Memoranda On The Indian States 1939

· 1939 · Public domain in India and Pakistan (a government publication, 1931 to 1947) · archive.org ↗

1166

2KASHMIR RESIDENCY.

3Irrigation works; (j) the construction of Hydro-Electric Installations at

4Jammu and at Mahora on the Jhelum river; (fc) the establishment of Silk

5Factories at Srinagar and Jammu ; (1) the construction of a motor and cart-

6road from, Jammu to Srinagar, tna the Banihal Pass; (m) SevelopSenTof

7in*3usfrte8 and agriculture ; (n) expansion of co-operative movement ; (o)

8establishment of up-to-date Hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar and provision

9of medical relief throughout the State ; (p) introduction of local self-govern-

10ment in important cities and towns ; (q) remodelling of the State on modern

11lines ; (r) establishment of a representative Assembly with an elected

12majority; (s) construction of an aerodrome at Srinagar; (t) extension of

13telephone service ; (u) establishment of a High Court. Several surveys for

14a railway connecting Kashmir with the J’unjab have been made but no

15railway has been constructed so far. The question of extetiding the railway

16to Akhnoor is at present under consideration.

1710. The financial condition of the State has been steadily improving and

18the trade with British India has greatly increased.

1911. Poonch. — The most important Jagirdar or Feudatory of the State is

20the Baja of Foonch. The present Baja’s (Baja Jagat Deo Singh) connection

21with the family is shown below. The Jagir has a revenue of about 9,50,000.

22A settlement of the Jagir has been completed. The Baja of Poonch holds

23his Jagir from His Highness the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir on whom

24he attends on State occasions, and to whom he pays an annual Nazar of

25Bs. 231.

2612. Poonch was included in the transfer of the hilly country to Maharaja

27Oulab Singh in 1846. Subsequently Maharaja Gulab Singh appears to have

28granted Chibal, Poonch and other ilaqas to Jowahir Singh and Moti Singh,

29sons of Dhyan Singh, the original holder. In 1848 a dis])ute having occurred

30between the brothers and Maharaja Gulab Singh, Sir F. Currie effected a

31settlement whereby the Maharaja granted the two Mians, as they were then

32styled, the title of “Baja” and certain other concessions. The Bajas were

33jointly to present the Maharaja with one horse with gold trappings or

34Bs. 700 in cash annually ami they were not to commit any important act in

35their territory without the advice of and without consulting the Maharaja.

36The two Bajas, however, suhsc(picntly quarrelled, and in 1852 the Board

37•of Administration for the affairs of the Punjab brought about a settlement

38whereby the whole of Poonch was given to Moti Singh, his share of the

39joint tribute of Bs. 700 paid by the Bajas to the Maharaja being fixed at

40one-third of that sum. In 1850 Jawahir Singh renounced all claim to his

41po.ssessions in the Kashmir State in return for a cash allowance. He died

42without is.sue in I860- Moti Singh held Poonch until his death in 1892.

4313. On the death of Baja’Moti Singh in 1892 he was succeeded by his son,

44Baldeo Singh. Baja Baldeo Singh was appointed to be a Knight Commander

45of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire on the 1st January 1909.

46For services in connection with the Great War, the Baja was granted a

47personal salute of 9 guns on the Ist January 1918, and was gazetted Honorary

48rank of Major in the Army in April 1916 as a reward for assistance given to

49Glovernment in connection with recruiting for the Indian Army. He was