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Dogra Dynasty — 1846 to 1947

Dogra Dynasty — 1846 to 1947

Dogra Dynasty
Figure 1: Dogra Dynasty — frequently tested in JKSSB and UPSC examinations.

1. Gulab Singh (1846 - 1856 AD)

  • Founder of Dogra Rule in J&K.
  • Laid the foundation of the modern state of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • J&K was the 2nd largest princely state in British India.
REFORMS OF GULAB SINGH

  • Reformed the Begaar System — completely abolished in 1920 during Maharaja Pratap Singh's period.
  • Suppression of Crimes: Restored peace and order; crushed gangs of Galwans (robbers and murderers); drove out Bombas and Khokhars.
  • Jagir System: Rationalised the Jagir system. There were 3115 jagirs when he took over. With assistance of Raja Kak Dhar, resumed Jagirs of those recently granted.
  • Rationing of Rice: Solved rice shortage for city dwellers (Srinagar); established a monopoly of rice.
  • Administrative Reforms: Divided kingdom into 3 provinces & 4 wazarats/districts.
    • Provinces: Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh
    • Wazarats in Kashmir: Maraaz & Kamraaz
  • Reorganisation of Dagshawl / Shawl Deptt.: Revived the department; set minimum wages; abolished several taxes.
  • Founded Dharmath trust and built temples in Srinagar and Jammu.
  • Reformed revenue and police administration.
KEY NOTES

  • Gulab Singh was the only ruler of India who extended the geographical boundaries of India beyond the Himalayas.
  • During Gulab Singh's reign, Lord Hardinge visited Kashmir.
  • In Feb 1856, Gulab Singh installed his son Ranbir Singh as the ruler of J&K.
  • In 1858, Gulab Singh died.

2. Ranbir Singh (1856 - 1885 AD)

ACHIEVEMENTS & REFORMS

  • Supported the British during 1857 Revolts and helped them reconquer Delhi.
  • Founded RS Pura city.
  • Introduced the Ranbir Penal Code.
  • Constructed Raghunath Temple.
  • Started the Darbar move system (around 1877 - 1878).
  • Introduced educational reforms.
  • Improved economic conditions of the state.
ECONOMIC REFORMS

  • Reorganised taxation system; reduced tax on shawl weavers. (There was a revolt by shawl weavers in which Raja Kak Dhar — head of Shawl Deptt — was killed).
  • The shawl trade was completely ruined due to the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. Ranbir Singh then completely abolished the tax on weavers.
  • Reformed revenue system.
  • Introduced new staple crops.
  • Imported silkworm seeds from China.
  • Laid out experimental tea gardens.
  • Coal & Iron mines in some regions of Jammu.
JUDICIAL REFORMS

  • Codification of laws — 1st time in state history, civil and criminal codes were codified.
  • Initially, a penal code (100 sections) upon Macaulay's code. Later, sections increased to 203 sections with punishments — "Ranbir Dand Biddhi" (bi-lingual: Dogri & Persian).
  • "Zabita-e-Diwan" — Civil code.
  • "Jangi Ranbir Dand Biddhi" — Separate code for state forces.
  • "Dagh-i-Shawl" — Separate court for Shawl industry.
  • One Panchayat Court in Srinagar for petty cases.
  • 1872: 7 district courts in Jammu; 6 in Srinagar (presided by Wazir).
  • 1872: Mixed courts were established (British + State officials). 1st Judges: Mr. Wynne & Babu Nilambar Mukherjee.
  • 1877: High Court established.
  • Adalat-e-Alia — The Jammu & Kashmir Civil Court Regulation.
  • 1880: Jury system introduced in Srinagar & Jammu.
ROADS CONSTRUCTED

  • Jhelum Valley Cart Road: Kohala to Baramulla (later extended to Srinagar) — construction started by Ranbir Singh; completed during Pratap Singh's rule.
  • Banihal Cart Road: Jammu to Srinagar via Banihal — construction started by Ranbir Singh; remained a private road (special permission needed).
  • Jammu-Sialkot Road (1876)
  • Bhimber Road (Gujarat - Kashmir)
  • Gilgit to Chaprot Road
  • Bridges: In Ladakh at Marchling, Khalatse, Lama-yuru, and La-Rud bridge on the Indus.
POSTAL SYSTEM

  • Ranbir Singh introduced the modern postal system.
  • 1882: Money Order introduced (Min: 10 Aana; Max: 10 Rs.).
  • 1883: One post card introduced.
  • 1886: The Imperial Post Office was set up.
  • Stamps & Cards inscribed in both Dogri and Persian.
TELEGRAPH

  • Telegraph between Jammu-Srinagar developed between 1878 - 1882.
  • 1878: Gilgit Agency between British govt. and State govt.
  • Jammu - Udhampur (1879); Jammu - Suchetgarh; Suchetgarh - Sialkot (1882); Jammu - Riasi (1883); Jammu - RS Pora.
MILITARY REFORMS

  • Followed pattern of Sikh army; modelled partially on European and native systems.
  • Introduced cash salary system on a monthly basis.
  • Army factories established in Jammu & Srinagar.
  • Armies: Khola Fauj, Jungi Fauj, Nizamat Fauj, Jagirdari Fauj.
  • Army Composition: Composite nature — Dogras + Hindus + Muslims + Gilgits + Atoris + Kashmiris + Gorkhas + Pathans.
SOCIO-CULTURAL REFORMS

  • Known for his rationalism.
  • Patron of art & literature.
  • Donated to Sanskrit institutions in Banaras.
  • Contributed 1 lakh rupees for the establishment of Punjab University at Lahore.
  • Established several schools, maktabs, pathshalas.
  • State expenditure on education increased (Rs. 50,000).
  • Constructed Raghunath Temple at Jammu.
  • A large number of Sanskrit & Persian books were translated into Dogri, Hindi & Urdu.
KEY NOTES

  • Vidya Vilas Press — 1st printing press of J&K.
  • Gulab Singh started the Dharmarath Fund; Ranbir Singh put it on a permanent basis.
  • Trigonometrical survey of the state — 1861: A map of the valley and surrounding mountains was prepared.
  • 1881: Establishment of a Church Missionary school by Rev. Dexay — marked the beginning of modern education in Kashmir.
REOCCUPATION OF GILGIT & CHITRAL

  • Gilgit was lost to Gulab Singh in 1846.
  • Ranbir Singh deputed General Devi Singh to reconquer Gilgit — occupied Gilgit and Yasin.
  • 1859: Revolt in Gilgit against Dogra rule. Ranbir Singh deputed General Hushiara — Gilgit permanently annexed.
  • Captain Biddulp: Appointed by British govt. at Gilgit in 1857; remained for 4 years; recalled in 1861.

3. Pratap Singh (1885 - 1925 AD)

  • Known as the "Modernization of Kashmir".
IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1st Land Settlement
  • Abolition of Begaar System
  • SP College, Srinagar
  • Prince Wales College, Jammu
  • Jhelum Valley Cart Road completed
  • Banihal Cart Road thrown open to public
  • Sialkot-Jammu Railway line opened
  • 1st Hydro-electric Power Project at Mahore
  • Zainagar Canal, Ranbir Canal
  • Horticulture, Agriculture, Sericulture
LAND SETTLEMENT (1887)

  • State government carried out the 1st Land Settlement.
  • Supervision of: Walter Lawrence.
  • Rights of agriculturists clearly defined.
  • State's demand fixed for 10 years.
  • Revenue to be paid in cash only.
  • Occupancy rights conferred on cultivators with undisputed rights.
  • Waste lands considered as Khalsa or State property; preferential right for acquisition given to tenants.
  • Illegal taxations like 'Rasum' abolished.
ABOLITION OF BEGAAR SYSTEM

  • 1891: Some objectionable features abolished.
  • 1920: Begaar system completely abolished.
COMMUNICATION

  • Jhelum Valley Cart Road completed and extended to Srinagar.
  • 1922: Banihal Cart Road thrown open to public. (Before 1922, it was a private road requiring special permission).
  • 1890: Sialkot-Jammu Railway line opened.
EDUCATION

  • 1905: Sri Pratap College, Srinagar (efforts of Annie Besant)
  • 1907: Prince of Wales College, Jammu (present Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College)
  • 1914: Amar Singh Technical School
  • 1924: Sri Pratap Technical School
IRRIGATION

  • 1907: 1st Hydro-electric generating plant at Mahore.
  • 1931: Zainagar Canal completed (Cost: 11 lakh rupees).
  • Ranbir Canal: Largest irrigation canal — 1,26,000 acres of land.
  • Other Canals: Martand Canal, Lal Khul, Pratap Canal, Basantpur Canal, Ujh Canal, Upper Jhelum Canal.
AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE

  • Fruit growing industry acquired a leading position in export trade.
  • 1891: Forest Department
  • 1897: Department of Agriculture
  • A model agricultural farm was established.
  • European varieties of fruit were introduced.
  • Sericulture industry revived. 1907: Factory for reeling cocoons at Srinagar.
HEALTH & SANITATION

  • 1892: Epidemic of Cholera in Kashmir (10,000 died).
  • 1894: Vaccination against small-pox first introduced.
  • 1903-04: Outbreak of Plague.
  • Sanitary conditions improved in Srinagar; piped water, latrines built.
  • Maternity hospitals opened in Jammu and Srinagar.
KEY NOTES

  • Amar Singh was Pratap Singh's younger brother.
  • 1908: Department of Mining.
  • Pratap Singh refused permission to set up a British Colony in Kashmir → led to construction of houseboats. Small boats (Doongas) transformed into modern houseboats.
  • 1924: Viceroy Lord Reading visited Kashmir.
  • Pratap Singh died: 1925.
POLITICAL EVENTS

  • Establishment of British Residency: After Ranbir Singh's death, a British Resident was established in Srinagar. 1885: St. John was appointed as 1st Resident. Mar 1888: C. Plowden became the British Resident.
  • Deposition of Pratap Singh: 1889: Council of Regency established (President: Amar Singh). Administration placed under Resident's control.
  • British Political Agency in Gilgit: 1891: British political agent appointed in Gilgit. Telegraph line established.
  • Hunza-Nagar Campaign: 1891: Chiefs revolted; Colonel Durand captured enemy positions; 20 Dec 1891: Raja of Hunza-Nagar submitted.
  • Restoration of Powers: 1891: Pratap Singh made President of Council; Amar Singh as Vice President. 1893: British Queen conferred title of Great Commander of Star of India on Pratap Singh.

4. Hari Singh (1925 - 1947)

  • Nephew of Maharaja Pratap Singh.
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS

  • 1934: Praja Parishad (legislative assembly) established — 75 members (33 elected on limited franchise).
  • 1939: Elected members raised from 33 to 40.
JUDICIAL REFORMS

  • 1928: Jammu & Kashmir High Court Constitution enacted. High Court comprises a Chief Justice. Maharaja remained the fountain head of judicial powers.
EDUCATION

  • Compulsory Primary Education Act.
  • 1925: 706 primary schools; 1945: 20,728 primary schools.
  • 1942: Bifurcated SP College into two colleges.
  • Two colleges opened in Poonch and Mirpur.
  • Sanctioned 500 scholarships for the poor.
ECONOMIC REFORMS

  • Agriculturalist's Relief Act — debtors could bring creditors to court for account settlement.
  • 1928: Land Alienation Act — forbade transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturalists.
  • 1940: Consolidation of Holdings Act.
  • Bulls of Sindhi and Dhani breeds imported.
  • State share of land revenue revised = 30% of gross produce.
  • 1938: J&K Bank established (HQ at Srinagar).
MEDICAL FACILITIES

  • Central Medical Hospitals at Jammu (Cost: 8 lakhs) and Srinagar (Cost: 30 lakhs).
SOCIAL REFORMS

  • Prohibition of child marriage.
  • Encouraged widow remarriage.
  • Suppression of infanticide.
  • Child labour banned.
  • 1941: Polyandry made a crime.
  • 1940: An act laid down that no one would accept "Rum" (a kind of dowry).
  • Juvenile Smoking Regulation (1929) — forbade any boy below 16 to sell tobacco.
  • Hari Singh passed The Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women Regulation.
KEY NOTES

  • 31 Oct 1932: Hari Singh declared that Harijans (depressed class) would be allowed to enter and worship in all temples. The head pujari of Raghunath Temple resigned in protest.
  • Seats reserved for depressed classes in Local Bodies and later in Praja Sabha.
  • Infant Marriages Prevention Regulation: Min age for boys: 18 years; Min age for girls: 14 years; Forbade incompatible marriages.
  • To end infanticide, Hari Singh proclaimed that for every female child born in a Rajput family, parents would be granted: an acre of state land + financial help at marriage.
  • Dhanadevi Memorial Fund — a state fund established to end infanticide.

5. JKSSB Previous Year Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q1. The Dogra Dynasty was founded by:

  • A) Gulab Singh
  • B) Ranbir Singh
  • C) Pratap Singh
  • D) Hari Singh

Q2. Gulab Singh ruled J&K from:

  • A) 1846-1856
  • B) 1846-1856
  • C) 1846-1856
  • D) 1846-1856

Q3. The Begaar System was completely abolished in:

  • A) 1891
  • B) 1900
  • C) 1920
  • D) 1934

Q4. The Ranbir Penal Code was introduced by:

  • A) Gulab Singh
  • B) Ranbir Singh
  • C) Pratap Singh
  • D) Hari Singh

Q5. The Raghunath Temple at Jammu was constructed by:

  • A) Gulab Singh
  • B) Ranbir Singh
  • C) Pratap Singh
  • D) Hari Singh

Q6. The Darbar move system was started by:

  • A) Gulab Singh
  • B) Ranbir Singh
  • C) Pratap Singh
  • D) Hari Singh

Q7. The first printing press of J&K was:

  • A) Ranbir Press
  • B) Vidya Vilas Press
  • C) Jammu Press
  • D) Kashmir Press

Q8. The Jhelum Valley Cart Road was constructed during the reign of:

  • A) Gulab Singh
  • B) Ranbir Singh
  • C) Pratap Singh
  • D) Hari Singh

Q9. The 1st Land Settlement in J&K was carried out in:

  • A) 1885
  • B) 1887
  • C) 1890
  • D) 1893

Q10. The 1st Land Settlement was supervised by:

  • A) Lord Hardinge
  • B) Walter Lawrence
  • C) C. Plowden
  • D) St. John

Q11. Sri Pratap College, Srinagar was established in:

  • A) 1900
  • B) 1905
  • C) 1907
  • D) 1914

Q12. The 1st Hydro-electric Power Project in J&K was established at:

  • A) Srinagar
  • B) Mahore
  • C) Jammu
  • D) Poonch

Q13. The Banihal Cart Road was thrown open to the public in:

  • A) 1912
  • B) 1918
  • C) 1922
  • D) 1925

Q14. The Praja Parishad was established in:

  • A) 1925
  • B) 1930
  • C) 1934
  • D) 1939

Q15. The J&K Bank was established in:

  • A) 1925
  • B) 1930
  • C) 1938
  • D) 1940

Q16. The Land Alienation Act was passed in:

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  • A) 1925
  • B) 1928
  • C) 1934
  • D) 1940

Q17. The Juvenile Smoking Regulation was passed in:

  • A) 1925
  • B) 1929
  • C) 1934
  • D) 1940

Q18. The Infant Marriages Prevention Regulation fixed the minimum age for girls at:

  • A) 12 years
  • B) 14 years
  • C) 16 years
  • D) 18 years

Q19. The Dhanadevi Memorial Fund was established by:

  • A) Gulab Singh
  • B) Ranbir Singh
  • C) Pratap Singh
  • D) Hari Singh

Q20. The first British Resident in Srinagar was:

  • A) St. John
  • B) C. Plowden
  • C) Walter Lawrence
  • D) Lord Hardinge

6. Summary: Dogra Dynasty at a Glance

Ruler Period Key Achievements/Events
Gulab Singh 1846-1856 AD Founder; rationalised Jagir system; reformed Begaar; Dharmath trust
Ranbir Singh 1856-1885 AD Ranbir Penal Code; Raghunath Temple; roads; postal system; Gilgit reconquest
Pratap Singh 1885-1925 AD 1st Land Settlement; abolished Begaar; SP College; Jhelum Valley Road
Hari Singh 1925-1947 AD Praja Parishad; Land Alienation Act; J&K Bank; social reforms; Dhanadevi Memorial Fund
Key Takeaways for JKSSB & UPSC

  • Gulab Singh: Founder of Dogra Rule (1846-1856); 2nd largest princely state
  • Ranbir Singh: Ranbir Penal Code (203 sections); Raghunath Temple; Darbar move system; Vidya Vilas Press
  • Pratap Singh: 1st Land Settlement (1887); abolished Begaar (1920); SP College (1905)
  • Hari Singh: Praja Parishad (1934); J&K Bank (1938); Land Alienation Act (1928)
  • Walter Lawrence: Supervised 1st Land Settlement
  • Ranbir Penal Code: "Ranbir Dand Biddhi" — Dogri & Persian
  • Begaar System: Reformed by Gulab Singh; abolished in 1920
  • Jhelum Valley Cart Road: Started by Ranbir Singh; completed by Pratap Singh
  • Banihal Cart Road: Thrown open in 1922
  • 1st British Resident: St. John (1885); C. Plowden regarded as 1st Resident
  • Gilgit: Reconquered by Ranbir Singh; British Political Agency in 1891
High-Yield Interactive UPSC & JKSSB Quiz (Dogra Dynasty)

Q1. The Dogra Dynasty was founded by:

Correct Answer: B. Gulab Singh was the founder of Dogra Rule in J&K. He laid the foundation of the modern state of Jammu and Kashmir and ruled from 1846 to 1856 AD.

Q2. The Ranbir Penal Code was introduced by:

Correct Answer: B. Ranbir Singh introduced the Ranbir Penal Code — "Ranbir Dand Biddhi" — which was bi-lingual in Dogri and Persian, with 203 sections.

Q3. The Begaar System was completely abolished in:

Correct Answer: C. The Begaar System was completely abolished in 1920 during the period of Maharaja Pratap Singh. Some objectionable features were abolished earlier in 1891.

Q4. The first printing press of J&K was:

Correct Answer: B. Vidya Vilas Press was the 1st printing press of J&K, established during Ranbir Singh's reign.

Q5. The 1st Land Settlement in J&K was carried out in:

Correct Answer: B. The 1st Land Settlement was carried out in 1887 under the supervision of Walter Lawrence during Maharaja Pratap Singh's reign.

Q6. Sri Pratap College, Srinagar was established in:

Correct Answer: B. Sri Pratap College, Srinagar was established in 1905 through the efforts of Annie Besant during Maharaja Pratap Singh's reign.

Q7. The Praja Parishad was established in:

Correct Answer: C. The Praja Parishad (legislative assembly) was established in 1934 during Maharaja Hari Singh's reign, with 75 members (33 elected on limited franchise).

Q8. The J&K Bank was established in:

Correct Answer: C. The J&K Bank was established in 1938 during Maharaja Hari Singh's reign, with its headquarters at Srinagar.

Q9. The Infant Marriages Prevention Regulation fixed the minimum age for girls at:

Correct Answer: B. The Infant Marriages Prevention Regulation passed by Maharaja Hari Singh fixed the minimum age for girls at 14 years and for boys at 18 years.

Q10. The first British Resident in Srinagar was:

Correct Answer: B. St. John was appointed as the first British Resident in Srinagar in 1885. However, C. Plowden is regarded as the 1st British Resident when he took charge in March 1888.
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