Ravi Rohmetra
“Maharaja Hari Singh” was the last ruler of the Jammu & Kashmir. He ascended to the throne of Jammu & Kahsmir State in 1925. He was born on 23rd September 1895 in Amar Mahal Jammu. He was son of Raja General Amar Singh and nephew of the then highness of Jammu & Kashmir State Maharaja Partap Singh Maharaja Partap Singh discarding the right of his only adopted son Raja Jagdev Singh of Poonch considered the all-round brilliance, suitability and competence of his highly qualified (from Britain) nephew Hari Singh, as the ruler of the State. When he was 13 years old he was sent to “Mayo College of Princes” for studies. Soon after his admissioin in the Mayo College his father Raja Amar Singh died. After his father’s death, British Govt. in Delhi took keen interest in his education and bringing up. A British Army Officer was deputed as his guardian with the responsibility of ensuring proper education and training with the aim of grooming him to be a good ruler. After completing his education in Mayo College, he was sent to “Imperial Cadet Corps” at Dehradun to imbibe in him military and martial traits as well as polishings his English language. Maharaja Hari Singh married Maharani Tara Devi in 1928. Yuvraj Karan Singh was born to them on 9th March 1931 as the next Heir apparent. In 1915 he was appointed Commander-in Chief of Jammu & Kashmir State Forces when he was only 20 years old. On assuming command of the State forces, he introduced lot of reforms in the training and welfare of officers and soldiers. He was sworn in and bejeweled with a dignity of “King of Kingdoms” of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan bordering Afghanistan, Russia and China in 1925. Maharaja Hari Singh being a moderate and enlightened ruler took a mumber of steps to redress the grievances of Muslim Community and mitigated their grievances after the agitation of 1931. He constituted Grievances Enquiry Committee under the chairmanship of B.G. Glancy. In 1934, there erupted “Roti” and “Cow” agitation in Jammu which was handled by Maharaja Hari Singh with utmost care and caution. Hindu temples were thrown open to Harijans in spite of opposition by the priests. Flesh trade was banned and remarriage by the widows was allowed. There are numerous instances worth mentioning but few of them such as making primary education compulsory for all subjects, men and women, prohibiting child marriage and opening all the places of worship for his low caste subjects are most remarkable. He opened lot of new schools and colleges to promote education. He managed to check corruption in the administration by adopting unique ways of detecting corruptions, finding corrupt officials and punishing them. He banned beggar and it is said that during his rule none dared to accept bribes or deny wages for any services rendered. He was made a member of the imperial war council from 1944 to 1946 during the world war-II. During the war, he visited Middle East where he joined his units which were fighting against Axis Powers. He lived with them in their temporary trenches and bunkers which encouraged them and boosted their morale. Showing his solidarity with forces in the battlefield eamed him lot of respect not only of his men but also of the Allied Powers particularly of the British Army. Maharaja Hari Singh was the first Indian among the rulers of Princely States of India who locked horns with global mighty British rulers in Round Table conference in London by advocating the independence of India. The attack by Pakistani forces on the State. made him to sign instrument of Accession.
In a letter to Lord Mountbatten he wrote:
‘‘With the conditions obtaining at present in my State and the great emergency of the situation as it exists, I have no option but to ask for help from the Indian Dominion. Naturally they cannot send the help asked for me without my state acceding to the Dominion of India. I have accordingly decided to do so, and I attach the instrument of accession for acceptance by your Government. The other alternative is to leave my State and the people to free booters……”if my State is to be saved, immediate assistance must be available at Srinagar. In haste”
MAHARAJA HARI SINGH OF KASHMIR
Reply to the Maharaja
“In the circumstances mentioned by your Highness my Government (India) have decided to accept the accession of Kashmir State to the Dominion of India”.
LORD MOUNTBATTEN
However difference of opinion emerged between Maharaja Hari Singh and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the then Prime Minister which ultimately ended up with forced abdication of the former in favour of his son Dr. Karan Singh. He spent his last days of his life in Bombay, never to return to his State thereafter, from 1949. He spent rest of his life in Bombay. His passion for Polo, Horse Racing and Reading kept him occupied for the remaining period of life. He breathed his last on 26 April 1961 at Bombay. As per his will his ashes were spread all over Jammu & Kashmir and immersed in River Tawi at Jammu. He donated most of his property to the Arya Samaj under the advice of his Prime Minister Mehar Chand Mahajan before his death which occurred in 1961.
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