Page 19 - Seniors Today - Oct 2019
P. 19
Indian establishment. Divested of powers
Under a diabolical plan, Ranbir Singh’s
Looking for a foothold successor Maharaja Pratap Singh was divested
From 1852 to 1853 the British Government of many powers which helped to overcome all
looked out for an opportunity to get a foothold resistance against British efforts on the Gilgit
in this strategic region to safeguard its imperial front. In 1900, all military administration
interests. Soon after, there was an uprising in Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar and Chitral was
in Gilgit. Maharaja Ranbir Singh, who had brought under the British control, though the
succeeded Gulab Singh, dispatched a large sovereignty of the Kashmir Maharaja was not
expeditionary force in 1858 which dealt with questioned. The Chieftains continued to pay
the uprising to bring peace in the region and annual tributes to the Kashmiri Maharaja.
establish order among rival principalities. In In the meantime the British helped build
the meantime, the British Government was keen proper roads from Rawalpindi to Srinagar
to increase its influence in the area. However through Jhelum Valley. This was later extended
the Viceroy in India, Lord Canning, was able to Gilgit (from Bandipore a 10-foot-wide road
to persuade Whitehall to desist undermining was completed in 1893). In 1881 a telegraph line
the authority of Kashmir Maharajas because was constructed to connect Dras with Skardu
of the valuable assistance he had rendered in and telegraph offices were opened there. In 1885
overcoming the 1857 Mutiny. the Sonmarg to Dras telegraph line was laid.
For some years the status lasted but The undercurrent of adverbial relations
London was adamant and finally the British between Pratap Singh and the British Indian
Government had their way. In 1877 the Gilgit Government resulted in installation of a British
Agency was set up and Major Biddulph was resident at Srinagar. The Gilgit Political Agent
selected to head it. Sometime later in 1881 was subordinate to him. Though the Maharaja
when the British managed to get a foothold at was not dethroned, real power vested with the
Jalalabad in Afghanistan, the Agent in Gilgit Resident from 1889 to 1921. But at no stage was
was withdrawn. Because of increased military the Gilgit and Baltistan region taken out of the
activity by Czarist Russia and increasing domain of the Kashmir Maharaja.
Afghan interference in Chitral area, the British
reposted another agent at Gilgit in 1889. Within The Gilgit Manuscripts
one year of his posting, the redoubtable Colonel Gilgit has been from time immemorial, a part
Durrand successfully brought Hunza and of the Indian sub-continent. It has been within
Nagar under his control. Durrand built up the ambit of its political, religious and cultural
direct relationship with the local rulers and to influences. This was established beyond doubt
that extent cut down the Maharaja’s authority. by discovery in 1938 of what have become
known as the Gilgit Manuscripts. This is an
authentic record of strong Buddhist influences
in the region from prehistoric times. Recent
work by German explorers and archeologists
in collaboration with the Pakistan Government
has led to the discovery of numerous rock
engravings and images of Buddha, Bodhisattvas
and stupas from areas spanning Chitral, Chilas
and Gilgit right upto Skardu. Gilgit has been
part of Kashmir State from early times. It
formed part of the empires of eighth-century
Kashmir King Lalitaditya Muktapidda and in
14th century that of Sultan Shabuddin.
The Karakoram Highway
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