Page 20 - Seniors Today - Oct 2019
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In the 19th century, the Sikh rulers of Kashmir
had sway over Gilgit area while Baltistan was
incorporated in Jammu ruler’s territory by
General Zorawar Singh. However from 1846, all
territories of Gilgit and Baltistan became part of
Jammu & Kashmir State.
From early 20th century, the British
progressively increased pressure on the
Kashmir Durbar to hand over strategic territory
of Gilgit Agency, as the British felt an increasing
The ancient Khaplu palace in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Dogra rulers
threat from Czarist Russia which mounted subjugated the rulers of Khaplu and other regions
further with the Bolshevik Revolution having Changing situation
succeeded. The British, keeping an eye on how the changing
Maharaja Pratap Singh, thought beholden to situation due to World War II and the Soviet
the British for restoration of his full powers in Union becoming a world power planned
1922, was able to ward off the final decision. the future of Gilgit keeping in mind its very
When Maharaja Hari Singh succeeded him strategic location.
in 1925, the British again mounted pressure Realizing the inevitable – that the British will
on him. His Government’s efforts to deal have to give up the Indian sub-continent – plans
with the serious situation in 1931 and use of were started early for keeping Gilgit region
force resulted in the death of 21 people. This out of Indian control, during the lease period.
provided the British Viceroy to send handpicked Road connectivity was upgraded, two airstrips
Britons to Kashmir. The first to come was were improved and the telecommunication
Bertrand Glancy at head of a Commission to network enlarged. A small force of Gilgit
inquire into grievances of Moslems against the Scouts, consisting of a handful of people of
Maharaja’s Government. Then Mr. Wakefield Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar and some Baltis, was
was sent as Minister-in-Waiting and later formed ostensibly for “internal security” . The
came Col. Calvin as “Prime Minister”. With Scouts were trained and officered by British
these three key officials putting administrative officers. They were trained to be loyal to the
pressure on Maharaja Hari Singh and Sheikh British and to secure their imperial interests.
Abdullah’s Moslem Conference working on Before India and Pakistan became independent
the political front, the Maharaja was squarely Dominions, the Gilgit lease was terminated
cornered. Finally he was forced to “agree” to and 1300 sq. mile territory was handed back
give Gilgit Agency on long lease to the British to the Kashmir Durbar on August 1, 1947. The
Indian Government. On March 26, 1935 by an British deliberately did not either disband the
Agreement between Maharaja Hari Singh and Gilgit Scouts or pull out the British officers –
Lt. Col. Edward Lang, Resident in Kashmir on Major William Alexander Brown and Capt.
behalf of Viceroy and Governor General, Lord A.S. Matheisan. The Governor appointed by the
Willingdon, Gilgit territory north of the Indus Maharaja to administer the Gilgit Agency was
river was leased out to the British for 60 years. a Dogra – Brigadier Ghansara Singh. He had
The Agreement, however, clearly laid down 600 strong scouts and 6th Battalion J&K Rifles
that the leased territory “shall continue to be (less 2 companies). The Commander was Lt.
included in the dominions of His Highness, Col. Abdul Wajid Khan. Information given by
the Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir”. In the Major General Scott, Chief of Staff of J&K State
territory, the Maharaja’s flag continued to fly. Forces, on return from Gilgit on July 30, 1947,
Baltistan and Astore continued to be under was that the two British officers of the Gilgit
Maharaja’s control as hitherto. Scouts – Brown and Matheisan – had already
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