,

3. Kunshi, K.K* Or,. Git P. 257.

if, Koul Salig Rsm 0P. Cit P.

1 *

135

Gulab Singh built up the State of Jararau and Kashmir on

tha ruins of the Sikh Kingdom. He worked very hard to acquire

taAtoiy and he succeeded in conso2ip.dating his gains. Bte

inherited the system of administration from the Sikh Govemer,

Shaikh jDaen-ud-din. Good or bad ha accepted the administrative

system and he modified it hare and there to secure his own ends.

The few reforms that he introduced to raojjgenise the shawl

industry and forced labour in diner’ more towards oppression.

Of course, the ad minis trati\^5 machinery of Gulab Singh became

efficient. Against this the systems of *dm1 lstraticn of the Sikhs

rnd the Marather were deteriorating. This can be observed from

the brief survery of tha two administrative systems fiven below *-

At regards the SJkh edralni*tratl on it brd completely

deterfcrntcd after the depth of Maharaja Ranjjtt Singh . His succe­

ssor, Khcrek Singh, was also a weak raSer. After his short rule,

EauKihal Singh was acknowledged as king with Dhyan Singh Dogra

»n Chief-TBinister. The youn<| pri^e restored law r-.nd order in tha

kingdon, and diverted his turbulent army to further fields of

conquests.^ After the death of NauFihrl Singh* .f;her Singh became

the king of Lahore by inducing th® troops of the Stat^o^ nske

hJLa a king*2 But ha was unabla to give a suitalba adraini? tration

to his country, aHenborough Writing in a lettar to Duke of Welli­

ngton states* "He commits excesses and Is not strong.”^ In 1J&2,

the last Sikh ruler ascended the throne. This vas the nine year

old prince Duleep Singh. Hira Singh was re tty as his Chief-Minista fc

But Hira Singh had no real authority and the affrirs of Lahore

were g-ivin** worse and worse picture of administration. In a latt-ar

•Sllenborough writes to the Duke of Wellington by stating, n£vary-

1. Khurhwant Singh, Oq, Cit P. 70.

2 . Cur.: ighr.si, J .D ., "X History of the Sikhs*, P. 212#

3» kllenborough to the Duke of Wellington (privets) 12 Aug, 1 ^ 3 PRC 30/12(28/2) fcl.sU- Extrtd from Has rat BPLkreaa Jit,"Punjab Papart," P. 65.

**•. Khushwant ‘?ing^ Op, Clt P# 71 •

thing is aanaged by the regimental committees, which correspond

and act in concert. He era Singh had no l real authority."1

After the death of Hira Singh, a weak council of

Regency, composed of the Rani as regent, Lai Singh as the Vkzir

and Tej tingh as Coamander-in-chief, assuaed the power, Rani

was mere then useless. Lai Singh was an avaricious intriguero

Tej Singh had neither brains nor initiatire.

"To the Sikhs th© new adadnistrstion represented all

the elements of their defeat and national humiliation.*^ The

X main problem of Lai Singh *r Government wss to find voney for

the payment of arrears to the disch?*k©d soldiers • Further, he "began

to confiscate the jaerlrs ppri reside Khals~ estates 3ie result

of this weak ado inis trailer* was that the Sikh aivy haJ no confid­

ence in their Hikh Chiefs, "When they considered incompetent and

corrupt md vho in their opinion were desirous of keeping their

luxuries to theinselv s under any loss of independence. The absence

of n strong executive Government gave them long, unbroken«?

p e rio d f o r d is p la y in g t h e i r s t r e n g th , " * '

Besides, drinking »nfi debauchexy were Most coopcn with

the courtiers, officials mcl men of higher poets,

"Th e p o l i t i c a l upheaval:? o f th e t in e c ro a tc d a £en£e

c f r e s t le s s n e s s and in s e c u r i t y in th e raincs c f e l l , h ig h and

low, and there was apprehension of a revolution. a recult,t -

robbers "beerme active even in the city of Lahore, A large nuaber

or Vrsltfcr persons started leaving thi Punjab,"6 resides, " the

stpte revenue inspite of sn increase by one fourth end frequent

receipts cf nasranas md resumptions of Jagirs were constantly

1, Sllenbcrough to the Tuke of Wellington(Private)20 Oct, 18^3 PFO 3 0 / 1 2 (2 8 / 1 2 ) f o l 1 0 6 -1 1 0 extrtd from Has ret Bikrana Jit (Pur j ah Papers) , P. 67.

2, H a s ra t , B lk ra uss Jit, "Anglo-Sikh Relat ens," P, 290.

3 , I b id ,l*-. Ibid P. 291.

5 . Oipte, M .H .j * Pun ja b cn th e eve of First Sikh Wer^.P.XCll.

6. Ib id P. (c).

136

fall in* off, while the expenses had bees x* steadily mounting

up ,"1 The result was that the Sikh administration was most

unpopular, the second treaty of Lahore the regent was pensioned

off. The British Government bees** the guardian of the yoimg

prince during his minority* "The British Resident had to direct

and control the administration with a council of eight ministers,

nominated by hires elf* The Britiah garrison was to continue to

be stationed atjt Lahore, and the entire civil and military ad*

ministration of the country was -rested with the Britiah Resident*"2

During Gulab Singh*a period, the Maratha administration

had coapletely collapsed* The treaty of Bassein had pit an end

to the Karatha independence which had been established by tha

gre&t Shiva Ji* The English had become the foremost power in

India, Bajl Bao II was the last Mpratha ruler, who began to intri­

gue with feudatories against his new Masters* "He carried out his

favourite plan of sequestering the jahaglrs of all ihom he cons­

idered the political opponents of his family and appropriated the

revenues to his own use*"^

Bajl Bao considered it necessary to entertain a disci­

plined corps of lnfantfy with some artillery attached to it* B»

got approval for this proposal from Governor General and selected

Major Jhon Ford for this post* T h i a j i new force was composed of

aostly froa North India with only a few Marathas in it, AH tookj.

oaths to serre Baj i loyally and execute his orders faithfully,

" One great evil introduced by Bajirao in his revenue

admintration was the system of faming, that Is auctioning the

bualness of collecting taxes to the highest bidder, This measure

he adopted in order to amass money and at the seme time provide*

1* Gupta, H.R "Punjab on the eve of First Sikh Vfar*fP ©1,2, Hasrat, BikramaJit, "Anglo-Slkh Relations," P. 295*3* Hadkami, H*7,, "The Rise and fall of the Maratha Empire"P.26 5* Sardesir, "Mew history of the Marathas,"P*M>6,

13?

lucrative worit for his own favourities in service, irrespective

of their w rit end efficiency*"^ This method proved ruinous to

all classes, especially to the ci&tivaters• E&r his system of

of revenue ferasing he made his subjects long for a change ©f

Government* "Peace and security were what the harassed now longed

for| they had enough of war/ , plunders, tortures, and famines."2

By his revenue s y s tern the country was reduced to poverty and

wretchedness because thex revenue fanners made the best of the

chmce during their period of lease and toe people were harassed

in fflery way*^ The civil administration was transferred to mili4<tf

ityyxfUtwUxsft^KtRat ttem p office s who were not fit for such work

grd as a result military efficiency suffered* "Militar^needs

affected the ***** ^efficiency of the civil government reacted

disastrously upon military efficiency*"** Besides, the bulk of

the army consisted of fetJdel levies, "Bajtro® had the daah of a

soldier, but neither the patience of an administrator, nor the

vision of a statesman."* Besides, there was no good system of

education and nothing was done to develop those tendencies that

contribute to the greatness of a nation*

Sikh and Maratha administrative systems were similar

in certain respects. Both the Sikh and th£. Jferatha rulers lacked

farsighted statesmanship and boldness of a soldier* As the Sikhs

and Marat has could not consolidate their repective territories,

these were overtaken by chaos and confusion* Besides, the military

system of both the administrations was weak* The system of educa­

tion was rlso same under the Sikhs and the Hsrathas • The Sikh and

the Maratha rulers did not possess the administrative genius of t

farsighted statesmen who could keep their armies under effi4i«fc/\t

ard effective control. The rulers were desirous of keeping their

luxuries ^of themselves. The revenue system was the same under

the Sikh and the Maratha administrations*

1* Sardesai, G.S. »Hew history of the Marathas, 1 P*

2. Nadkami, R .7. Op, Cit P* 266*

3. Sardeaal, G.E.? Op* Clt P. M*7*

Nadkami, R.V.? Op, Cit P. 355.

5* Sharma, S .R ., "The founding of Maratha freedon,"P*^35*

138

It voi&d appear from this brief surrey of the adainl-

stratlve systems of the Sikhs and the M&rathas that there were

many points eommon to both. Both the Sikh and the Martha w^Srs*

towards the middle of nineteenth century, lacked the farsight

W**d vied om of great statesmans hip, boldness and vigour of capable

tneralship* Qulab Singh possessed in good measure

e qualities of an able statesman and capable general*

1».