About Jammu Kashmir

The present state of Jammu Kashmir has been inhabited by people since the ancient times. Traces of ancient culture have been found in Jammu region, but the formal history of the region begins with the Mauryan empire that is regarded as the first Indian empire to rule over the country in its entirety. When the Kushan empire emerged on the north western corner of India, Jammu Kashmir became its integral part. The first kingdom that emerged in Kashmir itself was the one founded by a Hindu warrior by name of Lalitaditya Muktapida in the beginning of the eighth century. This empire was fairly large, and included a major portion of northern India and central Asia.

The beginning of the second millennium saw the invasions of Muslim rulers from the western and central parts of Asia. The Turkish army led by Zulkadur Khan finally succeeded in occupying Kashmir valley in 1322. The death of Udayan Dev, the last ruler of Kashmir, in 1338 gave an easy way to the Turks to dominate the region. Subsequently, it was attacked by Sikandar, another Turkish general in 1322 who promoted Islam as the state religion here. When Mughals came into power and the Sultanate rule ended in Delhi, the Turkish found it hard to hold their sway over the region. The defeat against an imperial force led by Bhagawant Das and Ramchandra I ended their rule over the region. The Mughal Emperor Akbar made Ramchandra I the governor of Jammu & Kahsmir.

Jammu Kashmir was successively ruled by the descendants of Ramchandra I until the death of Ranjit Deo in 1780. As the throne was left vacant with no capable heir to assert his authority over it, Ranjit Singh, the greatest Sikh ruler, took advantage of the situation and led an expedition to make it a tributary of his growing empire. Gulab Singh, a grandnephew of the deceased Ranjit Deo, took service at the court of Ranjit Singh. His loyalty and exceptional services impressed Ranjit Sigh who made him the governor of Jammu in 1820. Upon assuming the charge of governorship, he led a series of battle to capture regions lying in the eastern and north-eastern part of Kashmir, including Ladakh and Baltistan.

When the Sikh powers grew weak after their defeat against the British in Ango-Sikh War in 1845, Gulab Singh became the de facto ruler of the region that comprised all hilly areas between the Indus river and the Ravi river. More areas were added to this kingdom by his son Ranbir Singh. These were included Hunza, Nagar and Gilgit. When India became independent, Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by Hari Singh, the grandson of Ranbir Singh. He acceded the region to India and Jammu Kashmir became a part of the country.