Maharaja Hari Singh
Maharaja Hari Singh Bahadur (September 1895 – 26 April 1961) was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, belonging to the Dogra Rajput dynasty. His reign marked a critical phase in the history of the region, particularly during the time of India’s independence and partition.
Early Life and Background
Hari Singh was born in September 1895 at Amar Mahal Palace in Jammu into the royal Dogra Rajput family. He was the only surviving son of Raja Amar Singh, the brother of Maharaja Pratap Singh, who was the ruling monarch of Jammu and Kashmir at the time. As Pratap Singh had no children, Hari Singh was designated the heir presumptive to the throne.
In 1903, at the age of 8, Hari Singh served as a page of honour to Lord Curzon during the Delhi Durbar. He began his formal education at Mayo College in Ajmer at the age of 13. The following year, after his father's death in 1909, the British took an active role in overseeing his upbringing. Major H. K. Barr was appointed as his guardian to supervise his education and training. Hari Singh later received military training at the Imperial Cadet Corps in Dehradun.
Military and Administrative Career
Hari Singh was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the State Forces in 1915 by his uncle Maharaja Pratap Singh. His services and loyalty to the British Empire were recognized in 1918, when he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) as part of the New Year Honours List.
Accession to the Throne
Upon the death of Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1923, Hari Singh succeeded him and became the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. His rule extended over a politically sensitive region during a period of rising nationalist movements across the Indian subcontinent.
Social Reforms
Hari Singh introduced several progressive social reforms during his reign. These included:
- Making primary education compulsory across the state
- Enacting laws to prohibit child marriage
- Opening places of worship to lower caste communities, promoting greater inclusivity
These reforms earned him recognition as a modernizer, though his rule also faced criticism and resistance during the independence movement.
Later Life and Legacy
Hari Singh’s rule came to a turning point in 1947 during the partition of India, which ultimately led to the controversial Instrument of Accession that brought Jammu and Kashmir into the Union of India. He continued to play a ceremonial role until 1952, when the monarchy was officially abolished.
He passed away on 26 April 1961.
Hari Singh remains a significant and often debated figure in Indian history, remembered both for his reformist measures and the pivotal role he played during the turbulent years surrounding Indian independence.