March 16, 1846: when Kashmiris were sold

By Aasef Chauhdry March 15, 2015 

The history confirms that it has been the practice since from the beginning of the civilization that the overriding and privileged society would buy poor people for their household jobs, sex, farming fatigues and countless other menial jobs. Sadly, from the ancient Greek and Romans of the medieval times and even today this shameless trade still exist. It is called human trafficking; the trade of humans or their organs. The fifteenth century marked the start of European slave trading in Africa with the Portuguese transporting people from Africa to Portugal and using them as slaves. How could the British stay behind? Hence, in 1562, they also joined in on this inhuman trade in Africa. 

In 1600s, other countries from the ‘civilised’ European jumped into the slave trade. These included Spain, North America, Holland, France, Sweden, and Denmark. Modern America also has a rich history of Human Trafficking. Although history is full of events narrating incidents of human trafficking, nevertheless, the historians seems either not interested in narrating or scared about talking of one of the worst ever human trafficking incident that happened in 1846, when East India Company sold Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra for Rupees 75 lacs of Nanak Shah, the ruling currency of Punjab (7.5 million) which if converted at the current rate of exchange in Sterling Pounds amounts to a meager sum of approximately £ 93,750.00. 

Each individual of Kashmir was sold at the rate of 7.5 rupees per human. In return of this petty amount, Gulab Singh acquired "all the hilly or mountainous country with its dependencies situated to the eastward of the River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi including Chamba and excluding Lahul. Prior to the deal, Gulab Singh sent Dewan Jawala Sahai to the British authorities with a request that Jammu territory along with the residents be sold to him. The Dewan had a detailed parleys with Lawrence and Currie, who after discussing the issue with Hardinge, laid the condition that if the Maharajah paid the indemnity of ten million rupees, the British would be willing to grant him the territories lying between the source of the Bias to the Sindh, including Kashmir and Hazara. Gulab Singh was, however, not in a position to pay such huge amount, hence, suggested, leaving out of the grant of the territory lying to the right band of the Bias and corresponding cutback in the amount demanded. The amended proposal was approved, rather welcomed by the British authorities, thus while considering the keeping out of some territory, the amount of guarantee to be paid by Gulab Singh was reduced by twenty-five lacs. 

The deal was struck between the British government and Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra. It is remembered as the Treaty of Amritsar, which was signed on March 16, 1846, to settle a dispute over territory in Kashmir after the First Sikh war with the United Kingdom, ceding some land to Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra. Based on the provisions of the treaty, Gulab Singh acquired the lands "River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi including Chamba and in return paid Rs. 7.5 million Nanak Shahi, along with one horse, 12 goats and three shawls, to the British Government as the price for the cessation along with other annual tributes like, One shawl and 100 goats every year, failing which, Kashmir was to revert back to the British. Unfortunately, this disgraceful Treaty of Amritsar marked the beginning of Dogra rule in Kashmir. According to the article-1 of this shameful treaty, the British Government transferred for ever an independent possession to Maharajah Gulab Singh and the heirs male of his body all the hilly or mountainous country with its dependencies situated to the eastward of the River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi including Chamba and excluding Lahul, being part of the territories ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State according to the provisions of Article IV of the Treaty of Lahore, dated 9th March, 1846.

Some other important articles of the treaty, which will reflect the crux of the agreement, are appended below: Article 4 The limits of territories of Maharajah Gulab Singh shall not be at any time changed without concurrence of the British Government. Article 7 Maharajah Gulab Singh engages never to take to retain in his service any British subject nor the subject of any European or American State without the consent of the British Government. Article 9 The British Government will give its aid to Maharajah Gulab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies.

The most interesting, though quite humiliating is the Article 10 which says, Maharajah Gulab Singh acknowledges the supremacy of the British Government and will in token of such supremacy present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve shawl goats of approved breed (six male and six female) and three pairs of Cashmere shawls. The 9th of November, 1846 was that dark day of the history of Kashmir when Gulab Singh, an illiterate to the end, entered capital city of Srinagar. M. L. Kapur in his book ‘The History of Jammu & Kashmir’ mentions about the monstrous behavior of Gulab Singh’s monstrous behavior in the following words “to quell the rebellion in Poonch and Chibbhal territory, Gulab Singh returning from Peshawar and after some desultory warfare, the rebels were completely routed. Many of them were captured, and treated with vengeance; their hands and feet were severed by axes, while skins of Mali Sabaz Ali, two of the close accomplices of Shams uddin, were peeled off their bodies, and their heads were hung on gallows in a crossing as a warning to others. Hands were ultimately laid on the chief rebel as well, and his head was cut off." He further mentions "Examples of severity were thought necessary but the cruelties perpetrated by Gulab Singh both in this and in the other campaigns in which he has commanded have caused his name to be generally decried and execrated." Gulab Singh as a treacherous and licentious person is further described as “the Panchas applauded the talks with the Jammu Raja, (Gulab Singh) which went on for about a week; and during this period the latter entertained the former with "abundance of food, sweetmeats, drinks and women".

During Gulab Singh’s rule, the condition of the people of the state was dreadful and unacceptable. Almost everything was taxed heavily and after paying their dues to the government, fulfilling the illicit and unlawful demands of the corrupt officials, the farmers were hardly left with the one-third of their crop. Secondly, the security of life and property had disappeared. British Government received complaints against the tyrannical rule of Gulab Singh Dogra, though the succeeding governments of Ranbir Singh, Pratap Singh and even Hari Singh were no different as corruption was always at its peak and the Muslim majority community suffered at the hands of these dogra rulers who treated people like animals and would get a thrill by humiliating them which the rulers did on daily basis. To give an example, a Muslim would be sent to gallows for killing a cow compared to a Hindu who would be given a minor sentence for a similar offence or for killing a Muslim. 

It is ever since the Dogra rule that the inopportune Kashmiris are considered as the children of the lesser god because their life hasn’t changed. Hari Singh, succeeded his uncle Maharaja Pratap Singh, and ascended the throne on October 14, 1925. Like his predecessors, he would stick to the tradition of hounding, harrying, harassing and humiliating the local Muslim population in order to rule over them with comfort. He maneuvered to maintain his independence by playing India and Pakistan with each other by signing standstill agreement with both the countries. He was forced by India to Sign the doubtful instrument of accession on 26th Oct, 1947. As it happens with every puppet ruler, in 1951 Hari Singh's rule was terminated by Government of India and the miseries of the Kashmiri Muslims doubled from there on. The Indian rulers are found apologetic all along vis-à-vis Kashmir case since they don’t have a logic stance. They invaded and captured the valley, unlawfully and unethically. The unarmed and innocent Kashmiri Muslims are brutally being murdered by the Indian military and Para military forces. Hence, the Indians have proved that their rule is in no way different from their predecessors; the Dogras. It’s high time for the world body to address the grievances of the poor Kashmiri Muslims before it’s too late.