Photo: Unknown (production) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
1846 to 1947
8 events6 exhibits
Under the Treaty of Amritsar, Gulab Singh became Maharaja of the new princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Four Dogra rulers governed until 1947. The period brought roads, a museum and a modern administration, and also famine, heavy taxation and a growing political movement among Kashmir's Muslim majority that shaped everything after.
Events in this period
16 March 1846
The Treaty of Amritsar
After defeating the Sikhs, the British East India Company transferred Kashmir to Gulab Singh, the Dogra ruler of Jammu, in return for 7.5 million rupees. The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was born.
In the museumMaharaja Gulab Singh
Maharaja Gulab Singh Photo: Unknown (production) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
April 1865
The shawl weavers' protest
Shawl weavers in Srinagar protested against crushing taxes on their trade. The protest was put down by force and a number of weavers died, many of them drowned.
In the museumThe Kashmir Shawl
The Kashmir Shawl Photo: Jainamishra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
1877 to 1879
The great famine
Heavy rains destroyed harvests and a severe famine followed. Contemporary observers believed a large share of the Valley's population died or left.
1898
A museum for Kashmir
The Sri Pratap Singh Museum opened in Srinagar, the first museum in the state, gathering sculpture, coins, manuscripts, textiles and crafts.
In the museumSri Pratap Singh Museum
Sri Pratap Singh Museum Photo: Anonymous Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
1925
Hari Singh becomes Maharaja
Hari Singh succeeded his uncle Pratap Singh as the fourth and last Dogra Maharaja.
In the museumMaharaja Hari Singh
Maharaja Hari Singh Photo: Georges Devred · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
13 July 1931
Firing outside Srinagar Central Jail
Police fired on a crowd gathered outside the Srinagar Central Jail during the trial of Abdul Qadeer, killing 22 people. The day became a turning point in organised political opposition to Dogra rule.
1932
The Muslim Conference is founded
The All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference was founded with Sheikh Abdullah as its leader. In 1939 most of its leadership renamed it the National Conference and opened it to all communities.
In the museumSheikh Mohammad Abdullah
1946
Quit Kashmir
The National Conference launched the Quit Kashmir movement, demanding an end to Dogra rule. Sheikh Abdullah was arrested and jailed.
In the museumSheikh Mohammad Abdullah
In this wing
6 exhibits
Further reading for this period
Books that cover this period. They are places to read further, not sources for any single sentence on this page.
- Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects: Islam, Rights, and the History of KashmirMridu Rai, 2004
- The Valley of KashmirWalter R. Lawrence, 1895