Dogra Rule

Events

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 1925

   Hari Singh becomes Maharaja

   Hari Singh succeeded his uncle Pratap Singh as the fourth and last Dogra Maharaja.

   In the museumMaharaja Hari Singh

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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