Himachal Archives

A lot of loose talk is put out about the cruelty of the Dogra rule in Kashmir valley, especially on the economic front. However, the picture is myopic to say the least, given how the Dogras, post their control of Kashmir valley, actually did several important changes to the Valley economy, leading it towards modernization on par with the rest of the country, and even ahead of it in several areas. While it may be a point of contention that several of these reforms were put forth under the pressure of the Britishers, the progenitors can never be disputed. One such set of considerations pertains to the revival of the Kashmir economy under the Dogra rule, which is often brushed under the carpet. I will just point out three areas of reforms that the Dogras undertook to highlight how their rule was in fact beneficial to the Kashmir valley, and the normal narrative of oppression is not as straightforward as it seems.  Controlling Famines At the time of accession, Kashmir was a ...

Maharaja Gulab Singh (sourced from Wikipedia) A lot of controversy goes into the questions about the Treaty of Amritsar and the role played by Maharaja Gulab Singh in taking over the province of Kashmir. One must certainly put into context the manner in which the state came into existence post the treaty to highlight a false notion that has always stuck to the ever false narrative peddled about it. Contrary to what others believe, Maharaja Gulab Singh did not pay any sums to purchase Kashmir. There are several books that will point out that particular instance on the manner in which Kashmir came under Dogra rule. 1845 had seen the fight between the Sikh rulers of Punjab and the British East India Company. While it is fashionable to call Hindus villains, fact remains that a certain section of the Darbar had given the British the opportunity to declare war against the Lahore Darbar. Subsequent to their defeat in the first of the three Anglo-Sikh Wars, vakils were appointed on draw...

  Barselas of Mandi (Picture Credit: The Off.Info) We are told innumerable stories about what the custom of Sati or widows burning themselves on the funeral pyre was. A horrible practice interestingly, and one that needed to be abolished from the face of this earth given its sheer cruelty and misogyny. However, of late, a lot of revisits have happened that certainly question the prevalence of the custom itself. Professor Meenakshi Jain has written a tome on the subject, and other books exist too. It is interesting however to revisit some of the so called narratives to understand just how frequent or how extensive it really was. Banning something that was neither widespread in geography or in demography seemed a great case being built up to promote India as a backward, barbaric civilization - that is a near certainty that needs not much evidence to prove. Let me in that case also quote an interesting anecdote recorded by a British traveller G T Vigne, while travelling ac...

Hadimba Devi Temple in Manali (picture credit: The OK Travel) As I had mentioned in a post earlier, Kullu's ancient name was Kuluta. The founders of the state are believed by Hutchison and Vogel to be descendants of the Pals who ruled over Prayag, from where they migrated westwards, conquering Haridwar, then known as Mayapuri. The founding of the present state through its current ruling dynasty interestingly is attributed to a Behangamani-Pal around 765 AD, a period where the Palas of Bengal had just come to prominence under their first ruler Gopala I. The Palas were supreme in North India, though they were always competing with the Gurjara Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas for supremacy in the Kannauj triangle. The Palas seem to have founded other states in the Himalayan region, including Mandi, Balor, Bhadu and Bhadrawah, as well as a small feudatory called Batol.The relations are curiously highlighted only in the Vansavali of Balor and Bhadu. Behangamani was one of the eight ...

Remains of Harappan Era Site (?) at Manda- courtesy Indian Columbus Akhnoor is a city located in Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir. It is clearly the oldest inhabited city of the Jammu region, which goes long back to the Harappan era. Only in in the past four or five decades has the notion of Jammu not having any antiquity associated with it changed. Sukhdev Singh Charak in his book A Short History of Jammu Raj highlights several interesting aspects about this town, where he briefly shed light on several findings of the Charles Fabri expedition in the area, of which little is remembered in India, as Harappan era association even today mostly focuses itself on sites in Pakistan and a few huge sites in India.The site of Manda, at Akhnur, and recent excavations within the premises of the fort have shown the existence of .Harappan, late Harappan red ware, gray ware and black slipped ware'. The site of Manda also revealed things like double spiral headed pin, terracotta bangles...

Since Kathua is so infamous today, let us talk something about Basohli. Basohli is part of the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir state, and was a principality of its own that could be traced back to at least 930AD, when it was part of a war between Chamba, Durgara (Jammu) and Trigarta (Kangra). Old Chamba copper plates of the time refer to this place, as per Hutchison and Vogel, as Sumarta, with its capital located in Vallapura. Sumarta itself was probably the nucleus of the Balor/Basohli state, and its Rajputs, the Sumarias, were famous for their martial skills. However, in modern times, Basohli is remembered more for its distinct sub-school within the Pahari paintings. The original capital of this state was a place called Vallapura. This Vallapura, now known as Billawar, lies in Kathua district, and still houses ruins of the early gone eras. One of the interesting places there, which probably has survived the ravages of time and invaders, is the Maha Bilvakeshwar temple. It is...

Okay, so long time, and a short diversion from the theme of this blog. Apologies in advance. Ashokan Pillar at Hindu Rao Hospital (courtesy hindurao.com) Very few people even in Delhi know the history of Hindu Rao Hospital in Delhi. Scene to one of the worst battles in the 1857 mutiny, this place also houses a baoli and an Ashokan edict, supposedly one of the several that Firoz Shah Tughlaq shifted to Delhi from random places within his empire (a popular one is at Firoz Shah Kotla (behind the cricket stadium) in Old Delhi. The place is located in the remnants of the Aravalli mountains in the northern parts of Delhi, more commonly known as the Ridge, and also houses a baoli. However, the building that houses the hospital was the haveli of a Maratha noble by the name of Raja Hindu Rao. Raja Hindu Rao was the brother-in-law of Maharaja Daulat Rao Scindia of Gwalior, and the brother of the female regent of the Indian princely state of Gwalior. Following the Revolt of 1857, he shift...