Pratap Singh: The real architect of the modern Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu, April 16: We have discussed two great rulers of Jammu and Kashmir who shaped the future of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in our series Makers of Modern J&K and today we will discuss the third ruler of the same Jamwal Rajput clan Pratap Singh who succeeded his father Maharaja Ranbir Singh after his death in1885.
Even though Maharaja Gulab Singh and Mahraja Ranbir Singh made a significant impact on the future of Jammu and Kashmir it was Maharaja Pratap Singh who actually took this state to modernity in real sense as it was during his tenure that roads, wheel carts, railway and cars were introduced in Jammu and Kashmir linking it with the rest of the world through modern and scientific system.
Maharaja Pratap Singh (18 July 1848 – 23 September 1925) was born at Reasi and ruled Jammu & Kashmir State from 1885 to 1925 A.D.
He was a wise ruler with great concern for the people and a keen interest in the development of the state.
He completed works by his illustrious father Maharaja Ranbir Singh. He established high schools for boys and girls at every district headquarter, a college each at Srinagar and Jammu, thereby ensuring further progress in education in the state. By constructing a bridge over River Tawi and linking Jammu to Sialkot by train, he significantly improved the communication system in J & K State.
Maharaja Pratap Singh also constructed two canals: Ranbir Canal and Pratap Canaland there by increased the irrigation facilities leading to further progress in agriculture.
He introduced further reforms in the administrative system and strengthened the ministerial system. Two municipalities of Jammu and Srinagar were also constituted by Maharaja Pratap Singh.
With his tactful and diplomatic efforts he was able to free the state from the undue influence of the British rule in the year 1921.
Maharaja Pratap Singh administered the Dharmarth Trust with great devotion and religious thinking following the footsteps of his father in this noble task. He is thus remembered as Dharam Avtar by the people of J & K
Many oppressive taxes, including the Muslims Marriage Tax, were abolished. Certain State Monopolies such as the shawl industry were also done away with.
During the time of Pratap Singh, the first major step of improvement was taken in 1889 when the Jhelum Valley Cart Road, “the most wonderful mountain road in the world”, from Kohala to Baramulla was completed. It was extended to Srinagar In 1897. In 1922, another great highway, the Banihal Cart Road, which connected Srinagar, the summer capital, with Jammu, the winter capital of the state was thrown open to the public. Besides these, many feeder roads in the state including those connecting Srinagar with Gilgit and Leh were also constructed. The impact of these roads on the life of the people of Jammu and Kashmir may be judged from the fact that before Pratap Singh, there was not a single wheeled conveyance, including even a hand-cart. By the time his reign came to a close, motor cars became the principal means of conveyance.
Besides construction of roads, several efforts were made to link the Valley with the railway system but nothing substantial came out owing to the prohibitive costs. Even a project to build a seventy nine mile long mono-cable steel ropeway from Jammu to the village Dooru (or Shahabad) and then connecting it with Srinagar by a forty six mile long light railway could not be taken up but Jammu was linked to Sialkot in the Punjab in 1890.
In 1887, the State Government carried out the first land settlement. As a result, the rights of the agriculturists were clearly’ defined and the state’s demand was fixed for ten years. “Begar” or forced labour in its more objectionable form was abolished.
By 1912 practically every tehsil and district was settled either for the first time or in revision. The share of the state was fixed at 30 per cent of the gross produce and the revenue was to be collected in cash. The land settlement gave much needed security to the cultivators and became responsible for their increasing prosperity increasing the revenue of the state by more than 100 per cent.
A model agricultural farm was set up at Srinagar for the spread of knowledge about the scientific methods of cultivation. Establishment of the Department of Agriculture and the introduction of Cooperative Societies were the other measures taken up to further improve the lot of the cultivators. By 1929, the number of Cooperative Credit Societies in the state alone rose to about 1100 with a membership of 27,500.
Jammu and Kashmir is rich in forests. But till the accession of Pratap Singh, practically nothing had been done to exploit these on scientific lines. In 1891, the State established the Forest Department which soon began to give a very good account of itself. Its surplus revenue for the first year was about a quarter of million of rupees. The same rose to about two million for the year 1921-22 and to a record figure of about five million for the year 1929-30.
Efforts were made to popularise education. In pursuance of the suggestions made in the report of 1916, many changes were made in the system of education. A number of new schools for both boys and girls were also opened. The imparting of education in the primary schools was made free. Several measures were taken for the education of Muslims especially. Grants were also budgeted. for the training of unqualified teachers at the Training College and normal schools at Lahore. Later normal schools were established at various places within the State .
One degree college each at Jammu (Prince of Wales College, established in 1907, and Srinagar (Sri Pratap College established in 1905) and Amar Singh Technical Institute at the latter (1914) and Sri Pratap Technical School at the former (1924) were maintained to meet the demands for higher education. By 1938, Sri Pratap College, with 1187 students on its rolls, achieved the distinction of being the second largest college affiliated to the Punjab University.
Modern hospitals for both males and females were also established at Srinagar and Jammu. In other towns and important villages, medical dispensaries under the charge of qualified doctors were opened. These establishments went a long way in improving the health of the people.
Smallpox used to take a very heavy toll of life in the valley. Vaccination on an extensive scale was introduced in 1894 to prevent it.”‘ Modern water works were also established at Jammu and Srinagar. The Church Missionary Society set up in Kashmir in the time of Maharaja Ranbir Singh, also contributed much to the promotion of public health and education. It opened its own schools and hospitals in the valley and ran them on modern lines. A great spill channel was constructed in 1904 to divert the flood waters of Jhelum. It was followed by the construction of smaller channels and several irrigation canals in both the provinces of Jammu and Kashmir. The longest and most important of these was the Ranbir Canal in Jammu with a total length of 251 miles including that of its tributaries, it was fully completed in 1911 at the cost of Rs. 35,36,714. This Canal also helped in propelling the turbines of the Jammu hydro-electric installation. Besides, 250 tanks were constructed in the Kandi areas of Jammu with a view to removing the great distress of the residents of these arid tracks. The power obtained from the hydro-electric works established at Mohara in 1907 was used not only for lighting and industrial purposes but also for dredging operations which were carried out in the Jhelum below Baramulla in order to remove silt and boulders.
Besides, agriculture, sericulture, viticulture and horticulture were given great encouragement, and these made much progress going on to become flourishing state industries. A silk factory set up at Srinagar attained the distinction of being “the largest of its kind in the world”.
In order to feed it with the best quality of cocoons seeds were imported from Italy and France. A beginning was made in local self-government by establishing municipalities at Jammu, Srinagar, Sopors and Baramulla. These organizations did a lot towards improving the local sanitary conditions. For sometime past, the inhabitants of Srinagar had been facing great difficulty in obtaining fuel supply. From 1919 the State Forest Department undertook to supply firewood to the city people at fixed rates.
Pratap Singh left no issue of his own when he died on September 23, 1925, but he was succeeded by his nephew Hari Singh, son of Raja Amar Singh.