Maharaja Gulab Singh was born in 1792. After his birth, Mian Kishore Singh father of the child, invited the priest for asking name to be kept of the newly born child. The priest after preparing child’s birth Kundli plucked a flower of rose from the nearby house and gave it to the hands of the child. The priest then told that from today this child’s name would be Gulab Singh. And time may come, when he would become a great warrior/Raja or Maharaja of some of the State. Mian Kishore Singh was the grand son of Surat Singh, the younger brother of Raja Ranjit Dev of Jammu. Thus Gulab Singh was scion of the ruling family of Jammu.
He left his home at the age of 17 in search of the job of soldier. He proposed to go to Kabul for joining the army of Shah Shuja but his friends refused to go beyond the Indus. Hence in 1810, Gulab Singh joined the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, whose kingdom spread upto Afghanistan. He was employed as cavalryman on daily wages at the rate of Rs 2 to 3 day. His other brothers Mian Dhian Singh and Mian Suchet Singh also became employees of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Gulab Singh got opportunity to show his worth only when Maharaja Ranjit Singh fought for the possession of Attock in 1813. His reward, however, came in 1814 when he played a big role in protecting the detachment of the Maharaja’s forces being destroyed in the course of latter’s first unsuccessful attempt at the conquest of Kashmir. He then became jagirdar of Kharoti and Babool, and commander of 22 horses. In 1815, he did yeoman’s service in reducing garh Damula. He fought in Jullundar Doab and in return to for that Maharaja gave him Jagirs at Lala-Chabara (Sialkote) and Ramgarh near Vijaypur (Samba). Another distinction was then conferred upon the right to raise his own company of 200 horsemen. Soon followed more opportunities for Gulab Singh to make his mark as soldier and get into Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s good grace as well as Gulab Singh’s part in expeditions of Maharaja’s Ranjit Singh in 1818-1819 to Multan, Kashmir, Mankera and Dera Ghazi Khan.
When Gulab Singh became Raja of Jammu : Maharaja Ranjit Singh was so happy with the bravery of Gulab Singh as soldier that he granted him, his father and brothers jointly a Jagir not only in Jammu but also small states of Patti Bohri Band raltha, Chenani and Kishtwar. The father of Gulab Singh was further honoured with the title of Raja.
After small skirmishes Gulab Singh met Mian Dido on Trikuta hills and shot him dead. Gulab Singh also fought with Raja Khan of Rajouri and took him prisioner and sent to Lahore. By 1821, Gulab Singh’s power came to be established over vast area in Jammu. As a bad luck in 1822 Raja Kishore Singh died. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, therefore, himself came to Akhnoor and in June 17, 1822 granted the Raj of Jammu to Gulab Singh and Bandratha to Suchet Singh who renamed it Ram Nagar. ‘‘Raj Tilak on Gulab Singh’s forehead was put on his own heads. Thus, after 13 years of absence from Jammu during 1809, he returned here as ruler of Jammu.
Conquering of Tibet : After conquering of Ladakh and Baltistan Zorawar Singh went forward for conquering Tibet. He left Leh with an army of about 5000 Dogras and Ladakhis in May 1841. After overcoming the Tibetan resistance at Rudok and Tashigong he reached Minsar near Mansarovar lake in holy Kailash mountain. He further advanced to Taklkote which was just about 24 Km from borders of Nepal and Kumaon and built a fort there. The British were unhappy over Zorawar Singh’s advance as they dreaded with a direct link between Lahore kingdom and that of Nepal. They pressed on Lahore Darbar to compel Gulab Singh to recall Zorawar Singh and vacate the Tibetan territory occupied by him. Zorawar Singh, however, did not care for these moves. But due to an intense cold weather and long distance from base camp at Leh forced him to stop further advance. On 11th to 12th December, 1841 a battle was fought between Dogra’s and Lahasa’s forces at a height of about 4800 m. The battle proved disastrous for Zorawar Singh who died. Zorawar Singh’s death was a grave blow to Gulab Singh’s prestige where people rose in rebellion aided and abetted by advancing Tibetan army. New Army was then sent from Jammu under the command of Dewan Hari Chand which suppressed the rebellion and threw back the Tibetan army. Thereupon, the Tibetan Govt approached for peace. A peace treaty was then signed during September 1842 by Dewan Hari Chand/Wazir Ramu on behalf of Gulab Singh and Kalon Surkhan/Depon Pishy on behalf of Dalai Lama. By this treaty traditional boundary between Ladakh and Tibet was recognised by both the sides since olden times. The village and area around Minsar & Mansarovar lake was, however, retained by Govt of Jammu.
The modern History of Jammu and Kashmir : In 1839 to 1845, many events took mplace in Lahore. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh passed away in 1839, there broke out a factional fighting among the chiefs due to instability in his kingdom. This led to assisination of many chiefs. During 1841 both Dhian Singh and Suchet Singh were murdered. Maharaja Sher Singh was too assisinated.
After Sher Singh’s death, in 1843 Dalip Singh a lad of about 6 yeas old and grandson of Ranjit Singh was crowned as Maharaja under the regency of his mother Rani Jindan (Rani Chand Kaur). This marked the rise of Sardar Jawhar Singh, Rani’s brother and rivalry between him and her paramour, Raja Lal Singh. In February 1845, Rani sent force to invade Jammu. Invasion, however, failed owing mainly to the diplomatic skill of Gulab Singh. Meanwhile, Punjab kingdom split into two parts the plains under the Sikhs and hills under Gulab Singh. The fall of the kingdom was due to the death of Sardar Jawahar Singh at the hands of the Khalsa army in September 1845. Rani Jindan then swore to evenge his death. This followed the first Anglo-Sikh war.
The Anglo-Sikh war was not in the interest of Punjab Kingdom. Gulab Singh not only advised the Ravi against but himself did not participate. After the defeat of the Sikh army at Subraon in February 1846 peace process was followed. Raja Gulab Singh was then given ful power to negotiate on behalf of Lahore Darbar. There was an understanding with the British that Darbar would surrender to them all territories lying the Sutlej and the Beas and also pay 15 lakh pounds (Rs 1.5 crore) as war indemnity. This treaty of Lahore was signed on March 9, 1846.
The then Prime Minister, Lal Singh however offered to the British the hill territories of Lahore kingdom including Jammu and Kashmir in lieu of indemnity.
His idea was to deprive Gulab Singh of his territory and give the British the option either holding of Kashmir or to accept a reduced indemnity. This offer, however, suited Gulab Singh. He also agreed to pay indemnity to an extent of 7.5 lakh pounds (Rs 75 lakhs) to the British. Hence on March 16, 1846 a treaty was signed between the British Govt and Gulab Singh to give him independent charge of Jammu and Kashmi. Gulab Singh, however, struggled a lot to occupy the valley of Kashmir from the then Governor of Kashmir, Sheikh Imamuddin, appointed by Lahore Darbar. He was secretly instructed by Lal Singh not to hand over the possession of Kashmir valley to Gulab Singh. Despite stiff resistance by the Governor to Gulab Singh’s army, Gulab Singh obained the possession of the Kashmir valley. Thus, it was Maharaja Gulab Singh who integrated Jammu with Kashmir and Ladakh, into one political unit, which since then is known as the modern State of Jammu and Kashmir.
In fact, the only real acquisition of Gulab Singh as a result of the above said treaty was Kashmir. This is the reason why some of his critics that he purchased Kashmir from the British after paying an amount of Rs 75 lakhs. This is, however, not correct as the British were not in a position at that time to dislodge Gulab Singh and to occupy his territory to their empire.
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