𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐮 & 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐢𝐫 -HH Maharaja Gulab Singh

On March IS, 1846 at an investiture ceremony held at Amritsar at which he described himself "a ZurkhareedV* of the British, Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu was formally elevated to the status of a Maharaja. The next day was concluded between him and the British a Treaty, known in history as the Treaty of Amritsar, which put him in independent possession of the territory forming the modern state of Jammu and Kashmir subject to the overall supremacy of the British Government.

The Treaty of Amritsar dated, March 16, 1846, was a sequel to the Treaty of Lahore, dated March 9, 1846, which concluded the first war between the British and the Sikhs. The Sikh Durbar had, under the provisions of Article 3 of the Treaty of Lahore, been made to cede to the British the territory lying between Beas and Sutlej. In addition, as an equivalent for one crore of rupees of the one and half crores of rupees demanded as war indemnity which they were unable to pay, the Sikhs were made to cede to the British, for ever, territory in the hills lying between Ravi and lndus including the Provinces of Kashmir and Hazara. The Treaty, vide Article 12,
also enjoined on the Sikhs to recognize, "in consideration of the services rendered by Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu to the Lahore State towards the procurement of relations of amity between the British and the Sikhs," the independent sovereignty of the Raja in such territories as may be handed over to him by separate arrangement. The Treaty of Amritsar constituted this separate arrangement, and Maharaja Gulab Singh was made to pay to the British the sum of Rs 75,00,000 in consideration of the
territories transferred to him under this Treaty (Article 3 of Treaty (Article 3 of Treaty of
Amritsar)
The Treaty of Amritsar, which together with the Treaty of Lahore governed constitutional relations between the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the British Government, has been subjected to severe criticism both by Kashmiris and others. "This arrangement", remarks Joseph Davey Cunningham in his book "History of the Sikhs" "was a dexterous one, if reference be only had to the policy of reducing the power of the Sikhs ;
According to the Treaty of Amritsar, Maharaja Gulab Singh was assured complete sovereignty in internal affairs of the State, and British aid in case of external aggression. This position was maintained when the British Crown took over control of the Government from the East lndia Company in 1858. The Queen in a Proclamation announced to the native Princes that "all treaties and engagements made with them by or under the authority of the East India Company are by us accepted, and will be scrupulously maintained, and we look for the like observance on their part." While the Treaty of Amritsar, itself, made the State ruler recognize the supremacy of the Brit~sh, their paramountcy over the state, as over all other states in India, was formally established through the Act of 1876 by which the Queen assumed the title of Empress of India, thereby becoming the suzerain of all Indian states which became her vassals in turn.
That entitled the British to intervene in the internal affairs of the State also, as, to quote Lord Reading "the internal ; no less than external, security which the ruling princes enjoy is due ultimately to the protecting power of the British Government, and where imperial interests are concerned, or the general welfare of the people of the State is seriously and grievously affected by the action of the Government, it is with the paramount power that the ultimate responsibility of taking remedial action ; if
necessary, must lie"