1 Misgovernment in
2 Appointment of a
3 Council of Regency in
4 Kashmfr.
5 622 : HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,-
6 would be changed to that of “Political Resident.” The new Maharaj
7 not only proved a very weak and indolent prince, but systematically opposed
8 every measure of reform that was introduced. “My impression,” wrote
9 Sir Oliver, “as regards the new Mahardjé is that, though entirely wanting
10 in the quick wit of his father, he has inherited a full share of his obstinacy
11 and cunning. He will, I fear, offer as much opposition as he dares.” In
12 spite of the significant appointment of a British Resident, the country
13 continued to be badly managed, and the sufferings of the people passed all
14 bounds. In March, 1888, the new Resident, Mr. Plowden, wrote in much the
15 same tone as Sir Oliver St. John, He said, “The Government should be
16 under no illusion as regards Mahardj4 Partéb Singh. From first to last
17 I have failed to discover in him any sustained capacity for governing his
18 country, or any genuine desire to, ameliorate its condition, or to introduce
19 those reforms which he has acknowledged to be necessary. More than two
20 years have passed since his succession, but not only has he achieved nothing,
21 but he has opposed beneficial measures proposed by others. I do not believe
22 he is loyal, but fortunately he is powerless to carry his country with him.”
23 Lord Ripon, in a despatch written in 1884, complained bitterly
24 of the misgovernment of Kdshmir, declaring it to be his opinion, that a
25 condition of things such as existed in that tributary country, could not
26 be indefinitely tolerated, and suggesting that a favourable opportunity of
27 dealing with it would arise on the occurrence of a fresh succession.
28 The papers relating to Kdéshmfr presented to the British Parliament
29 showed how serious was the mal-administration of Kdéshmir and Jammt, and
30 revealed an amount of injustice and oppression which may be best measured
31 by the fact that, in the course of half a century, the population had consider-
32 ably diminished in numbers. It was evident that so long as the Mahardjd
33 remained in power, no reforms could be carried out, for he opposed even those
34 which he himself considered necessary. So gross had been the mismanage-
35 ment of the customs revenue collections, that, while the poorer raiyats were
36 unfairly taxed on rice, the richer men paid only comparatively, light duties
37 on a profitable staple like cotton. : :
38 After a patient delay of many years, the Government of India, as the
39 protector of the people against oppression, found it their plain duty, in the
40 interest of the subject populations, to put a stop to this state of things.
41 Indeed, the intervention of the paramount Power in behalf of the oppressed
42 population had been already too long delayed.* Accordingly, Maharaja
43 Partéb Singh was required to withdraw, for a time, from active participation
44 in the government of his State, and the sovereignty of the country was
45 entrusted to a Council of Regency composed of the Mahardja’s own brothers,
46 and a few chosen native officers of proved ability and integrity under the
47 Government, whose services were lent to the State.
48 * A friend who had visited Kashmir a short time before the establishment of the Council
49 of Regency there, narrated to us a heartrending story of the exteme poverty and indigence
50 of the Kashmivians. He was taking his meals in a country village, not far from Srinagar,
51 when a dozen of destitute men and women, with dejected looks and their persons half covered
52 with rags, surrounded him, hoping to receive the refuse of the meals. Thrilled with compas-
53 sion at the sight of these hungry creatures, the visitor in question determined to distribute
54 the loaves to them; but he had hardly moved his hand with that object when, to his
55 great astonishment, the number of hungry people was more than doubled, each crying vehe-
56 mently for ‘ Naz, nan,” (“ Bread, bread”). The beggars vied with each other as to who should
57 receive the bread first, and the visitor, to do justice to all, gave a morsel to each, who, as he got
58 it, retired quite thankful as if he had won a great victory. He said, and what he told us is
59 fully borne out by the testimony of other visitors to the valley, that men waited on a visitor
60 for a morsel of bread as dogs wait on a traveller partaking of food in an Indian serae. Many
61 harrowing stories of the sufferings of the people in Kashmir are told, but we need not dilate
62 on the subject here. The extreme indigence of the Kdshmirians and their miseries and suffer-
63 Sri SatQueeeDe, SHEN LERNER gece, PA AYTE FsTARV RAH. enF=eybody in