Princely Ruled Jammu and Kashmir, Its Development and Reforms During Colonial and Post Colonial Times

Presenter:

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Abstract

Beginning with an analysis of the evolution of the princely states in India and the political relationship maintained with them by the British colonial government, this study will focus on the doctrine of Paramountcy as developed and applied by the Britishers in India. The present paper will deal with the question of state subject-hood, a legal document to make an individual a bonafide citizen, during the period of the last Dogra ruler. It also tries to engage a debate on the significance of special identity certificate earlier known as “State Subject”, which has been recently revoked by Union government, which was providing a unique identity to the residents of J&K.
It will focus on various movements which led to inclusion of the hereditary state subject laws in erstwhile princely ruled J&K and later by retaining the same laws of hereditary by the constitutionally elected government post colonialism and its abolition after remain in vogue for over seventy years. The paper will also delve in detail about various social, political, religious or other reforms in education, science beside others introduced by the rulers of Princely state of J&K, influenced by the discourse of modernity. It will also ponder over the fact that whether the socio-economic conditions of the state of Jammu and Kashmir were responsible for bringing such reforms or were influenced by the British colonialism’s reform agenda.